158 replies to this topic

[Chad Vander Veen]

Happy Friday afternoon all,

 

I'm pleased to share my new campaign website for Folsom City Council.

 

http://www.chadforfolsom.com

 

I hope you'll take a few minutes to visit and learn why I am running.

 

Thank you!

 

 

[ducky]

Chad, you did a great job with the Website.  You have some innovative ideas.

[folsom500]

Way to go - Glad you are running.  

 

Couple of suggestions on the website.

 

1. Make the text darker- it is very light. It is like the difference of reading text of a post vs reading the 'signature' below

2. There is  a problem ( at least on my laptop using w8.1 and Mozilla) . The tabs at the top to view other things seem NOT to work as the picture of you and the flag fill the rest of the screen. Took me a few tries until I decided to scroll down to see the info from the new tab.

 

Have not read all but will and will check bask soon-

[Rich_T]

Nice presentation.  I agree with folsom500 - you need to use a darker text font.  You have my vote, even though I haven't thought through each of your proposals yet.  There is enough there to get out my vote.  Thanks for putting yourself out there against the "club" of entrenched council members.

[Chad Vander Veen]

F500 - thanks for the suggestions. I darkened the text and added links to the side menu. Hope that helps!

[mac_convert]

Happy Friday afternoon all,

 

I'm pleased to share my new campaign website for Folsom City Council.

 

http://www.chadforfolsom.com

 

I hope you'll take a few minutes to visit and learn why I am running.

 

Thank you!

 

 

You've got my vote and I don't even "know" you!

[nowtherestofthestory]

Chad,

 

Im wishing you all the luck in your campaign. You seem to be a decent honorable person which is more than what we have now.

 

I'll be brutally honest, you have very little name recognition, no money, no network and a lacking in understanding of the issues and how local governments function.. Im predicting a 6th place finish. If more candidates emerge, it might be lower. Go back and review other elections and look to see where other candidates like yourself finished in their first campaign.

 

Unlike the other candidates running, I believe you have the ability to grasp issues and concepts faster and better than they do.

 

My Advice would be to seek out someone you can trust who can share some insight into some issues and ask them to be an adviser,Pick out 4 or 5 issues that most voters will identify with and familiarize yourself with them inside and out and talk about them at every opportunity, You must distinguish yourself in that you have solutions to the problems the incumbents have created.

 

Declining Public Safety response times, The crippling effects for North of 50 for developing south of 50, Inadequate Water supply, Deficit spending for operations resulting in surpluses nearly being exhausted, Poor strategic planning resulting in increased traffic problems, increasing crime rates and the growing unfunded long term obligations for the city are the issues that you will need to address to get elected, if you can get your message out there. If you do get elected these will be the issues you'll need to address anyway. If you don't get elected, you'll be that much more knowledgeable for 2016.

 

The trend for Cities is to be reducing services since costs are increasing faster than revenues, so any kind of expansion of services is unrealistic. Also the growth of unfunded long term liabilities will start to consume all discretionary funds resulting in even less services going forward.

 

Folsom really hasn't done as well as we could have in planning. Since most of our City is fairly new and we have 2 lakes, a river, wetlands and rolling hills, it may look better than other cities, but it should have been significantly better.

 

We have lost opportunities with this council and its up to you to show where and how and why you'd do better!

 

 

 

 

[The Average Joe]

You've got my vote.

[mac_convert]

Chad,

 

Im wishing you all the luck in your campaign. You seem to be a decent honorable person which is more than what we have now.

 

I'll be brutally honest, you have very little name recognition, no money, no network and a lacking in understanding of the issues and how local governments function.. Im predicting a 6th place finish. If more candidates emerge, it might be lower. Go back and review other elections and look to see where other candidates like yourself finished in their first campaign.

 

Unlike the other candidates running, I believe you have the ability to grasp issues and concepts faster and better than they do.

 

My Advice would be to seek out someone you can trust who can share some insight into some issues and ask them to be an adviser,Pick out 4 or 5 issues that most voters will identify with and familiarize yourself with them inside and out and talk about them at every opportunity, You must distinguish yourself in that you have solutions to the problems the incumbents have created.

 

Declining Public Safety response times, The crippling effects for North of 50 for developing south of 50, Inadequate Water supply, Deficit spending for operations resulting in surpluses nearly being exhausted, Poor strategic planning resulting in increased traffic problems, increasing crime rates and the growing unfunded long term obligations for the city are the issues that you will need to address to get elected, if you can get your message out there. If you do get elected these will be the issues you'll need to address anyway. If you don't get elected, you'll be that much more knowledgeable for 2016.

