Cliff Borofsky resigns....

Well this is absolutely interesting. Good Old Cliff Borofsky decided to hang up his hat and move on out of San Antonio. Lets read on to the Express News Article by Elizabeth Allen....

"Bexar County Elections Administrator Cliff Borofsky resigned today to take the same post in Williamson County.
Borofsky, who submitted his letter to County Judge Nelson Wolff today, said “nothing in particular” led to his leaving. His resignation is effective Aug. 11.
“I’ve been eight years here,” Borofsky said. “It’s been a good stint. I think it’s just time for me to move.”
Williamson County is north of Austin. Its county seat is Georgetown.
Since 2001, Borofsky has overseen an office that made the transition from paper ballots to electronic voting. He was elections manager for County Clerk Gerry Rickhoff before county commissioners resurrected the elections administrator post.
Borofsky came close to losing his job in 2002 after problems counting a two-page ballot meant it took nearly 30 hours to tally 277,000 ballots and forced Wolff to apologize publicly for the delay.
But Wolff and the rest of the elections commission kept Borofsky on, and Wolff said the parting is friendly.
“This is a very difficult job, no matter who’s doing it,” Wolff said.
He said he suggested a year ago, once he was confident that the elections office was in good shape, that Borofsky see what other opportunities are out there.
“I feel you’ve got limited life in a job like this,” Wolff said. “It’s pretty politically charged.”
Borofsky said the political pressures that come with the gig are all right with him.
“It has its challenges, obviously, for the world to see, but it’s good work,” he said. “I’m not going to be rich, but OK.”

And did anybody think to ask him why he thought it was so important to move to Williamson County? Why go from such a large City to such a small place? When people leave for small towns often it is because they are trying to escape what they did where everyone knows their name. This begs the question, "Just what is Borofsky's real motive in moving to small little Williamson County...?" This seems to me to convenient of a move for him and it seems it was done in backdoor discussions that usually mean no good. This story was too perfect to be true. Borofsky resigning and Wolf saying, "Sure no problem good buddy, have a good time." It doesn't sound right to me and I don't buy it. I just think that it is rather convenient that it is after the closest election San Antonio can remember in recent history. Lets all remember...3800 votes, Stone Oak Parkway voting at 9:30p.m when the polls close at 7:00p.m,. the switch to paper ballots last minute for the runoff. I don't buy it and I think it deserves more analysis.

Three championships!! How many more?

To those who are still Spurs skeptics...I'd like to say, "Who is your Daddy?" Spurs fans don't give the Spurs enough credit for their championship play. Let's be honest...these are the beginings of a dynasty. With Manu and Duncan locked down for a while we are ensured many more good times come around June of each year. I personally believe that if Parker doesn't improve over the next couple of years...that it will be his turn to move on to another championship caliber team. Manu plays the point better than Tony can. Now before everyone hates on me because I pointed out what we don't like to hear...I would like to offer that I have been one of Tony's biggest defenders against Jason Kidd and trading of any kind. Let's face it though Tony--You need to work on your jump shot Man. And on top of that you need to not be scared of the ball. Tony needs to become a go to guy for the Spurs. If he does...then it will be a nonstop party for San Antonio when the kids get out of school. If he doesn't, Steve Nash is sure hungry for his first championship.

I'm back.......

Hello everyone,
Back from vacation and I would just like to let you know that the fight is not over for Latinos. SA Observer has written many interesting posts that have yet to be answered by the Hardberger elite and their protectors. I will be joining forces with the SA Observer in that I will NOT allow Hardberger a free pass in his two year term as other bloggers might. Too bad I couldn't get a copy of that map from the Express News that shows how San Antonio voted. It really puts this city to shame that the majority of anglo voters can't bring themselves to vote for a latino.

