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Check here to fact check what the other candidates are saying!  We will be dispelling the myths and giving you the "Reality" of the situations we face here in Damascus and ensure you aren't just hearing campaign rhetoric.
"Friends of David for Damascus"
 

 Spinnett "Reality Check"

 

According to Steve Spinnett, these are the biggest issues facing Damascus, but let's see how he stacks up against those very issues.  And these don't even address the fact that he has continued to laugh in the face of State, County and City regulations regarding such things as dumping over 10,500 cubic yards of illegal fill on his property, clearcutting a portion of his property in an attempt to circumvent the affects of a pendingt emporary tree ordinance, having to be sued by one of his own neighbors during the construction of his home for clearing a portion of their property.
 
Local Control:  He talks about how outside influences are affecting Damascus, yet he he hires a outside campaign consultant who is known and been terminated for his "dirty tactics" , a media company from Portland, is having his campaign funds tracked by an outside operative who was the leading lobbyist for big tobacco against Measure 50 and is  all the while driving around in a personal campaign vehicle registered in WA.
 
Citizen Involvement:  He complains about the lack of interest in citizens involvement but just how many city council meetings and/or work sessions have you attended in the last 8 months as the Comp. Plan has been being finalized Mr. Spinnett?  Is there a difference in your mind between 'not being listened to' and not getting the answer you want?
 
METRO is running things:  METRO is subject to the same public records laws and regulations as the City of Damascus.  Those laws and regulations have been used by you and your wife to request and RECEIVE many documents (estimated cost to the City of Damascus, $1700+) concerning the planning process in Damascus.  How many public records requests have you filed with METRO to obtain proof of your claims about the grand conspiracy of which you speak?  What were the results of those requests filed with METRO?
 
My property taxes have gone up $1500 per year and I have not seen any benefit:  When you voted to incorporate, one of the issues before the voters as part of the incorporation question was the establishment of a tax base.  We now have dedicated police service, a collective voice in negotiating with other government entities, and staff in the office to assemble the documents you have requested.  Requests that have cost your fellow taxpayers several thousand dollars in staff time and materials just this fiscal year.  From a certain perspective, you have received more DIRECT benefit than most other taxpayers in our city. 
 
Others in our city have also had their property taxes go up, some of whom did not vote to incorporate.  I am one of those people that YOU in affect voted a new tax upon.  I did not vote to incorporate but when my neighbors and friends did, I volunteered my time to the city council to use my skills to try to run an efficient government for my neighbors.  You apparently voted to become a city and then have made a hobby of complaining about the added responsibility that comes from being a city.
 
We need a traffic light on Highway 212:  Your question illustrates several points.  The first is your lack of specificity.  Where exactly should that light be placed?  At Tong Rd., Bel Air,  222nd?  How about Hollyview Ct. and Hollyview Terrace?  Those last two intersections have had three fatalities in the last few years.  Two young mothers and a child lost their lives there.  Is it those that you seek a light for, or on 222nd to make travel easier for you?  Could you not traverse over and use the light at 242nd?  That option doesn't exist for the people of Hollyview or other neighborhoods.   
 
The other issue your question makes clear, is that you do not understand nor acknowledge that different government entities have differing jurisdications and responsibilities.  Highway 212 is just that, a highway.  More precisely, a State highway.  A State highway under the jurisdiction and management of ODOT.  The city can no more erect a traffic light on Highway 212 than Damascus can order the invasion of a foreign country.  Not withstanding, I have opened a dialogue with both the State and County regarding the many road issues that we have in Damascus.  Issues as to posting speed limit signs where there are none and traffic can move at up to 55 mph legally.  Issues such as looking at four-way stops at 222nd & Borges, there are many issues besides lights on a State highway.  Not understanding and acknowledging the limits of what our city is responsible for and has the power to control has the potential to cost the city of Damascus and it's citizens thousands, if not millions of dollars.  Are you prepared to have your fellow citizens spend their money on fruitless, tilting-a-windmill quests while you learn what those limits are?
 
