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Morro Bay mayor running for reelection

February 14, 2014
Jamie Irons

Jamie Irons

Morro Bay Mayor Jamie Irons announced Thursday that he is running for reelection.

Irons became mayor in late 2012 after securing a majority of the vote in the June primary. Less than one year into his term, though, Irons faced a recall effort.

In September 2013, Irons called for the firing of then city attorney Rob Schultz and then city manager Andrea Lueker. Irons eventually obtained a majority vote from the council, which reached separation agreements with Schultz and Lueker. However, the attempted termination of the city’s two top executives prompted the recall campaign, which fell slightly short of achieving the amount of signatures needed to create a recall election.

Irons’critics have accused him of lacking transparency, as he never sated publicly why he called for the termination of Schultz and Lueker. Opponents have also criticized him for agreeing with the California Coastal Commission order to move the city’s sewage treatment plant.

But, Irons states that he has displayed transparency in his first term and lists several accomplishments.

“I’ve follow through with my campaign promise of vision, transparency and leadership,” Irons said in a news release. “I’m proud to report the city received a grant to begin the process of updating our 26-year-old general plan, I’ve opened up Embarcadero lease negotiations for public input and I have allocated pavement funds in response to the needs of the community to not only resurfacing streets but also include repair.”

Morro Bay will hold a primary election in June. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff will occur in November.

 


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Interesting to look at the “I” statements in irons comments, the only difference between the mayor and the remainder of the others city council members is the mayor helps set the council meeting agenda. As mentioned at the beginning of this string of comments, the accomplishments that irons states were either already well into the works, items that staff had already been directed to do by previous councils or were staff’s recommendations that the city council approved. Lets all keep in mind that the council sets policy and staff carries it out. If this mayor or any other council member is directing staff or getting into the day-to-day operations of the city (which has been the issue with irons, c.johnson and smuckler from the beginning), then that is clearly a problem. My guess is their constant meddling and presence in Department Head’s offices on a day to day basis was addressed by administration as not appropriate and is likely what led to the Schultz and Leuker loss (debacle). One last point, continue to follow the amount of money, as is increases on a weekly basis, spent on severance agreements, recruitment of replacement city attorney and city manager, interim attorneys, interim city managers and the replacement of staff that have left since September due to the uncertainty and dysfunction under this majority. The costs are staggering and keep in mind this is our (citizen’s) money that previous city council and administrations so carefully guarded.


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When Mayor Irons is elected in June we will be moving towards a better location for the WWTP, Cayucos chair is still thinking old location (unfortunately), there is a good innovative idea to use the and improve the CMC site, improve on it with County/State participation and with us joining in (and whatever Cayucos decides, eventually), we are on our way to an improved situation. The land is there, the government agencies can work together and we will have recycled water to help our estuary. Perfect! Our infrastructure is in need of updating and Mayor Irons, Christine Johnson and Noah Smuckler are all on the same page for working to make it better. Years of neglect has left us with crumbling roads, water and sewer lines in disrepair. Our City is benefitting from visitors coming here and we need to provide fun things for them, and locals too. I’ve always said if we love it here visitors will agree and come back to stay. We have so much to offer them, the open beaches, our beautiful state parks, the bicycle trails and new bridge across the creek. I hear visitor praise the Harbor Walk, which took 20 years to build!, ? , visitors like to walk along the embarcadero and to Tidelands park (the children love the play equipment there), the Coleman park could be improved for the little people. Our wildlife never seems to let down the visitor as our Sea Otters frolic in their seaweed beds, have their babies on their tummys in the spring, and so many mammals (seals and sealions, entertain the visitors near the restaurants and docks. Our bird life is everywhere, over head the Peregrine falcon flies and around the rock. the brown and white pelicans always interesting diving into the bay for fish (increasing now that there is more small fish in the bay that the power plant isn’t pulling them in, and black crowned night herons on the boats can be seen. The lovely snowy egrets nesting in the spring in front of the power plant. Truly, Discover your better nature here in and around our City!! I’m looking forward to our Mayor Irons, Christine Johnson, councilmembers and Noah Smuckler to guide us through this maze of City business and it would be so helpful to have the assistance of fellow council members , staff and citizens. Please, think about it if you are the opposition, you can help by being positive about what you want and working for it!! Not just pick and be negative.


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FV…..you forgot to add the sport of duck hunting in our “bird sanctuary” on the sand spit. Hunters come from all over when the season opens. : )


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Yes, they are really sweethearts. LOL


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Personally I think it should be Linda Merill. she has adopted the Stepford Wives chant.


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3HASgMS7w0


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So, somehow the Mayor’s wife fits that image – ugh!


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I still think Garry Johnson or Kathy Welles would be your best bet, Mean Old Guard. Nominate one of them today.


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I am so excited about the next year. We are so fortunate to have Mayor Irons, with 2 council members moving forward with our new WWTP. With this dreadful drought (not unheard of), and now we NEED recycled water, no matter our conditions here. It is the right thing to do, evironmentally (the creek that goes into our precious bay needs more water!!), all of our farmers will like to know they have a source of water if they want or need it!!, this is such a win win situation. We now need the best site. Please, join in, go to meetings, let our council know what you know about the best location!! Thank you to all who want to help!!


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Merrily Merrily Merrily your life is but a dream!


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Jamie Irons, Christine Johnson and Noah Smuckler are my heros!! They have endured unbelievable abuse from their fellow ‘councilmembers’, answered the call for endless meetings, special and otherwise. I admire their zeal, dedication and resolve to make Morro Bay a better place in which to live!! Thank you three!!


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Watch out, if either of them get some of that good “Biaginni money” behind them.


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I agree slophocles!…..Watch out for that Martony and Peckawreck $$$$ as well…..you never know …those 2 blow with the wind depending on what they can personally gain. I remember when George Leage was running for mayor and they gave him a nice lil donation. ; )


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uh?


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Theres nothing wrong with that Biaginni money.


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Hero’s? More like Zero’s!


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Like the cahones it takes to get rid of the the cancerous ex city manager and ex city attorney who helped the good ole boys club members run amok? Yes, that kind of backbone is what we voted for and got with mayor Irons. Your woman? hummm, so which witch are you pimping for? Solu or Carla? Give me a break!


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Pimping for Lady GAGA : )


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The lil’ punk stood up by a landslide. Why are you so afraid of our landslide election mayor?


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Just wishing someone would run for mayor that has some cahones. Love to see a woman running against the lil punk.


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I don’t think they have those (if you mean ‘cajones’).


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‘cojones’ – mi espanol es malo, pero no tan malo como el de givemeabreak.


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I do believe that is happening, GMAB………


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