'The racial thang'

It was so interesting to hear Hardberger's victory speech. After he told everyone thank you, he lectured the commentators not to talk about the 'racial thang'. Everyone knows that the 'racial thang' had a lot to do with this. Dos Centavos pointed it out very well. The liberal white democrats that control the Democratic party do not want a latino mayor. They are too scared of the cultural differences. You want proof, no doubt of this allegation of racial politics? Take a look at the Survey USA Poll that came out the day of the election. Or take a look at the map the Express News put out on how the city voted. It's just like Andy Hernandez, 21st Century Leadership Center said "It's the Northside versus everyone else". In the Survey USA poll it indicated that 70% of people who consider themselves anglo prefer Hardberger. And why is that you might ask? Because in our day and age racism has become a hidden thang. It's just not talked about much anymore but our institutions are inherently favoring a race. For example on the Affirmative Action issue...When hispanics and blacks get a leg up, what happens? They say that Affirmative Action--get this--is reverse racism!! Ok, now first let's deconstruct what Affirmative Action is--It is taking Action in the affirmative--all right--that means doing something good to help out out historically disenfranchised communities. Reverse racism--really? Allowing the status quo is not Affirmative Action in any sense of the phrase--rather it is the opposite--Negative Action. I DO NOT believe that we as hispanics or blacks or other disenfranchised communities are resigned to the kindness of others and their institutions. We have a lot of personal responsibilty to take on our own, However if we are aware of our history then it is neccessary that we as a community make right for past wrongs. Voting turnout based on race is a horrible thang. I do believe that many Anglos and Hispanics voted along racial lines in this race and I think that it will continue to be like this until those traditionally in power are no longer afraid of the differences that seperate us. make no mistake We have differences and we those differences matter. But if we are scared of those differences then we are tryul at a loss. The Anglo establishment should embrace the differences of their Latino Brothers, not run away from them. I embrace the differences between my Latino family and my Anglo family. We can only hope others will in the future.

Hardberger wins and already acts like he is a Good Ol Boy

Whoopdeedoo!! We have a new mayor that thinks he can build a consensus because he is an "outsider". My Lord, I saw it coming in the debates. Hardberger acts like a King because he is so used to acting like one as Judge. Judges do get a sense of superiority over the years--I mean cmon they wear robes and say--Not in my court room. How could you not become arrogant and think the world revolves around you? Anyway...So Hardberger wins by a tiny majority of 3,800 someodd votes and he thinks he owns the city. Geesh. Its one thing if you don't like the idea of Major Soccer--its a whole nother thing to say--That everything is over becuase you got elected and you say so. Who does he think he is? He is the same guy who wants to get rid of MLS and throw money at an NFL Franchise that will NEVER materialize. Read his arrogance in his statement to reporter Greg Jefferson on the city manager situation...
"I have no specific candidates in mind, but I will look both inside San Antonio and outside, and a lot of this is probably not going to be done in such a formal fashion. It's simply going to be done with me on the phone...At the same time, I'll be interviewing those who are intersted right here in San Antonio"
If you ask me it sounds much like the Good Ol' Boy network has their man in office.

Cincinatus doesn't like to respond......

Not only did you not respond in a substantive way..you tried to throw it back in my face. First off, Mr. Castro is obviously the most qualified candidate for mayor at this current time. This is seen through his education, his service to his district as councilman and his connections to his communtiy. He is not a flashy person who goes around telling everyone how he helps his community-that would be wrong and disingenous of him. Mr Hardberger is a retired judge who has many friends in the Democratic party establishment. This is very much a status quo vs new ideas race. When decent people can't debate and agree on who has better issues that people are concerned about, they turn to the minutiae of a political debate. This would include the horse race style of reporting, reporting endorsements, polls and petty crap. The fact that Hardberger used Jaime Martinez and Rosa Rosales in his election night party celebration photo op shows that he is being less then genuine in courting latino voters. He feels that he can 'steal' votes away from Castro by using Mrs. Henry B. Gonzalez, Rosa Rosales and Jaime Martinez. What Hardberger doesn't understand is that it takes more than using Latinos as props to gain their support and their trust. In order for a candidate to gain support from a communtiy he/she must do two things-1.)Show commitment to that community through real time commitments at neighborhoods association meetings, business meetings and getting to know the people in the community through blockwalking. 2) Show commitment to the community through issues that affect them. Actually trying to solve some of the problems. Castro has done both of these for a large part of the Latino community in District 7 and then some. Hardberger has failed to show this type of real commitment to the Latino community in San Antonio. You see its important to note that while Castro may seek the support of Anglo voters, Democrat and Republican alike...He does not look down on them or try to hold them back...If anyone speaks for the issues of the community then that person will get Latino votes. If on the other hand Latinos are not taken seriously and are ignored by one of the mayoral candidates, then how are we supposed to trust that that person would represent us and our issues well? Many of Mr Hardbergers supporters look down on Latinos and Hardberger did NOT denounce what Mr. Wolf said, he just said, (Not actual quote)"Hey that's not my fault. Don't blame me. I'm running for mayor." It is racism when one race feels like their race is better...I don't think my "race" is better I just see a candidate who will support my issues better than Hardberger. On your attempt to turn the tables on me, I would like to share that I am half and half Mexican and Half Anglo. My familes are like night and day and I deeply understand the differences in thinking between the two cultures. To call me racist would be a sad thing seeing as how I am not racist.