We don't have the time or the money to put you through on the job training Mr. Spinnett.  Maybe if you had actually spent some time on either City Council or valuable research, you would be a bit more up to speed.
 
 
Steve Spinnett getting his money$ worth:
 
Even though Steve Spinnett voted yes on incorporation and the new city tax base, he continues to complain about having to now pay those taxes and questions what "he" is getting for "his" money.  Well, while the rest of us are only benefitting with dedicated police coverage and code enforcement, Spinnett is using "yours" and his tax dollars to use city staff time to research his own property and to fight things such as actions regarding the illegal fill that he dumped on his property and natural features that exist.  From public records, here are the public document requests that he has made in just the past year!  Do you think this is a good use of your city staffs time and more importantly, "your" tax dollars?  Oh as a reminder, Steve Spinnett was instrumental in the campaign that created the charter amendment regarding collection of charges and fees.  That one has worked very well for him don't you think?
 

05/26/09

Steve Spinnett

Documents re illegal Spinnett fill

06/02/09

$    1,107

01/12/10

Spinnett, Cindy

title11 documents

01/14/10`

$     46.00

01/19/10

Spinnett, Cindy

UGMFP effects w/o agreements

01/25/10

See line below

01/19/10

Spinnett, Cindy

Functional Plan

01/25/10

      221.88

02/08/10

Cindy Spinnett

All doc regarding citizens request on restrictions on property

02/17/10

      762.53

02/08/10

Cindy Spinnett

Percentage of Comp Plan map overlay

02/23/10

      310.38

02/16/10

Cindy Spinnett

Metro’s 2040 Plan

02/23/10

          “

02/16/10

Cindy Spinnett

Setbacks procedure

02/23/10

          “

02/16/10

Cindy Spinnett

Metro Requirements for 4 milestones

02/23/10

          “

02/16/10

Cindy Spinnett

Rationale for property designation

02/23/10

          “

02/19/10

Cindy Spinnett

Misc. docs and Council response

02/23/10

         46.34

02/22/10

Cindy Spinnett

Cit. Inv. Prog.

02/23/10

        38.26

02/22/10

Cindy Spinnett

Appeals Process

02/23/10

 (ask JB)

07/01/10

Cindy Spinnett

Copy of Dev Code Packet 070710 mtg.

07/01/10

         7.52

07/12/10

Steve Spinnett

Planning budget totals

07/13/10

        94.11

09/01/10

Cindy Spinnett

Identify Citizens Complaining about Signs

Not Complete. Yet

 

 
Spinnett Reality Check
 
After being notified by mail that many of his campaign signs are in violation of either State, County or City codes, Steve Spinnett's reaction is to go to City Hall and request a list of names of individuals that have filed complaints regarding these signs.  Is this how we can expect him to react to every situation if he is Mayor?  To get a list of names for which to exact some type of action or revenge? 
 
Spinnett Reality Check
 
Steve Spinnett wants you to question David's decisions while on City Council but let's look at his own words to Council in December of 2008
A couple of items to consider
STEVE SPINNETT [stevespinnett@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:54 AM
To:
Attachments:
Greetings City Council and some C3.
 
I have encouraged David Jothen to apply for the vacated city council position. I feel that David has worked hard for Damascus with excellence. With Davids experience and his clarity it would be very difficult to find someone more qualified. Please consider him for the council position.
 

 

 
Spinnett Reality Check 
 
Apparently Mr. Spinnett too is more concerned with David than his actual opponent.  Upon realizing that David will due to the delay by Helm regarding the coin toss hampering his ability to decide whether or not to be in the race, will still be on the ballot, he feels that he still has to campaign against David.   Both David and City staff attempted to get Clackamas Co. to correct this but the deadline was missed by 2 days.
 
Mr. Spinnett should be worrying about his actual opponent as our team is not doing any active campaigning and is only keeping the "Reality Check" active as a service to the citizens of Damascus.
 
