…..IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING
Wildomar Magazine knew that this had to happen at some point. Of course, Zak is talking about the City Council meeting last Wednesday evening, where the Bob Cashman Era finally ended and the City of Wildomar can now start. The “real” City of Wildomar is what Zak is talking about.
There are several appropriate metaphors to utilize here; an empty taxicab pulled up to city hall and Bob Cashman stepped out. Or, an empty suit. To be fair, Bob Cashman is not a bad person. He is not evil personified nor is he an excessively vindictive man.
His problem is that he has always managed to find a parade, formed by others, and to jump in front of it, claiming it to be his own creation. For example, the Wildomar bell was refurbished through the efforts of others, like Gary Andre. But you would have thought Bob did all of the work himself and none for Gary. On second thought, perhaps Bob was a little evil and vindictive on that one.
As a result, however, people begin to assume he was a “leader,” when he was and is not.
When Bob and his Band of Sisters were mere activists, Zak did not have an ongoing inkling of Cashman’s antics. And did not care one whit. Once Wildomar became a city, however, and Bob became Mayor, the position exposed his flaws and foibles to the public. He is the poster boy for the “Peter Principle.”
Let’s examine the elements that his faithful and loyal Band of Sisters promulgated during the Public Comments before the nominations were opened. One by one, these diminutive little sycophants took the time to read their pre-fabricated and pre-planned lists of Bob’s finer points, in an sad attempt to preserve Bob’s office.
Top Vote Getter
While that is true, that election is long past. Should Cashman be mayor until the next election then? Or for his natural life? His vote totals were a direct correllation to the amount of dollars he raised (near the top) and spent on signs. The truth is that there was no “tradition” to his election as mayor. In fact, if there is any public embarrassment due Wildomar, it is the fault of the other four city councilmembers for succumbing to the notion that letting Bob be mayor for the first six months would avoid any evidence of dissension in the new city. In any event, even that failure of leadership is now past.
Most Qualified
Sadly, this one is the lamest offerings by the Sisters. Cashman is an engineer by training, a task-oriented career that is great at taking on defined tasks and achieving intended outcomes. Engineers are not “make it happen” leaders, in most cases. I’m certain that Cashman does a fine job for his employer as an engineer. It is unlikely that he will ever be the CEO of his company.
Let’s break down the other four, as follows:
-
Scott Farnam, our Mayor-elect for 2009, turns out to have a rich and varied resume. Bullriding cowboy; cheesy plaintiff expert for construction defect litigation; general contractor and developer; real estate broker. There’s enough variety there to give him a sense of comfort inter-acting with the public as our mayor. He has not been a part of the Wildomar political scene for a long time, however. His qualifications exceed that of Cashman’s.
-
Sheryl Ade has spent years attending Riverside County Planning Commission meetings, learning the elements that go into appropriate land uses for our city. She is familiar with most, if not all of the future projects that are currently in process for approval. In addition, most vendor representives that have come to Wildomar since the election remark about the professionalism and polish that she presents well for herself and the city. In addition, she has been a part of the WIN and cityhood efforts, including fighting the Annex to Murrieta movement. In fact, Zak and Ade had words in front of Windsong Valley four or five years ago. (She recalls the incident; Zak barely does). Her qualifications exceed that of Cashman’s.
-
Marsha Swanson has been involved in Wildomar for many years, including leadership in the Wildomar MAC. As a managing broker, she is involved in sorting out the business issues of a fast-moving real estate environment that includes the egos and mistakes of hard-driving realtors in her office. Zak has been a realtor in the past and knows of egos and mistakes of hard-driving realtors. Her qualifications exceed that of Cashman’s.
-
Bridgette Moore has been involved in Wildomar’s political life for several years. She was instrumental in getting the parks restored to Wildomar. Her courageous nomination of Farnam, given the expectations of the Band of Sisters, immediately elevated her in Zak’s eyes as she put the City of Wildomar in front her political attachments. As a result of that city-focused nomination, her political qualification just exceeded that of Cashman’s.
Most Experienced
One of the Band of Sisters, in the same breath, offered up Cashman as the most qualified to be mayor but he needed more time to get the handling of the council meetings down pat. Folks, Zak can recall Cashman conducting Chamber of Commerce meetings years ago; what you are seeing now is what we saw then. Muttering and meandering is his style. His little side comments are always followed by his own satisfied chuckle.
Sisters, you can’t tout Cashman’s experience and then beg forbearance for his in-experience in the same breath. It would make each of you appear to be foolish. Wait, it did.
In conclusion, the elected leaders of Wildomar, the majority anyway, can now re-direct their efforts to deal with their problems with limited financial resources in the face of a state that is melting down and will try to save itself from failure by taking most of the tax resources.
They will still have to face a wannabe mega-church’s desire to enlarge itself without mitigating it’s impacts on the quality of life for those of us who don’t, can’t and won’t attend it’s meetings. However, all should be encouraged that the Cashman Era is over and done with. Perhaps now, decisions will be made to benefit all of Wildomar and not just Cashman’s “friends.”
As an addenda to the above, Wildomar Magazine has admittedly taken great pleasure in mocking the First Mayor. Ya gotta love the “wedgie” thing. It was, however, fair and a part of the history of satire and parody in a democratic political system. Zak is being happily snubbed by the Band of Sisters for his fine work.
Zak, however, asks the question as to who most mocks Bob Cashman? Internet stories and pictures of “wedgies” read by twenty people or the Band of Sisters, including his angry Puppet Master, who have for years exploited Cashman’s personal naivete and malable characteristics, to their own ends?
Comments can be made to zakturango@excite.com. None of the Sisters ever comment “here” anyway so they can take their comments back to their dark and nasty side of the internet.
