Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 06/24/2005 12:14:07 AM PDT by freepatriot32
"Only in San Diego would we expect a Libertarian to be in the front of the pack," said Michael Marcotte, moderator of a KCBS panel -- televised on May 27 -- about the candidates in the San Diego, Calif., mayoral race.
The Libertarian in question is Richard Rider, chairman of the successful San Diego Tax Fighters and one of 11 active candidates for the special mayoral election to be held July 26.
And Marcotte wasn't alone in his estimation of Rider's chances of success in this race: Rider, a retired stockbroker and financial planner, has routinely been named as one of the top few candidates. Others include a former San Diego police chief and a city councilwoman.
This isn't Rider's first run for office. Since 1988 he has run for office several times -- for county supervisor, county treasurer, state assembly, governor and Congress.
This race, he says, is different.
San Diego is in trouble, and the city needs a mayor who is dedicated to lowering taxes and to solving the city's problems in a fiscally responsible way.
Actually, the city's problems are why there is a special election coming up: Mayor Dick Murphy announced his plans to resign, effective July 15, just months after he was elected to his second term. He had been heavily criticized both in California and across the nation for San Diego's host of ongoing difficulties.
Two city councilmen are standing trial on corruption charges, federal and local authorities are looking into the city's financial practices, many fear the city is approaching bankruptcy, and the city pension fund has a current shortfall of at least $1.4 billion due to poor management.
Some candidates even advocate filing for bankruptcy. Rider isn't one of them. In addition to his financial experience and his dedication to cutting taxes, Rider is getting praise for his consistency.
In the KCBS panel discussion on the election, moderator Marcotte said, "You have to admire Rider, you know, for coming off the sidelines where he is free to be a critic, and jumping right into the fray."
San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Greg Moran replied, "He has had a very consistent message over the years and you kind of wonder if this is sort of his time. It seems that all of the forces have kind of come together."
Rider has promised that if he is elected he will not accept a city pension -- thus drawing further attention to the city's broken retirement system.
He says the city's pensions and salaries must be rolled back; he wants to privatize city services like libraries, parks, swimming pools and garbage pickup; he promised he'd take a 30 percent pay cut from the mayor's $100,464-a-year salary; and he wants to stop subsidizing the city's sports teams.
Some of his promises -- including cutting city pensions and privatizing some services -- have been picked up by other candidates.
"One interesting aspect of this campaign is that people are stealing each others' ideas," he said. "For better or worse, they steal mine more than others'. I just wish they meant what they said. No one knows what these people will do in office -- [but people] do know what I will do if I'm elected!"
Rider said he expects the large number of people in the race to help his chances of being elected: If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, there will be a runoff election this fall.
For more information go to www.RiderForMayor.com
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Actually, I'd be in favor of ending the border patrol--if we'd just put bounties on illegal immigrants. $50 a head would be about right to raise beer money for the weekend. I'd consider it full time.
Understand what you're saying, but why bother to even have a border patrol when the authorities won't arrest--or even question--the ones they catch in country? The mayor of Baltimore is offering rewards--to get them to come on in!
Maybe Dick Murphy can sub for Roger Hedgecock when Hedgecock subs for Rush.
Nobody forced you to post on the thread.
I like John Madden. After all he won 2 Super Bowls and is an excellent analyst. So I'll take that as a compliment.
1. The election is over a month away.
2. Rider has run for several other offices since 1988 and never won any of them.
3. Rider, the Libertarian in the race, is one of 11 candidates.
4. Even though Rider may be "near the front" of the pack of 11 candidates, with that many candidates, Rider only needs the support of around 20% of the voters to be considered a front runner at this point. If no candidate receives 50% of the votes in the general election, there will be a runoff between the two candidates with the most votes.
5. Traditionally, many voters don't start paying close attention to candidates or elections until the last week or two before an election. At this point, many voters in San Diego probably don't know who Rider is or where he stands on the issues important to them.
6. There's not much that a mayor can do about illegal immigration anyway.
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