It also appears that both campaigns may be up to dirty tricks such as sign stealing and disparaging notes put in peoples mailboxes under the cover of night.  Both campaigns are doing just what our team anticipated and David did not want to be a part of.  Resorting to personal attacks and drudging up the past rather than identifying to the citizens what they have to offer in the position of Mayor.  Of course it's the concensus of our team that when you don't have anything to hang your hat on, as both these folks don't, you resort to the dirty tricks.  We were looking forward to an issue based campaign with David in the race and quickly realized that neither of his opponents could talk intelligently about the issues and their lack of leadership ability would have shown brightly in any open debates.
 
Spinnett Reality Check
 
Just another example of how out of touch that Spinnett is with the power of the position.  This accountability already exists with the Council and the Budget Committee (made up of citizens of Damascus).  He does not have the ability to do much of anything he proposes.
 
Steve Spinnett for Mayor
Roy - if I could I would lower taxes, but the next best thing is a spending limit with a possible kicker refund. I would also consider a rainy day fund. Of course in our world we would call that a savings account.
The first day in office I w...ould require an account for every penny spent. I would also make public every fluff idea and dollar spent.
I talked with the folks on Anderson - most are very unhappy with the showpiece. They say the only people that walk on the sidewalk are city councilors.
We have spent over $3,000,000 on planning since 2006.
Every tax dollar received should be considered a sacred trust, none of which we are seeing now.
 
David's rebuttal to Steve Spinnetts comment on his Facebook page"
Steve, this is just another example of just how little you know about City government and the position of Mayor.

There is already accountability for every penny spent and that information is put out every single month in the form of the city's financial report. Council and the Mayor have the opportunity to review and contest as needed.

You also obviously have no idea of the financial postion of the city. There is no need for a "Rainy Day" fund as the city has functioned under it's budget each and every year. A budget that you like to paint a picture as being inflated because you do not understand the budget process and that grants are plugged in that the city is applying for.

It should be noted that Steve has never applied for the budget committee nor attended a single budge committee meeting. A budget committee that is made up of citizens of Damascus in equal number to Counci. A committee that has the ability to add and subtract as they see fit.

In a nutshell Steve, get at least a rudimentary knowledge of something before you start talking about dismantling it.
 
Spinnett Reality Check 
 
Spinnett has this chart on his website.  It's another misrepresentation of fact and we will rebut in Red,
 

Steve Spinnett David Jothen and Diana Helm

while on the City Council

 

• Voted in favor of NO new taxes without a vote

of the people, assisted with the campaign.

But in fact Spinnett voted "Yes" on incorporation and thus forced a new city tax on all of his fellow citizens including David who did not. 

• Spoke out and campaigned against NO new

taxes.

New or increases in taxes already have to be voted on by the citizens of Damascus.  This measure actually only affected charges and fees.  Spinnett uses the "T" word as a scare tactic!

• Voted for initiative process to be consistent with

state’s process which the voters agreed with

As did David.  In fact, David was the only Councilor that spoke out after Councilor Shannon's ill fated attempt to limit the citizen initiative process.

• On 10/1/2007 City Council unanimously

agreed to place an initiative (ordinance

#2007-19) on the ballot to limit the initiative

process

The initiative did not limit the initiative process.  It sought to put a sunset period on the length of time that signatures were valid on any petition.  It should be noted that the County elections board may require any petitioner to validate any and all signatures after one year if the petitiion is not presented for certification.

• I am for citizen involvement in all phases of the

planning process, and will absolutely consider,

review and attempt to implement your ideas

and plans. This is your city!

As is David.  In fact while Spinnett was no where to be seen (and so was Helm for that matter). David was the liaison for the Committee for Citizen Involvement.  When the Mayor and the rest of Council was supporting staff and turning their back on the CCI, David was offering to resign his council seat and join the committee if they would not resign en masse.

• While David and Diana served on the city

council the entire Citizen Involvement

Committee (CCI) resigned stating “CCI’s

repeated requests and recommendations to

council have not been supported but have

been met by council with no response,

deflection, argument, defensiveness and

minimal if any opportunity for discussion”.

An in both an Oregonian and KOIN TV interviews, the Chairperson and members of CCI stated that David was their lone supporter and was by no means the reason that they resigned en masse.  They literally applauded David when during a joint meeting with Council, he offered to resign his council seat and join their committee if they would stay on board.

