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Code of Fair Campaign Practices

Among the varied and sundry forms one must fill out to run for public office in Burlingame, there is one form I signed that I thought I'd share with you. It is a voluntary agreement to abide by certain moral obligations during this election and, in addition, repudiate any support given by individuals or groups that violate the following precepts. I have excerpted the three most pertinent (of seven) for inclusion here . The full text can be obtained from City Clerk, Doris Mortensen @burlingame.org:

1) I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing without fear or favor the record and policies of my opponents…which merit such criticism.

2) I shall not use or permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurillous attacks on any candidate or his/her personal or family life.

6) I shall immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or group which resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of my opponent, to the methods and tactics which I condemn. I shall accept responsibility to take firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this code or the laws governing elections.

s/ Cathy Baylock

– Written by CathyBaylock

Posted in

28 responses to “Code of Fair Campaign Practices”

  1. Anonymous

    I think, Cathy, in an effort to keep this Blog true to its roots, “to inform and enpower,” it would behoove all contributors to follow your example. The beauty of exchanging ideas with everyone is that we might, together, come up with something that is truly beneficial to the entire community. It is particularly interesting when people with differing views on many issues can find common ground. Let’s try to keep this Blog to the highest of standards.

  2. Jim

    Cinderella would be proud!

  3. Paul Prendiville

    I support you 100%,Cathy,Explain that to the Keighran’s an the O’Brien Mob

  4. Fiona

    Mr. Cohen and Mrs. Nagel ran a clean campaign in the past and they are an example of what should happen this time round. People want change and open dialogue includes “open and publicly discussing the issues” even when you dont agree with the tone or the substance – yes even on “the common ground” of the Burlingame Voice. That said, attacking a candidate’s parents seems to be very low, Paul.

    The dynamics have changed and this year’s election will be clean.

  5. Matilda

    Note to Cathy… It went right over their heads!

  6. Paul Prendiville

    Next time Mr O’ Brien inform’s me,Quote. “that it’s just as well i’m married to an Irish Girl or i would be dead by now” i won’t be as patient with him .I respectfully Rest my case.

  7. fred

    Cathy, what should be done about the Safeway corner and what changes are you looking for in Burlingame? I sincerely thank you in advance for responding to my questions.

  8. Anonymous

    I do not think any candidate would feel comfortable blogging their positions to anonymous people over the internet. But, you can find out some info from their websites, or ask your questions at the public forum.

    Someone asked the same questions concerning Gene Condon when I mentioned that I would email him directly. Which I did. He responded that he would only speak over the phone or in person, to match the face to the comment. That’s fair.

    Fred, when your above question is asked in public at the forum, Voice bloggers will know your true id! Mine too! Also, remember you can email Cathy directly at her website.

  9. shining light of truth

    Cop-out #2 for the week. So much for code of fair campaign practices #1. How much more public can you get than this website?

    1) I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness.

  10. Rich Grogan

    We will all have to exercise a little patience! There are and will be several public candidate forums, where all of these questions can be asked and the candidates will have the opportunity to respond.

    This BLOG is open to the public, but unfortunately there is not any way to verify the BLOGGER’s I.D. so it would be very unfair to all of the candidates to attempt to have a meaningful dialog.

    Watch the papers, listen to friends or strangers to find out when and where the candidate forums will be taking place. These are your candidates and their positions should be up to you, please attend and participate.

  11. fred

    Should we go to Peninsula hospital and make the shorter patients do pull-ups?

    You should rename the website the ‘Burlingame Silence’. I’m not asking for dialogue just honest, frank answers to the issues important to the city. I know she can do it, she and Russ both blog here. I guess I’ll go back to calling you guys out when I see the misinformation. Discussion of the issues seems not to interest the collective.

  12. Anonymous

    Fred, the “issues” of the day have been discussed here ad nauseum. Everything from Safeway to high density housing to housing on the bayfront to school funding and curriculum to who knows what.

    You can certainly visit the candidates websites to get synopsis answers for most issues, although some candidates don’t list their positions and some don’t have web sites. Those are the candidates who should blog here, because they haven’t made their positions public as I have. I know I have been candid about my positions here.

    As an aside, I don’t care what your real name is. I do care, however about what you would like to see in Burlingame’s future.

    I have tried not to harm anyone’s reputation or character and I would appreciate it if those who disagree with me on any or all issues would treat me the same.

