Business as usual, or is it time for a change?

By John Scheuplein

Our City is being torn apart, by continual fighting on the Council, with charges and counter-charges. The Super Four Majority, who is approving "sweetheart give-away" deals to favored developers is trying to capture the fifth seat. The other side is an incumbent with a "faction running partner" trying to increase his power. Both sides have lost sight of the best interests of the City in their "power struggle".

I've lived here for 28 years. I am a partially disabled Army Vietnam era veteran. I have served my country, and every community I have lived in all my life.

I've served this community for ten years as a Commissioner, and served over 3 years each as a uniformed volunteer with both the Police and Fire Departments, until the current political atmosphere created by the current Super Four Majority Council intervened, and I was removed, and/or fired from every volunteer or appointed position I held for all those years.

Why? Because I publicly disagreed, as a concerned Community Activist and resident, to the "sweetheart deals" being given to favored, big money, political donating, developer friends of the Super Four Majority Council, in addition to their attempts to raise their annual stipends and benefits to an obscene $56,000 per year.

The people of West Covina have a decision to make in this, and the next election. One choice is to go with "business as usual", with "special interest money" controlling the projects, and even types of projects we have here, and exorbitant sums of money wasted, or you can elect Independent Candidates who will make policy decisions in the best interests of the community, not based on "big money" flowing into personal and political coffers, before, during and after political campaigns.

If you doubt this is the case, look where the money in this current, and recent past campaigns is coming from, and look where the plethora of expensive campaign signs are placed, and put two and two together.

In all the years I served this community, I never had to declare a conflict of interest, or abstain from a vote, because I never allowed myself to be put in that position.

We have a deeply divided Council, with the Super Four Majority trying for a "patronage sweep" to obtain all five seats on the Council, and "total control". The four seat control bothers me now, five will be a disaster.

You have two "political factions" running here. Both sides are running "slate teams" to achieve their personal goals, not necessarily in the best interests of this community. I am the only INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE, not tied to either side, or any developer. I'm on your side, not theirs.

Do you want the fighting, and mud-slinging to stop? And the hating, and one-up-man-ship? Don't elect any incumbents in the next two elections. Elect people from various parts of the community, who are not tied into "big money special interests", are truly independent, and are concerned about all parts of a whole community, not just their little section. Elect those who will let the proven administrative leadership and staff that are here, do the job they know to do, and have done, professionally.

Read my ballot statement. It contains important issues, not just political mumbo-jumbo. My candidate information sheets are written and printed by me to save expenses. The contain real thoughts, from my head and heart, and they are all in your best interests, not personally mine.

My name is John Scheuplein. I'm the third candidate on your ballot and number one for this communities well-being and best interests. Please cast only one vote for me on November 6th.