 

The trend for Cities is to be reducing services since costs are increasing faster than revenues, so any kind of expansion of services is unrealistic. Also the growth of unfunded long term liabilities will start to consume all discretionary funds resulting in even less services going forward.

 

Folsom really hasn't done as well as we could have in planning. Since most of our City is fairly new and we have 2 lakes, a river, wetlands and rolling hills, it may look better than other cities, but it should have been significantly better.

 

We have lost opportunities with this council and its up to you to show where and how and why you'd do better!

 

 

 

 

Way to be positive! NOT!  I don't think he asked you to get him down on the day he publicly declares he is running for City Council!

[Chad Vander Veen]

Chad,

 

Im wishing you all the luck in your campaign. You seem to be a decent honorable person which is more than what we have now.

 

I'll be brutally honest, you have very little name recognition, no money, no network and a lacking in understanding of the issues and how local governments function.. Im predicting a 6th place finish. If more candidates emerge, it might be lower. Go back and review other elections and look to see where other candidates like yourself finished in their first campaign.

 

Unlike the other candidates running, I believe you have the ability to grasp issues and concepts faster and better than they do.

 

My Advice would be to seek out someone you can trust who can share some insight into some issues and ask them to be an adviser,Pick out 4 or 5 issues that most voters will identify with and familiarize yourself with them inside and out and talk about them at every opportunity, You must distinguish yourself in that you have solutions to the problems the incumbents have created.

 

Declining Public Safety response times, The crippling effects for North of 50 for developing south of 50, Inadequate Water supply, Deficit spending for operations resulting in surpluses nearly being exhausted, Poor strategic planning resulting in increased traffic problems, increasing crime rates and the growing unfunded long term obligations for the city are the issues that you will need to address to get elected, if you can get your message out there. If you do get elected these will be the issues you'll need to address anyway. If you don't get elected, you'll be that much more knowledgeable for 2016.

 

The trend for Cities is to be reducing services since costs are increasing faster than revenues, so any kind of expansion of services is unrealistic. Also the growth of unfunded long term liabilities will start to consume all discretionary funds resulting in even less services going forward.

 

Folsom really hasn't done as well as we could have in planning. Since most of our City is fairly new and we have 2 lakes, a river, wetlands and rolling hills, it may look better than other cities, but it should have been significantly better.

 

We have lost opportunities with this council and its up to you to show where and how and why you'd do better!

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. And you're right - as history shows it has proven very difficult to unseat incumbents in Folsom. I am doing a number of the things you mentioned. It's true is for me to win a seat I will need help, which is part of why I am posting here. Every elected official started somewhere and many times their first campaign was against long odds. You sound like you're very well informed and those are the kinds of people I need helping me. I'd love to have you involved with my campaign. 

[nowtherestofthestory]

Mac,

 

Im actually trying to help him.

 

The Incumbents are going to make mince meat out of what he is saying about south of 50. He is playing right into their hands. They will point out that the plan that was approved included 1000 of hours of input from Residents that shaped the direction of this plan. They will also say that this plan was the most scrutinized and lengthy planning process ever in the history of the City. That Recognized Distinguished Urban planners participated in this to design a walkable City with a healthy livable index that is unprecedented in the history of the region. They will also say that SACHOG has given it awards and holds it up as a model in Urban planning.  That its following the Blueprint that the region adopted many years ago.  

 

Then they will ask Chad if he participated back in planning process when he had an opportunity? They may ask him if he has a degree in Planning and or to list what Development he has ever planned?

 

Then after this they will say, that Chad is criticizing an award winning plan, that's a recognizable model for development, despite Him not participating( I don't know if he did or not) and having no education or experience in planning.

 

98 % of the Voters will agree with what they are saying and it will be game set and match for his campaign.

 

I want him to win and its far better he hears the reality on here NOW, with only a few people watching, than out in the campaign and gets a permanent label.

 

His best opportunity is to pick out a couple of issues that most of the community will identify with and learn them inside and out, so he will sound like an expert, which will garner him respect and votes.  

