When we made the decision to go ahead with our Hotel Limitation Measure initiative, the Preserving Sonoma Committee met to discuss the type of political campaign we would run. We've all witnessed nasty smear campaigns filled with hit pieces and nastiness, dishonesty and even dirty tricks. None of us like or want to be part of that type of politics, and we hope that most voters in Sonoma don't like it either. Rumors of signature gatherers saying inappropriate things are just that, rumors. Lacking names, dates, verifiable and witnessed events, such rumors are at best hearsay.
We decided that we would strive to conduct our efforts based on principles of honesty, openness, civility, courtesy and respect for the opinions of others. We agreed that when we recruited volunteers to gather signatures we would impart these principles in our training process, and we have done so. Our goal is to present our ideas, opinions and concerns in a forthright and direct way, and respect the intelligence and decency of the voters in sorting out the issues and making their decisions.
Our committee and volunteers have kept our commitment to clean and healthy politics. Some of our supporters may say things we would not say in ways we would not say them, but we cannot control everything that people say or do. And we cannot control the behavior of our opponents or what they say or do. When they conduct themselves in a ways we feel are wrong, we say so. We hold ourselves to a high standard, and expect no less of those who disagree with us.
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We'd like the months ahead to include sincere dialogue and an exploration of difference of opinion about our initiative. We'll do our part as a committee to foster that, and we hope those who disagree with us will do the same. In the process, we have the chance to show our community that politics need not be negative.
Larry Barnett
Chair, Preserving Sonoma Committee
www.preservingsonoma.com
