We, along with many others wonder why, not only Paula, but our friend KC Carter, have turned their backs on those that supported them for years. Read Geri Ottoboni's letter to The Explorer
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Oro Valley councilwoman moves away from previous positions
In the past, Councilwoman Paula Abbott has shown herself to be a noble politician, voting the way the majority of her constituents wished, which was in the best interest of the community.
Her voting record recently appears to be opposite of her original platform, and not in the best interest of the community.
Many residents would like to know why the change and what has happened.
For example: it was surprising to see her vote against transparency and the environmental sustainability commission, just to name a few.
Geri Ottoboni-Gilmore, Oro Valley
26 comments:
JUST her voting record?
There are innumerable reasons not to return Ms. Abbott to office, her voting record (which is frequently in conflict with the law) notwithstanding.
How about her perpetually "full" voice-mail in-box? How about the fact that she never picks up her mail at Town Hall? How about the claim that she has made that her house is bugged by Town Hall workers? (Was she wearing a tin-foil hat at the time?). How about the fact that she RSVP's for conferences and meetings that have costs attached, but then doesn't show up?
Yes, many bloggers have described her in the past as a champion of the people. The sad fact is that she has been an ill-prepared, inconsistent and frequently-absent representative.
If that's what you want, you're welcome to her. You can't tell me that among 45,000 citizens (or even a dozen bloggers here), there's not someone else better suited for the job.
Now, now, boobie baby. You sound like a person that ran against Ms. Abbott, and got beat.
As noted, I too question some recent votes, but then again, we have Al Kunisch, a champion of the people ---- as long as the people have the last name "Loomis!"
Prior to Bill and Salette being elected to council, Paula WAS the strongest voice for the citizens. Because of that, many citizens overlooked the things that BB mentions such as not checking her voice mail, opening her mail, or her tendency to miss a lot of meetings. I was one of the people who overlooked those things because her votes meant more to me in the grand scheme of things.
However, now that her votes are more in line with the Mayor's and she appears to be voting against Bill and Salette just for spite, she is no longer the people's advocate, and she no longer has my support.
She lost me when she fought AGAINST the animal control feasibility study, fought FOR a study to ascertain why the Naranja Park bond failed (when we already know why it failed), and fought to keep town employees on the payroll when they had no work to do.
Nope, Art. Never have run, never will. What about you?
If anyone can disprove anything that I've written, please be my guest. If I'm wrong factually about Ms. Abbott, I will be pleased to admit it before all the LOVE bloggers.
"b-b"--- No. I don't plan on running. My job----if I can accomplish it, is to help get a least two new dedicated individuals with a lot of common sense, WITHOUT any indebtedness to ANY special interest group, other than the citizens, elected in 2010.
Once our readers learn about the two new candidates, I fully expect those of us that want to see common sense prevail, will be as enthusiastic as I am about the two gentlemen.
Hopefully----once and for all, the citizens will have a new council that will be answerable ONLY to the people.
I truly believe that is what most of us want.
Thank you boobie baby and Victorian Cowgirl for seeing the light.
During council meetings the friction between PA and SL is obvious. PA has always struck me as petty and ill informed. Her current voting appears to be based on spite aimed at Salette, and others on the council. This isn't new.
I notice no one is attacking Geri O. I hope that the bloggers on LOVE who attacked the authors of previous editorials and blog postings that exposed PA will give the authors some credit. Looking back, their insight was accurate.
Ps Art: The Explorer reported today the Council will be releasing funding for outside agencies tonight. GOVAC is still listed for $61,930. They don't carry the Oro Valley name anymore and many of their money generating events have relocated. Is it too late to have them removed?
Hi Deacon--- If you're asking me, I don't know---but we should have the answer tonight, as the funding issue is a "consent agenda" item.(See left column of blog for consent agenda item E.)
If it was up to me, I'd have Oro Valley totally out of the philanthropic business.
We have better things to do with taxpayers money than help support the likes of GOVAC---now SAACA, TREO, MCVB, C-Path, etc.
I have to admit it, I thought that Paula Abbott was a judge on American Idol, you know, wacky, spacy, unfocused. Have I got the wrong person?
Oh well.
Watanabe---Isn't Kareem Abdul the judge on the show?
Never mind.
I think I got him mixed up with Abdul Nasser.
Looking at the whole picture, I would most likely vote for Paula Abbott if she decides to run for council again.
I don't agree with all her votes but then again I am not in agreement with any politican 100% of the time.
About any conflict bewtwen Paula and other council members , if there is one then they should settle it.
