Don't want an "Indian" casino in your back yard? Read B4 voting for 5th dist supe

[Dynamique]

The following is a statement from Marilee Montgomery, who is the public relations and information contact for the Stop the Casino 101 Coalition, regarding her experience with Efren Carillo as well as her research on his background and associations.

IMO, Marilee is thorough, capable and very credible. I have a great deal of respect for her.

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I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that Efren Carrillo is a wolf in sheep's clothing. After six months of my asking him (from mid-April up to September 15, 2008), and being completely ignored, with not even a polite email back to me, Carrillo finally submitted a position paper for our web site at www.stopthecasino101.com. It was letter perfect. Too perfect. It addressed each and every issue pertaining to the casino and he was on the "right" side of them all. I could have written it myself. In fact, I may have! I think he got all the data from our web site. His statement was too good to be true.

It seems that to a large extent, Carrillo is taking the "right" position on all the major issues. Now he's talking about wastewater. What's his solution? It's straight from good old Bob Rawson, spokesman for the FIGR/casino at the SWIG meetings, member of the Advisory Board of the Friends of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria ("Friends"), the casino's front group, who for years has tried to get his "let's-spray-wastewater-on-redwood trees" project off the ground. Carrillo's even handing out redwood tree seedlings, for God's sake! Again, on this issue, he says what he thinks are "right" things. He doesn't have a clue that Sonoma County's wastewater isn't treated to a sufficient standard to make spraying it safe.

Carrillo was a member of "Friends" until I sent around an email on 27 May 2008, with that information. Within 24 hours, by May 28th, he had his picture and name off their web site. But I had the web page on PDF (a copy is attached to this post) which clearly shows that as of May 21, 2008, Carrillo was still listed as FFIGR board member. I also have the tear sheet from the two page ad the "Friends" ran last November, on which Carrillo is listed as a member of the Advisory Board. His endorsers include Friends of FIGR notables such as Jim and Sandy Maresca, both also on the Advisory Board of "Friends".

After I sent out my email, Carrillo began to tell people that he "...was asked to be on an "Advisory Board" for the FFIGR last year. I was looking forward to being able to approach the proposal in an unbiased way and provide my thoughts on it in an advisory role" and that he had asked that his name be removed. (Carrillo email dated May 28, 2008, forwarded to me from West County resident)

"Unbiased"? Did Carrillo suddenly wake up and realize that "Friends" supports the casino? I mean, the Friends have never been an "unbiased" group. Or was it because he was being asked over and over what his position on the casino was? Well, I think it was the latter, because I was peppered with copies of emails from and to Carrillo from West County residents about Carrillo's position on the casino and/or his involvement with "Friends".

Carrillo claims to be an environmentalist, but a "...proposed 19,650-acre Preservation Ranch project is backed by a noted Napa County vintner and a $200 million investment in his company by the state's public employee retirement system... Among the consultants for Preservation Ranch is another former west county supervisor, Eric Koenigshofer, a leading supporter of west county supervisorial candidate Efren Carrillo.... Carrillo said he won't make up his mind on Preservation Ranch before the environmental report is completed. "It's premature to give you a pro or con at this point when the studies have not been done," he said. ("Timber vs. Grapes")

The project, which would include planting more than 1,800 acres of vineyards on hilltops across 30 square miles outside Annapolis, is opposed by the Sierra Club. So if the Sierra Club is opposed, why isn't Carrillo siding with them?

Carrillo's biggest popular support is coming from the Southwest area where the FIGR is involved financially. For example, Lynne Cominsky is on the Advisory Board of the Friends. Cominsky's pet project, Roseland University Prep charter school, received $5,000 in Station Casinos money. I'm just sayin', the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

In terms of financial support, one of his biggest donors, according to the Press Democrat, is Sonoma County Alliance's political action committee, which also endorses Carrillo. Let's not be naive: the SCA does not endorse and give money to candidates who are opposed to growth, as Carrillo claims to be.

I guess bottom line is that a vote for Carrillo might well be a vote for the casino, growth, and the good ole boys, despite what he says. I don't believe he is opposed to the casino. I do believe he will say anything to get elected.

[Dynamique]

Apparently there was a factual error in Marilee's statement posted yesterday. She asked me to post this correction for her:

"I was in error when I stated that Jim Maresca endorsed Efren Carrillo. Mr. Maresca has in fact endorsed Rue Furch, as indicated in the Press Democrat. -- Marilee Montgomery"

I should have caught the sentence regarding the Marescas' endorsement before posting Marilee's statement since there had been a previous post on Waccobb regarding his endorsement of Rue Furch. Mea culpa.

It is worth noting that regardless of who Mr. Maresca is endorsing (or claims to endorse), he and his wife are both on the board of the "Friends of the FIGR" organization, which exists to get the FIGR casino jack-booted through.

Aside from this one item, Marilee's experience with Efren Carrillo and the FFIGR is pertinent and something that should be taken into account before making a vote decision. And I still think highly of Marilee Montgomery and the work that she and her organization have done!