 

The winning position on south of 50 is that its been a farce all along, designed to mislead to the citizens of Folsom into approving a plan who's true motive was to make an end run around the development timetable for the landowners south of 50, so that they could leapfrog ahead of others cashing in early, while being a sinkhole sucking up resources ( budget surplus) and the quality of life from the residents north of 50, to subsidize the profits for those wanting it developed. This development will continue to be a sinkhole sucking up future revenues from the residents north of 50 while reducing our quality of life! 

 

I truly wish him and any other challenger the best of luck!

[Rich_T]

@nowtherestofthestory:

 

That's good advice about the S50 angle. 

 

Personally, I think Chad's website DOES hit some good topics:  water, energy, traffic, and a vision for Folsom as a hub of energy technology (though that last one is hard to bring about for any City Council).

 

But I fully agree that the S50 angle should not be to criticize the development plan itself - the public will believe the incumbents' smooth lines, as you described so very well.  The S50 angle should be to call out the ruse for what it is (including the fact that the Council put forth the plan it wanted and pretended to get resident approval and input), and to focus on the lies about water and the diversion of other resources.  S50 should be treated as something that must not happen at the expense of N50.  I think a lot of residents would get behind that.

 

As for me, I'll gladly vote for ANYONE who is not an incumbent, but I don't expect the rest of Folsom to do the same.  The platform "We're not them", advertised by three challengers, would be all it would take to get my vote.

[Steve Heard]

Excellent website and message Chad.

 

I'm no expert on political or city planning, but I believe that the angle on the development South of 50 has to be the water source.

 

The idea of taking our water savings from the north and sending it to new development to the south does not seem like a long-term solution, regardless of whether or not it was intentional, short-sighted or a mistake.

 

I think the idea of positioning yourself as a long-term resident who has experience with government, served the community on commissions, is young enough to bring in fresh perspective and mature enough to work with the community, the other council members, who wants to help guide our city's future is probably something that will resonate with many voters.

 

Show us where we can improve as a city, what we need to be thinking about for our future, and how you can help get us there, and you'll get a lot of support.  

[Rich_T]

I agree with you, Steve, about Chad's campaign potential.

 

But come on:  << whether or not it was intentional, short-sighted or a mistake >>

 

Ever the diplomat.  :-)

 

Oh, it was intentional, all right, although it was also short-sighted and a mistake.  You can't break such a clear promise by accident.  It turned the repeated promise into a deceitful lie, and it's OK to say that out loud, even for a diplomat.

[mac_convert]

That is very kind of you, but perhaps a private message would have been better? I guess I'm just sensitive to criticism (even when it is helpful) and on a public forum many people can see would make it worse for me. I guess those in politics have a thick skin I lack! Thanks for your insight as we really do need some new blood in our city council!

 

Mac,

 

Im actually trying to help him.

 

The Incumbents are going to make mince meat out of what he is saying about south of 50. He is playing right into their hands. They will point out that the plan that was approved included 1000 of hours of input from Residents that shaped the direction of this plan. They will also say that this plan was the most scrutinized and lengthy planning process ever in the history of the City. That Recognized Distinguished Urban planners participated in this to design a walkable City with a healthy livable index that is unprecedented in the history of the region. They will also say that SACHOG has given it awards and holds it up as a model in Urban planning.  That its following the Blueprint that the region adopted many years ago.  

 

Then they will ask Chad if he participated back in planning process when he had an opportunity? They may ask him if he has a degree in Planning and or to list what Development he has ever planned?

 

Then after this they will say, that Chad is criticizing an award winning plan, that's a recognizable model for development, despite Him not participating( I don't know if he did or not) and having no education or experience in planning.

 

98 % of the Voters will agree with what they are saying and it will be game set and match for his campaign.

 

I want him to win and its far better he hears the reality on here NOW, with only a few people watching, than out in the campaign and gets a permanent label.

 

His best opportunity is to pick out a couple of issues that most of the community will identify with and learn them inside and out, so he will sound like an expert, which will garner him respect and votes.  

 

The winning position on south of 50 is that its been a farce all along, designed to mislead to the citizens of Folsom into approving a plan who's true motive was to make an end run around the development timetable for the landowners south of 50, so that they could leapfrog ahead of others cashing in early, while being a sinkhole sucking up resources ( budget surplus) and the quality of life from the residents north of 50, to subsidize the profits for those wanting it developed. This development will continue to be a sinkhole sucking up future revenues from the residents north of 50 while reducing our quality of life! 

 

I truly wish him and any other challenger the best of luck!