About her supporting a study for why the park issue failed on the ballot, well I voted against the tax but I knew that Paula supported it.
I still have deep respect for Paula for being the "lone ranger" when she was told how she was supposed to play ball by the old council.
Ms. C.,
I can't respect the fact that she is being told by the old council how to play ball now. And she's doing it.
Ms Coyote,
I respect your opinions and you're certainly entitled to them. But please consider this: The "lone ranger" is lone for a reason. If the Council had voted the way that the PA had voted on numerous occasions, the Town would be tied up in litigation from now until doomsday. Many of her votes would have put the Town in the position of taking stands that were not legally defensible. She knew that she'd be on the losing end of these votes, so she could afford to look like the "lone ranger."
On another note, it appears that Art, et al, have hit upon something: Are Paula Abbott and Paula Abdul really twins that were separated at birth?
How would we know? Well, one doesn't seem to have too much going on upstairs, votes in opposition to other panel members, frequently makes decisions based on emotion rather than facts, and is often confused.
And the other? Well, you figure it out. ;-)
Art,
The Council needs to reconsider the money that is going to most all of the outside agencies. Personally, I would continue to give money to Interfaith, as they service Oro Valley. I think some of the charities deserve our support too.
For businesses such as GOVAC, TREO, welcome to this economy. Sink or swim like the rest of us!
Ms. Coyote,
Looking at the whole picture is a great idea! With that in mind I suggest the same consideration be given to many of the prior council members. Aside from the EDA's back in 2004, PA's vote on the recent budget cost the taxpayers HUGE amounts of money as is her insistance money continue to be thrown at NTS. When it comes to prtoecting OV residents PA fails miserably. It is PA who refuses to communicate with other council members to work out differences. I cannot support such a small and closed mind under any circumstances.
boobie-baby, I agree.
PS Art: Ready to give credit to those who saw through Abbott? Looking back I think there were too many attacks on anyone who disagreed with the 'majority' on this blog. Over the last few months it seems there has been respect for the opinions published.
I can agree with some of the criticism of Paula Abbott, but I am not ready to throw her under the bus.
Also I hear she is not going to run again which is scary as that leaves the door open to God only knows what.
We had some real doozy councils in the past.
Used to read the archives in the Tucson Weekly to get the scoop on some of the characters involved.
Truth sure is stranger then fiction :))
Deacon--- Diverse opinions have and continue to be welcome.
What's not welcome are the personal attacks primarily from the one individual we all know.
Having known Paula since her initially victory in 2002, Paula had always stood tall in my eyes, especially during the years that she was the sole voice of the people, serving alongside Johnson, Rochman, Wolff & Loomis.
Whether her detractors would give her credit for that is doubtful, but how many of them would have and could have put up with what Paula put up with?
As to recent votes of Paula, and, as I noted previously----KC---, all I can say is, it is a major disappointment.
Hopefully, the people of Oro Valley will be served well by at least two new candidates that have a lot of common sense and an abundance of integrity.
Art,Ms Coyote and BB,
Civil disagreement is a productive and enlightening process. I thank you for your insight on the issue.
With that said, I have speak up and post what I think.
I've watched PA too. From the day she was elected she missed meetings, arrived late, and was unprepared.
Her votes "for the people" were usually without respect for the laws that govern our town. I think she was either grand-standing and choosing to ignore the law, or was unprepared by failing to research the law.
I think Boobi-baby is correct.
I cannot support PA, I never have. My opinions are based solely on my personal observations of her during meetings and unsuccessful attempts to contact her.
I left phone messages as far back as 2003, possibly late in 2002. She has never answered any of my emails.
I don't think she was a victim of other council members. I think she discovered quickly that she could take the lazy way out of preparing for meetings when she could portray herself as a victim instead.
Art, if you have two good candidates I want to hear about them.
And to think....I haven't said a word.
But it's is kind of nice seeing so many people now agreeing with my oft stated opinion of Ms. Abbott.
LOVE!!!!
I'm afraid, OVOT, that you can't take credit for this one. What has happened over the life of this blog is that PA's votes often came down on the side represented by a majority of the bloggers here, Art included.
They may have thought that she was a "true believer" and they gave her credit for seeing things their way. In fact, as Deacon has pointed out, she was and is intellectually lazy. And the fact that her votes coincided with the views expressed here were similar to the broken clock that's right twice a day.
It's a pity that it's taken 8 years for the citizens to wake up to this fact. If she chooses not to run again, we can only hope that someone with integrity and ability steps forward. We deserve better.
BB....Wasn't looking for any credit, didn't ask for any credit only pointed out what had been stated by the folks who commented.
