As previously stated, the OB Agenda must have help and an audience to work. MOB was finding an audience with people scared and angry about things outside of Woodway. Now he needed to channel that anger against those that would stop his agenda.
I can't speak to how they found each other, but (3) men decided to embrace MOB and his offer to help elect them. Their last names --- Scibielski, Garner, and Webber. The unofficial OB political party was formed, and the group began to seek city council seats.
In retrospect, their run for office demonstrates a two tier strategy: Candidates would run on their stated platforms while MOB would attack with lies and slander. The candidates' flyers and MOB's letters during the campaign prove this out.
What was the reason for each man to run? From campaign fliers:
Chuck Garner - suggested the last municipal building built was built without any citizen knowledge -- labeled it worth $2 million. He plans to avoid disruption of services, ie water line repairs, which he believes are frequent. Chuck then suggests he can make quality repairs to lines and streets with his ability to manage resources. This alludes to his belief that all past repairs were of poor quality, seemingly due to mismanagement of funds. To his credit he does admit, " Woodway is a great place to live! We have a community that is both safe and beautiful." His campaign flyer states the advertisement is paid for by the Chuck Garner campaign.
Paul Scibielski - " No more increasing the taxes we pay every year"; concerning streets, " the little work done is of poor quality"; concerning utilites, "water and sewer lines aren't replaced"; concerning municipal buildings, " No more wasting tax dollars on: a $2 million second city hall; $100,000's every year to operate 2 city halls"; he adds, " $250,000 to replace city & police vehicles." Finally he is quoted as saying, " I am running to demand financial responsibility from our City Council...I will not be a rubber stamp." From his campaign flyer, a line states this advertisement is paid for by the Paul Scibielski campaign.
Weber - " I am committed to ensuring our city continues to be a great place and will be an engaged and effective community leader." He also states, " Woodway is a great place to live, work, and raise a family . . . with its superb schools, neighborhoods, and communities." His campaign flyer states this advertisement was paid for by the Weber for City Council Campaign.
Additionally, Garner confirmed in a newspaper article of running a campaign to remove Yost Zachary from office.
I apologize if boring, but a little more campaign data. All (3) candidates utilized identical style yard signs, and over 90% were placed together. This simply speaks to the fact that their effort was joint and concerted - probably executed by a single individual acting for all.
I need to restate some of my core beliefs. I believe in the election process, and find it healthy to have a system where citizens elect their officials. Additionally, I believe anyone who is a citizen should have the right to seek and hold office. It's a cornerstone of the American Way and a reflection of a free society. I hold no grudge for the process. I hold no grudge for healthy, honest competition.
So candidates campaigned. MOB wrote letters. Election day came, and when the votes were tallied, all incumbents were voted out by near identical margins, a fascinating statistic. OB's Revenge was complete. Next Blog - Things Get Interesting.
