Editor: Here’s the (new) U-T’s version of what happened Wednesday night at the OB Town Council “candidates forum.” It’s fairly accurate and even has my response in an accurate quote to the OBTC once they made their final decision to bar me from their ballot. However, Mr. Cadelago, the reporter does not go into the reasons I still believe that my business – the OB Rag – is definitely an Ocean Beach business.
By Christopher Cadelago / UNION-TRIBUNE /August 26, 2010
OCEAN BEACH — It’s official. Frank Gormlie, the activist, lawyer and co-founder of the OB Rag, will not be on the ballot as a candidate for the Ocean Beach Town Council’s board of directors. Gormlie, who hoped to be one of eight candidates – including six incumbents – vying for seven seats on the dais, had been told that because the business was based out of his Lemon Grove home, he was not eligible to run.
At town council meeting Wednesday night, Gormlie said he had secured a lease in Ocean Beach to house his business, but was told he was still not eligible to run because he did not submit the business address by the Aug. 16 deadline.
The flap over who is eligible to serve on the key community board has led to a broader argument over how local some one must be to be considered a local. A person can be a voting member of the town council and eligible to be a board candidate if they are a resident of the 92107 Zip code, own property in the area, or own a business in Ocean Beach.
For the remainder of this article, please go here.
Here is my quote (this is me to the Board of the Town Council):
“You are undemocratic. You are a bunch of cronies. You appoint your own friends,” Gormlie told the board Wednesday. “There’s going to be a chair open and it’s clear you don’t like me and what I have to say. You don’t like the fact that I bring up un-nice issues like homelessness in Ocean Beach. I am ashamed that you have the Ocean Beach Town Council as your mantle.”
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Frank,
You usually make very good points. I really appreciate you & this site.
But – the rules seem quite clear – & reasonable too.
Unfortunatly, you did-not/were-not able to meet them within the time specified.
With all due respect – why should the TC change them now?
tj, appreciate your reasoned question. The OBTC made substantial procedural errors = reason #1; I do have an Ocean Beach business = reason #2; they had the power to waive their rules for an exceptional circumstance – which this was = reason #3.
Wow, who did you piss off?
The wrong people.
So they won’t let you run for the board because you don’t “qualify” but they emailed you a ballot to vote? LMAO. WTF. Tell the bd. to pick a policy and and stand by it.