Mr. Wolf what are you thinking?

Ok we have all heard of the infamous letter where Mr. Wolf of the Zachary Corp endorses Hardberger and then goes on to talk about how most city council candidates are ineffective..well actually let me use his words.....
Ladies and Gentlemen: I have always abided by the axiom that one should never discuss politics or religion with anyone but your immediate family. To do otherwise is a formula for creating a long list of former friends and associates. That said, I feel so strongly about the Mayor's race that I am compelled to break my own rule. I am asking you to vote for Phil Hardberger. The election is June 7. Early voting is May 31 through June 3. Most people in San Antonio (and the United States for thatmatter) do not vote. Only 18% voted in the May 3 election, a pretty good turnout for City Council elections. Less than 12% are expected for the runoff on June 7. Why? Because most of us feel totally disconnected from City Hall. If you are not a real estate developer (I plead the 5th) or in politics or have some unique Municipal issue you are dealing with, most citizens just want their taxes kept low, their streets paved and for EMS, the police and the fire department to show up quickly when you call them. Everything else is just a waste of money and generally irrelevant to your life. Or so you think. The truth is, strong leadership in Companies, basketball teams, religious institutions or Cities is what separates the successful ones from those that fail. Our City has drifted without strong leadership in the Mayor's seat for over 10 years. Our Councilmen vote based on media headlines, a few timely emails, or worse, reasons far more nefarious. Very few are qualified to lead our City or to mow your lawn, for that matter. The quality of our candidates is poor because of term limitations, $20 per week salaries for 60 hour workweeks and the amount of abuse one must suffer from the media. What sane person would want the job unless you had ulterior motives, saw the job as a stepping stone for your political career or were insane? Hence we have a vicious cycle of weak leaders, almost enough former Councilmen incarcerated to hold a quorum and City staff that is unresponsive to everyone (they can just wait you and your illinformed, term limited, elected official out.) This is why we need an experienced outsider outside the Council) to lead our City. If I were to suggest you buy stock in a Company with annual revenues of over $1.5 billion and 12,000 employees that lost money for the past 3 years because they were going to hire a new Chairman to turn their ship around and then told you the prospective Chairman was 30 years old, has never had a real job and never had any employees, you would quickly say no thank you. That is what you are facing with Julian Castro. Mr. Castro is a smarter version of Ed Garza, making him potentially far more dangerous. His politics lean strongly toward Socialism. He wants to organize (i.e., labor unions) the Hotel Industry and other industries that do business with the City. Can our hospitals be far behind? He says he is supportive of job growth and business but is too inexperienced to know how to attract it. He flip flops on hiring a City Manager over a few thousand dollars but is willing to spend $22 million on soccer fields and a professional soccer team. He says he is for the "little guy" but the little guy (and the big guy) needs jobs and less government in his life, not Julian running his life. What has he done for the past 4 years on the Council that should make you want him as Mayor for the next 4? Hardberger is 70 years old. This would be Phil Hardberger's last job. He doesn't need money from lobbyists, in fact, he put over $300,000 of his own money into his campaign. He is a successful former Chief Justice of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals and (hold my nose) a former plaintiffs attorney and former Director of the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity. He knows how to put votes together, has support from Republicans and Democrats alike and has no hidden agenda other than to put San Antonio on a path toward success. For every one of you who has ever wondered why our City staff is so unresponsive to your needs, why the SBC Arena was built in the ghetto, why our streets take forever to be repaved, why we don't attract more quality businesses to San Antonio, why your kids more often than not must go elsewhere for qualtiy jobs, I submit to you it all comes down to leadership. With almost 9 out of 10 neighbors staying home this runoff you have an opportunity to put our Community back on the right path. Don't blow it. Vote for Phil Hardberger.