• I authored and introduced the original 8th core

value. Respect for private property rights and

economic fairness through the design process.

Spinnett presented the suggestion of the 8th Core Value to the Community Coordination Committee of which David was the Council Liaison.  David supported the proposal and helped lead the 22 member team to craft the language for the 8th Core Value.  David also championed the new Core Value through Council while Mayor Wright, Councilor Helm and Councilor Shannon were opposed to the addition.  It was only after presenting the idea of the new Core Value to the citizens at the Sub Area meetings that Council agreed to adopt the 8th Core Value.  Steve Spinnett gives himself way too much credit in this process.

• The city council took the 8th core value and

completely striped its meaning and intent. I

guess they didn’t see any value in your

private property rights.

The Council along with members of C3 and the community fine tuned the language into something far more understandable and actually something that could be implemented.  Spinnetts version was amatuerish and too vague.

• Currently I am working on making the process

for correcting inaccurate land designations on

your property simple and cost effective for you

the citizen.

Spinnett has wasted literally thousands of your tax dollars filing public information requests regarding "his" property.  He has shown absolutely no interest in anyone elses property and has made ridiculous requests to allow him to develop with less than county standard roads and caps on possible sewer hook up fees that are less than what was charged east Multnomah Co. residents in the late 70's.  On the other hand, David has pressed for more "boots on the ground" property reviews to identify possible inaccuracies.  Review of all citizens that feel that there is a discrepancy and not just the Spinnetts property.

• As of now the process the city has presented

is so extreme and costly to the individual,

including hiring Geo Tech testing,

maneuvering Metros Title 13, and a host of

other very expense consultants, all to clarify

inaccuracies the city made regarding your

property.

No property has been officially designated anything at this point.  There are no expensive tests or certifications required on any citizens to date.  It should be noted that Spinnett refuses to acknowledge that while Helm has voted "yes" to every Metro IGA or associated activity, David voted "NO" on the Metro IGA, voted "NO" on the current Comprehensive Plan Map and in fact has been a staunch opponent to Metro's Title 13.  David was the individual who brought the Title 13 information to Councils attention back in January of 2009 after Gresham had adopted it.  David has fought vigorously for local control and not caved into Metro's density edicts or overly restrictive stream setback recommendations.

• I am for maintaining a rural feel while still

allowing development with consideration given

to you the citizen in regards to your property.

Since 2006, David has pursued the allowance of any Damascus citizen to come to the city with their self funded development plans and to have each plan reviewed for acceptance.  David has never bought into the business as usual approach or the blanket approach of denying development in the Buttes and over densifying the valley floor.  David in fact crafted the Damascus Village Development Plan which was brought to the citizens as Plan A during the Coffee Klatches.  Plan A was subsequently mispresented at almost every session by Helm and Councilor Shannon.   Plan A was misrepresented that it would not require villages when in fact it called for any development over a certain acreage to be developed as a village.  It was also represented by Helm as creating an apartment city which in fact Plan B creates that opportunity.  David since 2007 has pushed to limit the size of multi-family developments to small block apartments of no more that 60-80 units per development.

• At this time city council through staff is

attempting to implement Metro’s UGMF Plan,

Metro’s 2040 Plan and Metro’s Master Green

Space Plan into our code development. All

this without informing you of their extreme

regulations on your property.

That is Spinnetts opinion.  One that he has developed with little or no involvement in the process and virtually no attendance at any meetings.

• I am for observing state land use goals

including goals 5 and 7 for the safety and

welfare for you the citizens of Damascus.

As is David and the rest of Council.  David is pushing for setback in line with State requirements or development of our own critieria.  David does not agree with or accept Metro's Title 13 mandagtes.

• Currently city is implementing Metro’s

standards and regulations on your property

that far exceeds state goals and standards.

That remains to be seen.  David voted "No" on the Comprehensive Plan Map and will not give in to anything that is overly restrictive or strips away private property rights or value.