The following is a statement from Marilee Montgomery, who is the public relations and information contact for the Stop the Casino 101 Coalition, regarding her experience with Efren Carrillo as well as her research on his background and associations.

IMO, Marilee is thorough, capable and very credible. I have a great deal of respect for her.

-------------------------------------------------

... His endorsers include Friends of FIGR notables such as Jim and Sandy Maresca, both also on the Advisory Board of "Friends".

[emvee]

..I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that Efren Carrillo is a wolf in sheep's clothing...

Actually, Carillo is a wolf, but not in sheep's clothing. He just wants people to believe otherwise, but it is quite clear that he represents interests that are anathema to the district he wants to 'represent'.

The more I find out about this character, the more dangerous he appears. The sad irony would be if the people of the 5th district are hoodwinked and at long last the gravel companies, loggers and developers finally eliminate what has historically been the only effective representation of all that is dear to us true Sonoma County residents.

[treehugger]

frankly the indians should be able to do whatever they need or want to do . ITS THEIR LAND and everyone else is trespassing anyways.

The following is a statement from Marilee Montgomery, who is the public relations and information contact for the Stop the Casino 101 Coalition, regarding her experience with Efren Carillo as well as her research on his background and associations.

IMO, Marilee is thorough, capable and very credible. I have a great deal of respect for her.

-------------------------------------------------

I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that Efren Carrillo is a wolf in sheep's clothing. After six months of my asking him (from mid-April up to September 15, 2008), and being completely ignored, with not even a polite email back to me, Carrillo finally submitted a position paper for our web site at www.stopthecasino101.com. It was letter perfect. Too perfect. It addressed each and every issue pertaining to the casino and he was on the "right" side of them all. I could have written it myself. In fact, I may have! I think he got all the data from our web site. His statement was too good to be true.

It seems that to a large extent, Carrillo is taking the "right" position on all the major issues. Now he's talking about wastewater. What's his solution? It's straight from good old Bob Rawson, spokesman for the FIGR/casino at the SWIG meetings, member of the Advisory Board of the Friends of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria ("Friends"), the casino's front group, who for years has tried to get his "let's-spray-wastewater-on-redwood trees" project off the ground. Carrillo's even handing out redwood tree seedlings, for God's sake! Again, on this issue, he says what he thinks are "right" things. He doesn't have a clue that Sonoma County's wastewater isn't treated to a sufficient standard to make spraying it safe.

Carrillo was a member of "Friends" until I sent around an email on 27 May 2008, with that information. Within 24 hours, by May 28th, he had his picture and name off their web site. But I had the web page on PDF (a copy is attached to this post) which clearly shows that as of May 21, 2008, Carrillo was still listed as FFIGR board member. I also have the tear sheet from the two page ad the "Friends" ran last November, on which Carrillo is listed as a member of the Advisory Board. His endorsers include Friends of FIGR notables such as Jim and Sandy Maresca, both also on the Advisory Board of "Friends".

After I sent out my email, Carrillo began to tell people that he "...was asked to be on an "Advisory Board" for the FFIGR last year. I was looking forward to being able to approach the proposal in an unbiased way and provide my thoughts on it in an advisory role" and that he had asked that his name be removed. (Carrillo email dated May 28, 2008, forwarded to me from West County resident)

"Unbiased"? Did Carrillo suddenly wake up and realize that "Friends" supports the casino? I mean, the Friends have never been an "unbiased" group. Or was it because he was being asked over and over what his position on the casino was? Well, I think it was the latter, because I was peppered with copies of emails from and to Carrillo from West County residents about Carrillo's position on the casino and/or his involvement with "Friends".

Carrillo claims to be an environmentalist, but a "...proposed 19,650-acre Preservation Ranch project is backed by a noted Napa County vintner and a $200 million investment in his company by the state's public employee retirement system... Among the consultants for Preservation Ranch is another former west county supervisor, Eric Koenigshofer, a leading supporter of west county supervisorial candidate Efren Carrillo.... Carrillo said he won't make up his mind on Preservation Ranch before the environmental report is completed. "It's premature to give you a pro or con at this point when the studies have not been done," he said. ("Timber vs. Grapes")

The project, which would include planting more than 1,800 acres of vineyards on hilltops across 30 square miles outside Annapolis, is opposed by the Sierra Club. So if the Sierra Club is opposed, why isn't Carrillo siding with them?

Carrillo's biggest popular support is coming from the Southwest area where the FIGR is involved financially. For example, Lynne Cominsky is on the Advisory Board of the Friends. Cominsky's pet project, Roseland University Prep charter school, received $5,000 in Station Casinos money. I'm just sayin', the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

In terms of financial support, one of his biggest donors, according to the Press Democrat, is Sonoma County Alliance's political action committee, which also endorses Carrillo. Let's not be naive: the SCA does not endorse and give money to candidates who are opposed to growth, as Carrillo claims to be.

I guess bottom line is that a vote for Carrillo might well be a vote for the casino, growth, and the good ole boys, despite what he says. I don't believe he is opposed to the casino. I do believe he will say anything to get elected.