What a mouthfull--Oh man this annoys me so much that I even have to point this stuff out but here goes--You know what's interesting is the unspoken racism in this race....Castro has great ideas and yet most Anglo Dems say that they prefer to vote for Hardberger because of the AGE and Experience thing--right on-Experience--He didn't know what a living wage was in one debate. He doesn't have the experience to be a good city leader but he's supposedly great becuase he's an outsider--An outsider who is being funded by the developers who will screw up the rest of what we have left in this city that is decent. He didn't want to allow a public vote on the PGA taxing district even though 73,000 people signed a petition calling for a vote. What experience? Being Older can bring wisdom but it can also bring many old political buddies out from their shells who want to keep whats theirs. This is basically a break in the Democratic Party between the Old Dems and the New Dems. Old dems feel that they are the status quo and that they need to maintain their dominance over SA politics. New Dems want to bring the Old Dems along into new ideas and the Old Dems give them the finger. They don't want change and they sure as heck don't want another successful hispanic who made it. If you don't think there is hidden racism, read Wolf's line on City Council candidates--"Very few are qualified to lead our city or mow your lawn for that matter". And just what the Hell is that supposed to mean you ask? Who do you think mows his lawn? His kid? No! Someone he considers "The Help" The majority of the Council members are Hispanic and are elected by their districts and their constituents which include neighborhood associations and neighborhood businesss. But they don't satisfy Mr. Wolf at the Zachary Corp do they? Look up White vs Regester--learn your history mr. Wolf--sorry for the rant but I am angry at the racism happening in the race and just saying that Castro is inexperienced(4 years on the city council is more than Hardberger has)--cmon people get over the skin color and just get down to ideas. Castro is not socialist--he understands business and Free markets--He went to freakin Harvard and Stanford and learned about working within the system to help people and represent them well.
Mr . Castro has outlined his good ideas many times--

1.) No building over the aquifer recharge zone without strict environmental regualtions.
2.) Spend money on keeping local business instead of giving away the farm to other businesses who will threaten to leave if they don't get everything they want.
3.) A reasonable salary for a City Manager hired on a better timetable, not a rush candidate by an outgoing mayor.
4.) Actually listening to the people when they say that the public's money shouldn't be spent on Project XYZ.
5.) Development of the Empowerment Zone so that our city does not decay from the inner city-outward.
6.) Building jobs in the knowledge economy.
7.) Building relationships within our neighborhoods and schools to keep students here in our community. Getting them to come back and give to San Antonio.
That may have been too much for one post but oh well.....

Cinncinatus--who and what are you?

Ok--it is plain to see that my anger was misdirected at Cicero from the San Antonio Election 2005 Blog --The real anger needs to be directed at Cincinatus. Seriously man, it sounds like you are an apologist for Hardberger. That is sad in a day and age where politicians are celebrities and you add to the band wagon mentality. It probably all stems from your felling of powerlessness. I have already misdirected this rant at Cicero--so I will redirect it at you Cinncinatus--I do believe though that you have a certain myopia that is disgusting...you have become an apologist for a campaign that has no real ideas. I do resent that and rightfully so. Hardberger has always been the recruited candidate by the Old Guard of the Old Democratic party that seeks to maintain the status quo and stifle new ideas and paradigm shifts. Your lack of treating the ideas in the campaign bothers me as I'm sure it bothers many citizens. Why do people use pseudonym's? To hide something...and I'm afraid its time to stop hiding your identity.

Allright, allright, I'm here.....

Ok Mr. Smith,
First I would like to say I am no fool. I know a bit more than I let on,(I enjoy being glib) but i enjoy reading your posts...They are great. I actually think you would be a great person to debate with and have a chat with...although me thinks you are still a little angry over my baptism by fire into the blogging world. I would like to say that perhaps, I got you wrong--No more like I totally got you wrong....and for that I am sorry.