• I am in favor of informing citizens of regulations

attempting to be imposed on their properties.

If Spinnett would bother to show up at meetings or do his homework, he would know that this is already in place and is a State requirement.

• City continues to write up Metro’s plan and

regulations on individual properties without

informing you the citizen.

Once again Spinnett is woefully uninformed.

• Since 2004 I have made various citywide

invitations, held rally’s to trumpet a clarion call

that our city was and still is being held hostage

by Metro and other outside influences all with

council’s approval.

Spinnett has held what could be considered nothing more than propaganda meetings in which there was no discussion or dialogue other than him and several other shouting out their ill informed opinions without fact or knowledge.  Spinnett turned his back on the Concept Planning Committee in an attempt to enrage a crowd at a meeting at Deep Creek and was basically asked to sit down.

David on the other hand has been fighting the same battle from the inside with rationale, knowledge and reason.  David has been able to actually accomplish some things in the draft plan that would not normally have been attempted and he championed the 8th Core Value for individual property rights.  David agrees with many of the issues that Mr. Spinnett takes issue with but understands that you do not start the conversation with a left to the jaw.  You lay out your case based on what the citizens say that they want, our community developed Core Values and then you stand strong and firm.  We can get what we desire with a strong facts backing our case and argument.  Not by throwing out accusations and attempting to either block out or shout down the agency in which we are discussing the issue with.  Mr. Spinnett has the grace of a bull in a china shop and that will not work in this case.  We fear that he will learn the hard way and the result will be a less than favorable result for Damascus.

• Dave Jothen and Diana Helm could have

sounded the trumpet but missed the

opportunity to lead and to inform citizens as

to what was happening to you! Both went

back and forth on many issues with an

attempt to go along get along at the citizen’s

expense.

While Helm has followed David with her form of "Me too" leadership this past 4 years.  David has continued to be the most accessible and responsive of all of our city councilors.  He has been the council liaison to two of our most important citizen committees, he started the Coffee with a Councilor event has has hosted more than 45 of those events to date and has written more Councilor Corner pieces for the City News than any other councilor.  To state that David has "missed" the opportunity to inform and lead our citizens in ludicrous and Spinnett knows it.  If he wants to attack the rest of council and Helm in this regard that is fine.  But those of us on David's team that the rest of our informed citizens no this is nonsense.  Check the record, David has never "went along".  In fact, he holds more dissenting votes than any other councilor and after many of those votes, his fellow councilors have admitted privately that he was right and that they didn't have the intestinal fortitude to vote correctly.  Maybe Spinnett should actually have spent some time in the trenches of council so that he would have a clue about what he is speaking.

 

Spinnett Reality Check

 

It's amazing what someone will learn once they finally bother to get involved.  Spinnett sent this out recently, check out our Reality check in red below.

 

Dear Friends, 

     In a previous article I mentioned business and family are part of the main fabric of society and that all other institutions come from those.

In my experiences going door to door in Damascus I am amazed at how many home based businesses there are. I am also aware how nervous those with businesses on their property are, especially in light of new code that is being written.

I have heard of one person with an excavation business that is no longer allowed to park his dump truck in his driveway.

My experience is that typically government is much more used to restricting business than assisting businesses.

I will see to it (and hold me accountable) that I will be business friendly in my decisions should I become mayor.

Whatever we do, we should make sure we do everything possible to assist in an economic recovery.

While we are glad that Mr. Spinnett is actually talking to people and getting the realities of Damascus, this is another example of how he is totally clueless regarding the Comprehensive Plan and the citizen developed Goals & Policies.  David gave up 4 consecutive Saturdays meeting with our citizens at City Hall to help develop our Goals & Policies that are the foundation of our Development and Municipal Codes.  The Goals & Policies specifically remark about "Home Based Businessess" with encouragement of them and development of flexibility to not only allow them but encourage them!

