Hill overtaking Ferrara in A.G. mayor race

November 6, 2014
Mayor Tony Ferrera

Mayor Tony Ferrara

By DANIEL BLACKBURN

A spectacular political upset may be brewing in the colorful race for the mayor’s seat in the village of Arroyo Grande, with write-in candidate Jim Hill gaining substantial ground Thursday on longtime incumbent Tony Ferrara as county election officials continued counting additional ballots.

Ferrara’s initial 9-point lead, fueled by early mail-in tallies, plummeted overnight to 3.5 percentage points, with 800 more ballots to be counted, probably by the end of Friday’s work day. Hill collected more than twice as many new votes as Ferrara today.

Another 1,216 votes are slated to be counted, most by Friday at 5 p.m.

If needed, 717 additional ballots — either left blank by the voter, or with the write-in candidate’s name written, but without the oval blackened — would finally be counted.

Ferrara’s advantage has been eroding ever since the opening of polls Tuesday morning. At today’s end of counting, he claimed 2,545 votes, or 51.79 percent, and Hill’s total had climbed to 2,369 or 48.21 percent. The candidates now are separated by only 176 votes.

After avoiding the media for days following the election, Ferrara finally contacted KSBY with the following statement, in which he blamed reporters, radio personalities, city residents and police, and a lack of communication for what he called “the results of the election.”

“The results of the election have clearly indicated a need for the City and the Community to find ways to better communicate. It has also exposed the disconnects that can often occur when people believe everything they read on an internet site or hear on talk radio. It is troubling when no attempt is made by reasonable people to verify false assertions made through these media. Hopefully, we at the City can open the door wider at City Hall for the community to feel comfortable and welcomed to do so in the future. We will also be welcoming a new Council member and this will provide an opportunity for all of us to share new ideas about the future of the City and also exploring more opportunities for comprehensive communication and outreach for the community.” (Tony Ferrara)

Hill’s brief but fast-moving campaign evolved from community dissatisfaction with the handling of a July 3 City Hall incident in which City Manager Steve Adams and a subordinate employee, Teresa McClish, the city’s community development director, were found near midnight in Adams’ darkened office by police responding to an emergency call.

Citizens accused Ferrara and the rest of the council with fashioning a cover-up of the incident — and then suggesting that responding police officers were lying about the circumstances to further ongoing contract negotiations.

Ferrara is the newly elected president of the powerful League of California Cities, a post he’d have to vacate if he loses to Hill.

Also, next Tuesday’s regularly scheduled city council meeting has been cancelled.


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Something tells me Tony may suffer a relapse today.


So Ferrara;


If the source of information is an “internet site” or “talk radio” it’s immediately suspect while a laughingstock of a newspaper like the Tribune is to be accepted without question? Do you honestly believe you can sell such garbage? You’re deluded if you do.


You need to look in the mirror and you need to find the humility to realize you’re not fooling anyone — at least not anymore. You would have lost this election by more than 20% if Hill would have had longer to campaign.


Imagine the margin of a Hill victory had Jim’s name been on the ballot…

no wonder they wanted to keep their little secret!


Can’t wait to see that investigation report. Let’s see how independent it really is.


Ironic that Tony accuses any of his dissenters of being on the “fringe”, yet here we are, and Tony is now on the “FRINGE”.


adjective: fringe


1.

not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme.


No Tory, Tony accuses ALL of his dissenters of BEING the fringe!


well i believe it is called projecting in psychology…..he is the now the fringe.


The chance to make a difference

A willing and qualified write-in candidate

Dedicated, determined, work your heart out volunteers

Business owners willing to take a stand

Residents ready for change

Organizations and individuals willing to donate

Neon yellow poster boards

Sharpie markers

And paint…


We should be proud Arroyo Grande!


Oh, and musn’t forget …

Our beloved fringe media sources


This is awesome! I actually feel like my vote will make a difference. I’m glad to be one of the “come late to the party” voters after walking my absentee, as well as Mrs. Side Show’s, into our precinct late in the day on Tuesday.


btw….I’m appalled at Mayor Ferrara’s comment. Seriously appalled.


Bob, the great majority of Arroyo Grande residents agree with you and are appalled.

Sadly our Mayor is not.


We should be grateful that his own words and blind arrogance only continue to help clarify the true nature of Mayor Ferrara’s character. It seems the thought of loosing the keys to the kingdom has unleashed his fury, so much so, that he can’t control himself. As the layers are peeled away, the mayor may become the biggest player in his own demise.


Bob, I too took our ballots to a polling place on Tues,

100 % of the mayoral votes were for Jim Hill.

It is an absolutely amazing feeling to know that the citizens of AG were listening to “the few disgruntled residents” the Mayor has been trying to marginalize for months.


I hope the residents of Arroyo Grande will prove to other cities that change IS possible. If we can do it, so can you.


It Mr. Hill prevails this will be a watershed event in local politics. I suspect most local politicians will feel some level of the “pucker factor.” If Hill does not prevail at the ballot box, I have absolutely no doubt that a huge majority of AG voters will demand his ouster.


Let’s not kid ourselves, fora few weeks now many have been following our scrappy write-in campaign. Folks from near and far are aware of what we are attempting to do here in AG.

Perhaps we have given hope to other communities who share our same concerns and frustrations with their own elected officials.

I am told this election was “the perfect storm”. That may well be so.

I’ve never worked on a campaign, but I can say, that from the moment we took the leap for Jim Hill, we were in it to win it.

Once we got rolling we could feel the momentum building each and every day, were we crazy to believe we could win? Maybe so, but the stories we heard from those we spoke with confirmed we were not alone in our disgust for what has happened to our town. People want change. We are sick and tired of being bullied, lied to and taken advantage of, business owners and residents alike.

This campaign is 100% grassroots, we believed Arroyo Grande would support our efforts if only we could get the word out. This is still a small town, people talk, and we relied heavily on them to spread the word…there is another choice for Mayor!


Well done residents of Arroyo Grande, we have proven that in fact,

we do NOT have to take this crap from anyone.


Awesome……totally awesome!!!!!


What song is that?


No song….Jeff Spicolli quote from Fast times at Ridgemont High.


Is there anyone left for Ferrara to blame?


His hair stylist?

Chuck Fellows?

The little lady on Mason street who posted her mailer?

The guy at Miners who encouraged each customer to vote for Hill?

The Dollar store for stocking yellow poster board?

Miners for selling wooden stakes?

Roberts for hosting the soft opening?

Rooster Creek for serving them one more?


And the answer is…..

Tim Carmel for years of bad advice.


this will go national when Jim wins, and show the rest of America, that we can wrest the power from these self serving incompetent civil servants . This is an incredible story. Act locally, impact globally.


“Also, next Tuesday’s regularly scheduled city council meeting has been cancelled.”


This is such a great story, please don’t spin it with unnecessary drama Daniel.


Next Tuesday is Veterans Day and it’s customary to not hold city council meetings on holidays.


Go Team Jim!


There’s no drama in putting forth a fact so readers will know not to show up.