Secondly, I have been playing Devil's advocate --I agree with most everything you said, I am no brown shirt and I don't like Olive Garden. After working there for two years to pay some of your college education, you just can't stand it, besides the fact that it is a huge money eating corporation that shows little mercy to its servers who work for a meager $2.15 an hour. I am not Italian but I would much rather eat at Giovanni's over by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts center.
I did unrightfully make an outrageous accusation about the whole Hardberger thing....I think. I actually think my target was missed, it was Cinsinatus and not Cicero. I still don't know who Cincinatus is and I do think that he has not given Castro a fair chance in this race. For that matter I don't think anyone has. When I said paradign shift in ideas I was actually refering to Castro's ideas on balanced economic development in San Antonio. I should have been more specific. I find it most amazing that few bloggers talk about Castro's seemingly anti-business attitude--remember he has few business friends who are supporting him. I think he is changing the way that the business community will have to deal with elected officials. If he wins election they will have to kiss his a$$. I think its healthy for the business commnity to have to earn the respect of the elected politicians rather than the other way around. I will give you that Castro is political--but I see this as a benefit. Politics is politics and it seems that he can be swayed by the people and not by the businessmen. I may even see that Castro is a little cocky and thats ok too. Our political system is built to get ego driven people to run for office. These ego driven people can be controlled because they want to maintain their polished appearance.
I agree with 1) Beat cops in crime ridden areas--but do we know that there is understaffing in this area or that it would help--Are there any figures of facts that would show this?
2) Giving tax abatements to businesses that hire people for minimum wage--I know this was one of Castro's issues on the PGA--he wanted business that got abatements and contracts from the city to at the very least avoid massive pollution of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and pay a living wage to its bottom level employees.
3.) Means test parents who avial themselves of the public school system--all it takes is one court case--I just want to be sure I get this right---poorer students could opt for private schools if they could get in to private schools?
4) Reform zoning laws--mixed income neighborhoods--I believe Castro has talked about experiencing that at Harvard and Stanford. I agree that it obliterates any chance of building social capital by its gated communities. I agree with the mixed neighborhoods making gerrymandering a bit tougher and political diversity making for closer elections. Instead of the senators picking their constituents, it would be the other way around.
5) I never thought of the highway situation in the way you framed it, but yes I do agree with you somewhat. Did you know what the Highways were originally built for? I'm sure you do. If not---It was actually national security. The highways were built so that people and military machines--tanks and the like could move freely and quickly in and out of the city. All the highways are built to be able to hold tanks--imagine that.
6) Impove local drainage--I agree but have you checked to see what they have done already? I know we spent a lot of money creating Woodlawn Lake and building a drainage tunnel underneath the City that avoids downtown from flooding everytime it rains. I know we have the Olmos Basin, I'd have to think more about what is even possible for us to do--real solutions.
7) I don't know on the whole sports issue--I'd like to see an economic impact statement about the Spurs--I know the price is heavy to build their crap stadium and I know they intimidate city officials if there is not near full public financing, but just what do the Spurs give back to the community? Are they doing there share? I am not sure on this question yet.
8) Interesting point on the being a second rate Texas city. Hmm, I will have to read more of your posts.
9) I agree on charter reform--I like three, three year terms, term limits and no career city politicians. I agree on extending ethics reform to the lobbyists..and I agree on making www.saelections.com obsolete. Nothing personal--i just agree with you fully. SA Elections has helped so many people make good informed decisions.
10) I am pretty sure that we totally disagree on the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto--San Jacinto was a horrible massacre and the Battle of the Alamo is soooo misunderstood. We can argue about this one later--but the Texians took the Alamo originally from the Mexican army and killed Santa Ana's son in law...all in the name of "freedom"--Hell no--There were tons of reasons, including the Law of 1830 outlawing slavery and "illegal Anglo immigrants" as well as miscommunication and a feeling of superiority of the immigrants from America.
I do not purchase my ideas in bulk although I know many people who do...and I am not a social darwinist...I don't think mankind advances to any superior race, I just think individuals are immoral bastards who will act as humans act...I think that we should not let that stop us however from taking whats rightfully ours through the Democratic system.
I am definetly not a radio talk show host and I despise Jackass Bacardi who has little brain and is entirely full of himself. After debating with him one night on an issue he invited me and a friend out to lunch to discuss ideas with all these neo-conservatives. It was a hoot!! They all were bordering on insanity and were very close to spitting the most viral epithets out there when they realized that they had two Mexican Americans sitting in front of them.
Just a side conversation---have you ever heard of the Industrial Areas Foundation? If so, what are your thoughts on it? I have some experience with the IAF and am a huge fan of Saul Alinsky.