Marsha Vas Dupre

The Real Story Press Democrat editorial is vicious and false.  See Marsha's response. Developers' slate receives overwhelming financial support from development and construction interests.
Press Democrat Editorial is Vicious and False
I read with profound astonishment your endorsement editorial - “ASTONISHMENT” not because I expected your endorsement, but because your assessment that this election is NOT about growth demonstrates how totally out of touch you are with the concerns of the citizens of Santa Rosa. Additionally, your vicious and insulting attack on my record and campaign is completely false. Mismanaged growth― and its impact on traffic, ridgetop development, and disappearing open space― is high on the list of concerns expressed to me by voters during precinct walking and forums. Of course there are other critical issues including the budget shortfall, police and fire response times, homelessness, the low-cost housing crisis, and others that I care about deeply and will continue to work cooperatively with citizens, city staff, and the other councilmembers to resolve. But Santa Rosa’s cherished quality of life is at risk with a pro-development majority on the City Council. "Keeping Santa Rosa on an even keel" dooms the Council to continue being controlled by one point of view in land use planning, environmental protection, and low-cost housing production, which in my opinion does not serve our residents well. When someone cannot defend the facts, s/he attacks the person. Since you cannot defend the fact that three candidates are supported by big money contributed primarily by development interests, you see me as "divisive." When certain interests object to vocal opposition to their agenda, the hue and cry has always been and will continue to be that we are "negative" and "divisive" for daring to speak the truth. It is totally false that I have ever accused my colleagues of being corrupt. What I did say, in connection with a planning commission appointment in January 2000, was that officeholders are influenced by their financial supporters. This is a political reality and until campaign finance laws are changed to substantially reduce contribution limits, this will be a part of our system. Your support of Measure O is to be commended. That leads to my alleged unfairness for the three candidates predominately supported by development and construction interests. Is it unfair to cite the public record on the details of the sources of campaign contributions? That is exactly why we have campaign disclosure laws. I merely took the same data reported in the Press Democrat article, “Record pace for campaign funds in Santa Rosa,” October 10, 2002, highlighted those contributions from development/construction interests, and posted the results on my website. It is an indisputable fact that greater than 80% of the large contributions to these candidates come from development/construction interests and the voters have a right to know this. Why don’t these candidates want the source of their contributions known? I am proud of the breadth of my support coming from labor organizations, small business owners, and the clear majority from individuals who will receive absolutely no financial benefit from any decision that I potentially could make on the City Council. I am being outspent in this campaign by a factor of three and do not have the endorsement of Santa Rosa’s only daily newspaper. If I am re-elected, it will be due to grassroots support from citizens who want a City Council that reflects the values and views from all of our citizens. Marsha Vas Dupre 10/28/02
Developers' Slate Receives Overwhelming Financial Support from Development and Construction Interests
In  Record pace for campaign funds in Santa Rosa  by Mike McCoy,  October 10, 2002, The Press Democrat®, the campaign contributions of the nine Santa Rosa City Council candidates are accurately reported, but the article fails to emphasize the real story behind the numbers.  The developers' slate of Blanchard, Condron and Sawyer have a preponderance of support from development and construction interests.  This is dramatically illustrated in the table below for reported contributions of $500 or more covering the period of 7/1/02 through 9/30/02.          At the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum on October 14, Marsha expressed concern that should this developers' slate be elected, that only one voice out of seven, that of Noreen Evans, would speak for the environment, a living wage, and other progressive issues.  Mr. Blanchard suggested that this was a "slur" to the construction and development interests that provide more than 90% of his support.  See Santa Rosa candidates focus on police and fire.  This was not a slur.  These are respectable interests, but the disproportionate support from one segment of our community is not healthy.