    Blog on!

  13. Anonymous

    Fred,
    I e-mailed you my position paper, but just in case that fails, here it is:
    Safeway position paper

    I am looking forward to redeveloping the Safeway/Walgreen’s site with a full-service grocery and drug store that integrates with the Burlingame Downtown. In meeting with Safeway in April, we discussed both reorienting the building to face Howard Avenue and the possibility of a mixed use project. Both concepts, subject to study, are amenable to me.

    The important thing with any proposal is that it must adequately address site planning and integration via building placement, site circulation, parking sufficiency, large trucks entering and exiting via Howard Avenue (versus Primrose) and traffic impacts.

    As part of the Economic Study currently sent out for bid, the Safeway site specifically will be analyzed for density requirements to sustain economic feasibility and density limits to address traffic, infrastructure, and traffic/parking concerns.

    The redevelopment of this nearly four acre-site which includes approximately three acres of privately held land (Safeway Corporation) and one acre of publicly held land (City of Burlingame) offers many varied possibilities as to its best use. In the end, I truly believe a project of this magnitude needs to be embraced both by Safeway and the residents of Burlingame to best serve us for the next fifty years.

    http://www.baylock.com

  14. fred

    Thank you very much!

  15. Jim

    Agree with Fred on ths one about candidates answering questions on their platform on the blog. I am shocked at Condon’s reply because the answer to a question should be the same whoever the person’s identity. Perhaps this is too simplistic but why should it be different?

  16. Wingnut

    Why would Gene Condon list his e-mail address on his website and brochure if he does not want to answer questions from the publc? Amazing in this day and age when people play telephone tag with each other. Does he not realize that e-mail is a time saver and that this is the way lots of people communicate with each other on a daily basis? Somebody is giving this man very bad advice.

  17. fred

    One comment on the Safeway argument that they will not increase shelf space with the new store. I’ve heard the arguement made a couple times and saw it on Russ’ website.

    Grocery stores have changed in the last fifteen years. Nutritionists tell people to avoid the aisles and shop the perimeter of the store. Because that is where the fresh produce and food coices are. That the processed foods found in the aisles are not as healthy a choice as fresh food.

    This is why grocery stores like Whole Foods have the lunch bar, sushi bar, salad bar, and all the catering-style items ready to take home.

    I believe that is the expansion Safeway is looking for. So yes, they are not increasing shelf space in the aisles but they are definitely increasing the perimeter to compete with the other grocery stores that offer this as well as spots to sit and eat the fresh foods.

  18. Anonymous

    Isn’t Whole Foods amazing! And it is a large store, 39K, but they don’t fill it up with the junk you are referring to. I guess that is another issue. By the way, did you know that they employ 250 people at the San Mateo store. I was truly floored.

  19. fred

    Full time? I don’t think they would need that many people. A lot of those have to be part time or flexible hour employees like at Starbucks. Total payroll has to be competitive with other stores.

  20. Anonymous

    I asked that, they said that is the total for 24 hours, including people in the back rooms that nobody sees. Sometime I’ll go in there and ask again, just to verify. One thing is for sure, though. There is always somebody around when you have a question. It is the opposite of Home Depot. They don’t even have real check out people anymore, maybe just one for emergencies, or for the not computer savy. It’s very disturbing.

  21. Mary

    So the real question is which candidates signed the document that started this post and which did not? If someone did not, then why not?

  22. Jim

    Good question.

    In previous elections there seemed to be alot of cronies and their secretaries helping to do the dirty work for the candidates. Perhaps these candidates did not the sign the paper or their helpers were not considered “subordinate”?

  23. wingnut

    Do you think Galligan will have Peggy Daddio come out of her bat cave again with an offer of a nice bonus?

  24. al

    Probably.

  25. fred

    You guys need to get Condon into office just so you have a live horse to kick around.

  26. Anonymous

    Fred, we have had too many dead horses in office recently. We are looking forward to some real live race horses in an exciting photo finish and then we can finally bury those dead horses!

  27. Montgomery

    But Fiona, we have some live horses willing to get on the backs of the old horse Galligan. Didn’t he say he was backing those two horses? Why in the world would they risk their campaign with the likes of him!

  28. Anonymous

    Think he is backing three. The jockey might harm the horse’s chance but there are enough good horses to make this quite a race! Put your money on who is going to win by a nose!

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