She misses aproximately 40% of the meetings she is supposed to attend and that has been consistent throughout the 8 years.
She was a rather effective representative for those who supported her but she was not representative of the majority of the Town population. As you have stated, being a consistent loner is usually an indication that you are out of touch with the majority or simply do not understand the issue.
Deacon, et al---- I think we can all agree it will be much more productive to look ahead, especially as it concerns Oro Valley politics----rather than rehash the past.
I am anxious to introduce the two candidates we will enthusiastically support, but will wait until they determine the time to publicly announce.
I will say this: For those of our readers that are pleased with the two candidates we supported in the last election----Bill Garner & Salette Latas----I can assure you, you will be very pleased once again.
We hope after the 2010 election,we will have the opportunity to have a Town Council majority that we can all be proud of, and know we, the people will be extremely well represented.
It won't be long now.
Thinker,
The reason so many people are now agreeing with your opinion of Paula is because we are "objective" and we're able to change our minds when presented with new information. We don't let our egos get in the way of the facts.
Boobie-baby,
It didn't take us 8 years to wake up. We're all still happy with Paula's performance during the first 7 years. We've just noticed a change in this last year.
There are some people who will defend their candidate no matter what. They will make up silly excuses to defend the worst behavior because they can't admit that their candidate could make a mistake. They take it personally, as in, "I can't admit that he's wrong because that would mean that I was wrong and I'm never wrong."
Some of us are mature enough to say, "I voted for him but I disagree with him on this issue."
VC--
I believe you.
But to the rest of us, PA's behavior has not substantially changed in 8 years. We don't expect to agree with everyone all the time. But it's clear now that some writers here have finally woken up to see what has been easily observed for nearly a decade.
"VOTING RECORD (FREQUENTLY IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW".
"ILL PREPARED, INCONSISTENT".
"PETTY AND ILL INFORMED".
"MANY OF HER VOTES WOULD HAVE PUT THE TOWN IN THE POSITION OF TAKING STANDS THAT WERE NOT LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE".
"FREQUENTLY MAKES DECISIONS BASED ON EMOTION RATHER THAN FACTS AND IS OFTEN CONFUSED".
"VOTE IN THE RECENT BUDGET COST THE TAXPAYERS HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY".
"WAS UNPREPARED".
"VOTES 'FOR THE PEOPLE' WERE USUALLY WITHOUT RESPECT FOR THE LAWS THAT GOVERN OUR TOWN".
"IT'S KIND OF NICE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE NOW AGREEING WITH MY OFT STATED OPINION".
"IT'S A PITY THAT IT'S TAKEN 8 YEARS FOR THE CITIZENS TO WAKE UP".
"NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE TOWN POPULATION".
WOW, is this an exclusivity analysis of Council Member Paula Abbott or can this be an indictment of some of the Council's membership performance, overall, during the past several years? While I can agree that, at times, Ms. Abbott has not come up to the standards that I expect of representative governance as of late (relative to her total terms of service), ALL of the above stated assertions may well be applicable to many of the rest of Council at one time or another over the years. LEGALITY? That's subjective until dissected by legal authority and even then it might be subject to court
decision. VOTES? Yea or nay; that's it! HER votes could only have been in response to an action initiated by a Council 'move'. THE BUDGET? She had one vote. RESPECT FOR THE LAWS? She would not have been alone in this miasma by a far stretch. EMOTION? How about some of those sappy non-profit gifts and other personally oriented issues? PETTY AND ILL INFORMED? No assignation on exclusivity there. 8 YEARS FOR THE CITIZENS TO WAKE UP? Ms. Abbott was re-elected BY THE CITIZENS! NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAJORITY? MAJORITY is the key word here so, who conducted a new and secret election about which I was unawares?
I AM NOT TRYING TO DILUTE MY SOMETIMES DISENCHANTMENT WITH THE SUBJECT PERSON OF THIS STREAM, but, what I am trying to point out
is that much of the included trashing within this run can be tossed out at past and present OTHER Council Members, too, many of whom have been 'lauded' by some of you who are throwing the darts in specificity. I find quite a few of the statements made within this stream to be no more of superior quality than some of those deficiencies attributed to Ms. Abbott. Yes, I personally am unhappy with many of her qualitative proffers of late (past year+) and cannot defend it, but I find this RASH of personal attack to be simply 'piling on'.
If Paula Abbott were running for another term perhaps it could be more appropriate; my understanding is that she most probably won't. Thus,is my objection to the cascade of heatedly pointed venom.
Zev--Well put.
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