In regard to the gentleman with his dump truck, there is NO code that does not allow someone to park a dump truck on their property.  Our team contacted Code Enforcement and were told that the only action that has been taken about this type of activity was someone who was parking their heavy equipment in the road and public right of way.  Neighbors filed a code complaint and the individual was told that they could not park the equipment in the roadway due to safety and right of way concerns.  Now if this particular individual parked the dump truck on his property and basically abandoned it, that would be another matter.  This is another example why Mr. Spinnett should not be taken for just his word.  You will get either part of the story or a jaded version that best sells his message that City Hall is your enemy!

 Helm "Reality Check"

 

Ms. Helm implies that she is non-biased and does not align with any group in particular.  Yet, she was a member and was supported by AskDamascus during her first run for Council.  

 

Ms. Helm and then Council President Jim Wright started a Political Action Committee (PAC) to fight the first round of citizen initiative petitions.  Do you feel that it is in the best interest of our citizens for an elected official who has the responsibiltiy to represent all of our citizens, to then go out and form a political organization to fight them?  I don't!  

 

Ms. Helm then aligned herself with SaveDamascus until advised that it was probably not wise to have her name listed on their website.

 

There is nothing wrong with forming opinions and have stands on particular issues, it's just that as an elected official this is a fine line to walk.  You must remain as objective as possible.  Bouncing from group to group to best meet your own political ambitions is not a sign of leadership or objectivity. 

 

Helm Reality Check

 

 Through great diligence and David's leadership, City Council was able to get a significant area of land owned by Helm changed back to it's original designation.  Through some type of magic, or possibly via the path worn between the Community Development Directors cubicle and Helm's business across the street from City Hall, Helm's property outside of Council pervue was changed to medium density residential at 8 units per acre while other identical butte properties were zoned 1 to the acre.  The Butte residential designation is for properties like Helm's that consist of slope between 15-24%.  When asked why that Helm's property was changed from the lower density designation to the higher, Helm and Community Development Director Anita Yap responded that it was due to it's proximity to the current city center.  After bringing this to the rest of the Council's attention and the fact that the Butte Residential designation makes no reference to that type of exception, the property was put back into the proper designation.   This is just another example of how Helm has used her current Council position (and outside of Council acceptance) to manipulate the mapping for her financial benefit.  A tactic she fought against as a member of AskDamascus.  In the October 6, 2008 edition of the Gresham Outlook, Helm clearly states that she was running for Council due to the designation of her property on Concept Plan Map.  Is this the type of activities you want going on behind closed doors at City Hall?

 

 

Helm Reality Check

 

Against normal acceptable election protocol, Helm was seen requesting and receiving campaign endorsements from private citizens and at least on City Councilor inside City Hall.  We are not sure if this is an actual campaign violation but it is not normally acceptable for any candidate to be campaigning within the walls of YOUR City Hall.  Between Helm and Spinnett, the rules just do not appear to apply to them.  I guess when you have the possible financial windfall that this postion could bring to Helm's property, you will do whatever it takes.

 

 

Helm Reality Check 

 

Rather than take the political or moral high ground, the Helm campaign team has chosen to battle the Spinnett campaign and their illegal oversized signs by order oversized signs of their own!

A review of ORESTAR shows a charge for 4x8 wooden signs from a local company.

Does this show the leadership that Damascus needs?  Someone else breaks the rules and appears to be getting away with it, so you do the same thing!  Shame on you Diana!

 

 

Helm Reality Check

 

Well it appears that Helm's flawed political theory that David and Steve Spinnett will split the AskDamascus vote (we are not sure why AskDamascus folks would vote for David, we do know they won't vote for her as she quit their group after they helped get her elected) and that she will win easily will go down an imaginary toilet.  You would think that if she truly believed that nonsense, she would work hard to keep David in the race and ensure that "imaginary" victory. 

David and our team will be shutting down the campaign at 6:00 this evening (see Home Page).  We are truly saddened to have to take this step but Diana Helm has only herself to blame.  If she had not filed against David, Steve Spinnett would not have run through the door that she opened and emerge as the potential victor.  We applaud David for putting Damascus first and giving the city a fighting chance.  It's Helms race to win or lose at this point and we do not see her working anywhere near as hard as we were already working to ensure a victory and keep Damascus moving forward.

