El Segundo Fire and Police Union bosses unilaterally endorsed candidates: 
 

1. With the Worst public safety and spending records.

   The Union bosses endorsed George Nakano for our State Assembly district in 2002, even though Nakano voted only two days after the 9-11 Terrorist Attack to give official California driver licenses to Illegal Aliens, Identity Thieves, Drug Smugglers, and Terrorists using the identity of their choice (AB 60, 9/13/01). Nakano voted for dangerous laws and bloated budgets that led to the Governor Davis recall.

   The El Segundo Police Union bosses also endorsed Bob Pinzler of Redondo Beach for State Assembly. He was another supporter of dangerous, soft-on-crime policies opposed by more than 80% of rank and file police officers (nationwide surveys by the National Association of Chiefs of Police).


 
 
2. Without meeting or talking with any of the other city council candidates, and without allowing Union members to vote on endorsements.

   The Union bosses decided to endorse the “progressive” slate last December or early January, before having any contact with any of the other candidates. Mike Robbins contacted Kevin Rehm on March 28. Kevin admitted the Union members did not meet the candidates or vote, but said the endorsement decision was “flowed down to them”. Upon further questioning, he said he was arranging a vote. When asked if he would allow members to meet and talk with all candidates before this “retroactive vote”, he said “No. I will flow the issues down to them.”

   There was NO MEMBER VOTE before endorsements were made.
   Not allowing Union members to meet candidates and vote before endorsements are made is grossly undemocratic. Any candidate can receive an endorsement based on the votes of just two Union bosses.

   How representative is that?

   A “retroactive vote” after being exposed as a “done deal” is not a real vote.


 
 
3. Without allowing the members to meet and talk with the candidates with real, outstanding public safety records.

POLITICAL CORRUPTION?

The police and fire Union bosses endorsed the three candidates supported with tens of thousands of dollars from outside special interests, including developers, a trash hauler, someone who tried to obtain a large city contract without competition, and others who may expect something in return.

The $50,000 plus election campaign with many $1,000 to $6,000 contributions is highly unusual for small town El Segundo.

Campaigns used to cost less than $5,000 and a lot of shoe leather. We are at risk of having all future Mayors and Councilmembers selected before the election by Union bosses and outside special interests. We may lose our Democratic elections.

We value our high quality police and fire services and personnel. However, salaries should be based on the law of supply and demand and the true value of high quality personnel in a free economy.

The average El Segundo firefighter salary is $134,069 plus $40,576 in benefits plus an additional 34% raise. Some believe this makes El Segundo firefighters the highest paid in the nation. Police salaries are also very lucrative with additional scheduled increases. These Union contracts can be renegotiated upward but not downward by a new city council.

Have these Union endorsements been paid for in advance, or will additional increases be forthcoming?
 

POSSIBLE INTIMIDATION?

The police and fire Union boss endorsements are intimidating some residents and business owners who perceive an implied threat that emergency service may be delayed or absent, or they may be harassed, if they openly support candidates not approved by the Union bosses.

Is this the right direction for El Segundo?

Authored and Paid for by:

Michael Robbins
El Segundo Public Safety Project
P.O. Box 2193
El Segundo, CA 90245

Not authorized or endorsed by any candidate or committee.

Rev. 04/09/04

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