Posted at http://www.sfnewmexican.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=41696
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2004 by: David Pfeffer, Councilor, District One The following is the full text of my statement before the City Council, March 10: The 2004 municipal elections are over. Despite the efforts of able challengers, as you know, all incumbents have been returned to their seats. Congratulations to the victors. In a free country, it is not wise to argue with the ballot box. But prior to an election, it is not wise to stay silent. I did not stay silent. I, as have others, actively supported those candidates who I thought would serve best. I made no attempt to hide my participation. As part of that support, I reviewed for accuracy the positions and votes taken by Councilors Bushee, Heldmeyer and Chavez on several important issues. These were listed in a full page ad placed in a local newspaper on February 29 by the newly formed citizens' group, Santa Fe Grass Roots. Protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, the record stated in that ad is, to the best of my knowledge, fully accurate. I did not review the final copy before it went to press. My understanding was that it would contain the usual information required of a political ad, but in the end it lacked a phone number. Santa Fe Grass Roots has since registered as required with the City Clerk, phone number and all. Freedom of speech, assembly and the press are too often taken for granted in America. But they are at risk. While this government may investigate Santa Fe Grass Roots' compliance with local ordinance, one would have to demand that such investigation include all citizen complaints and not just those of one side only. Freedom goes both ways. Complaints may already be brewing, concerning, among other things, the actions of private citizens, to determine if these people's published material, focused on the election, constitutes campaign material supportive of Councilors Bushee, Heldmeyer and Chavez while presenting highly questionable personal attacks on their opponents, including other private citizens. An investigation would also determine if such activity constituted political action requiring registration with the City Clerk. However, no-one from this group registered or posted any phone number on the material. In my own view, everyone has every right, within the limits of decency, to print whatever they want. Many other complaints have arisen during this campaign, some aimed directly at those who eventually won. If this is to be a one-sided investigation only, vengeful, divisive and dangerous intimidation reminiscent of McCarthyism would scare an otherwise free people into silence. Under such threat, it is hardly surprising that folks want their identities kept secret, as if we lived in some socialist paradise. If the council determines to conduct an investigation only of Santa Fe Grass Roots, I will not participate in that vote. If an investigation is to be conducted not only of one group but based on all complaints from all sides of the election, I will vote for it. Instead of pretending that we are all one big happy family, perhaps we should finally admit that there are big differences of opinion on the council and that, around many issues, at least one block of councilors has formed. In some ways, though certainly not in all, we are more partisan than we are non-partisan. This is not necessarily a bad thing. One would hope that those returned to office would be grateful and satisfied that they have been entrusted with the opportunity to continue to serve, for the government belongs to the people. If there is anger left over from this election, direct it at me or at any others on this council who might be suspected of having had the audacity to oppose those seeking reelection. Such anger must never be directed at members of the public who were merely practicing their constitutional rights. This whole episode has been painful for the public to watch and I am sorry for the way I have contributed to that pain. But I make no apology for fighting for what I believe is best and I sincerely hope all the people of Santa Fe demand that their voices be heard and that their God-given rights be aggressively guarded against any excess of governmental power.