 

Helm Reality Check

 

 

Even though David has dropped out of the race, Helm continues to disparage him.  Our candidate dropped out of this race to create an opportunity to win and yet Helm seems more concerned about David.

 

In an Oregonian article dated 9-18-10, Helm accusess David of "realigning" with the Ask Damascus group.  Let us be very clear, David has never been aligned with Ask Damascus thus it is impossible for him to "realign" himself with the group. 

 

Helm references that she has tried to contact David twice.  We have checked with David and he received one email from Helm and only after the story in the Gresham Outlook.  It was a weak and non-concillatory reach.  Helm stated that it looked like by the Outlook article that David was waiting for Helm to ask for his support, so this was her "official" request.  Helm closed the note with just her first name.  No thank you, no "sincerely", no let's sit down and talk.  As David so eloquently put in the Oregonian article, "if she wants my support, she is not helping her own cause"

 

Helm Reality Check

 

Has Helm campaigned in your neighborhood?  She sure hasn't knocked on any of our teams doors.  While Spinnett is committing to knocking on doors 2-3 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Helm apparently wants you to come to her business to pick up signs and brochures.

 

Our candidate dropped out of the race to create a level playing field and give Helm a fighting chance of beating Spinnett.  Evidently she took David's withdrawal as an excuse to not work to earn your vote and is now expecting David to make a public show of support and ask his supporters to now vote for Helm.

 

David spent four years earning respect and support, should'nt Helm do the same.

 

David's withdrawal statement said it all.  He clearly identified who will not be the best choice for Damascus.  This however was not meant to give Helm an excuse to not campaign and earn your vote!

 

Helm Reality Check

 

Our team is curious as to why Helm's husbands LLC has made such a sizable donation to the Livable Damascus PAC.  If Helm is trying to be a unifier, than why all of her eggs in one basket?  Or is this a behind the scenes way to fund the smear campaign and still look clean?

 

 

Helm Reality Check

 

SaveDamascus.org who hasn't updated their own website since February of this year, has published a tabloid that gives the appearance of being written by a 6 year old.  Even their leading headline is not only grammatically incorrect but really makes no sense at all.

 

Another flash of brilliance is that it arrived in our mailboxes on Wednesday October 13th and is announcing a candidates forum that took place two days earlier.  In the immortal words of the Guinness beer commercials "Brilliant"!

 

In another flash of brilliance, like the Spinnett campaign, they still seem to be very fearful of David!  Under the endorsement of Diana, they felt it necessary to tell everyone that David is on the ballot.  To which we say, Thank You very much!

 

The inside of the tabloid is the same old rehash of the history of who we are, how we got here and where we could end up.  All things relevant to the current election..............NOT!

 

On the back cover is another amatuerish attempt to attack Spinnett.  Unfortunately, it misses the mark completely.  In Claim #1, the don't dispute what Spinnett had to say!  They just added that they "spent far less".  Yeah, that is going to give Damascuns a warm fuzzy!

 

Claim #2, they claim that Metro has not been a part of the comp plan process yet Metro was involved with the design charrette and Community Development Director Anita Yap has said publically that either her or a member of her staff meet with Metro folks weekly.  Oh, swing and a miss, strike two!

 

Basically the piece is very ineffective and if that is what Helm got for her $3,000 contribution to Livable Damascus, she should demand a refund.  Folks from our campaign could have created a better piece for about half the price and something that was cogent, adult and accurate. 

 

Helm Reality Check

 

As we anticipated, Helm is apparently too busy to campaign.  Council candidate Mary Wescott has been canvassing on behalf of her own campaign along with that of Helm and Councilor Shannon.  When asked at one of our doorsteps, where was Helm and Shannon.  Wescott sheepishly commented, "they are very busy".  Oh, busy, uh okay.

 

We had a pretty good inclination that Helm would sit back and rely on her comment to David that "everybody loves me and everyone wants me to be Mayor."  We feel Helm is in for one heckuva a surprise come election night.  If you think that "everyone loves you", you need to step back and take a big long Reality Check!