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Gabe Kearney
By LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Just as the latest Petaluma City Council attempt to find a compromise candidate threatened to stalemate into partisan politics for a fourth time late Monday night, members of the pro-business contingent joined a progressive councilmember to appoint Gabe Kearney as their newest member.
Kearney, 29, is an active member of the Sonoma County Young Democrats and is a relatively liberal thinker who placed fifth in the November election in a race to fill three seats on the council.
The council has operated with six members since Jan. 3, when David Glass left his council seat vacant to become mayor. The council had tried unsuccessfully twice before to agree on a replacement appointee, stalling at 3-3 ties between the progressive and pro-business factions.
Monday, in two straw votes in which none of 19 candidates won backing from a majority of the six-member council, Kearney was the only candidate to draw support from across party lines. Even then, he only drew “expressions of support” from Councilman Mike Healy of the pro-business bloc and progressive Tiffany Renee.
But when faced with the possibility of operating until December 2012 – when Glass’ former term expires – with six members who disagree on major issues such as development, newly elected Councilman Chris Albertson had had enough.
On a third straw poll, Albertson also supported Kearney. Then in a formal vote, business-backed Councilman Mike Harris joined in, giving Kearney a 4-2 vote to become the council’s seventh member. Progressives Glass and Teresa Barrett voted no. (In a follow-up ballot, the council voted unanimously to appoint Kearney.)
Kearney’s ascension was somewhat surprising, since he had failed to garner a single vote in three previous straw polls in January. Glass, Barrett and Renee instead supported Jason Davies and former Petaluma mayor Pam Torliatt.
“Not making that decision was abhorrent to me,” Albertson said after the vote. “That was our job. We needed to have a seventh member. Mr. Kearney is a good man.”
Earlier, Glass, Barrett and Renee all said they wouldn’t change their initial votes. Harris, Healy and Albertson all narrowed their choices from the first to the second votes.
On the third informal ballot, Albertson threw in with Healy and Renee, giving Kearney three votes – again the only candidate with cross-over support.
After Healy made a motion for a formal vote, Harris, perhaps the most conservative member on the council, joined to give Kearney the appointment.
Glass said his choices, which included Torliatt and Davies, were the only candidates “the environmental community knows,” and would therefore be the only ones he would support.
As the seventh council member, Kearney could be a crucial swing vote on controversial proposals that reach the council, including Deer Creek Village, a proposed 346,000-square-foot shopping center that is planned to include a Lowe’s home improvement center. The environmental impact report on that project could come before the council this summer.
Worries about Kearney’s values linger, but both Albertson and Healy said they believe Kearney can be open-minded.
“He’s not my first choice,” Albertson said, noting Kearney’s perceived left-leaning values. Four-three votes “have always been a concern. But would 3-3 votes be advantageous to Petaluma?”
Healy said Kearney was essentially “voted off the island” during the election by progressive Democratic leaders, who supported Davies.
“It was a maturing experience for Gabe,” he said. “I think he’s willing to listen to everybody.”
Kearney, an emergency services coordinator for Kaiser Permanente hospitals, will be sworn in on March 7.
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I was curious what appeared in the Press Democrat’s first article about Gabe Kearney seeking election.
From Lori Carter’s article of July 28, 2010:
“Kearney said his ideals fall somewhere between those of Harris and Glass.
‘I want to be on the council to get a consensus and move forward in the best interests of the city, which is sometimes, in politics, left behind,’ he said Monday.”
Prophetic words, Council Member Kearney. Keep your eye on that vision.
Today’s PD editorial actually has many errors in perception.
That’s not surprising, given the bias of the PD reporters and always characterizing everyone as either \pro-business\ or \pro-progressive\ or whatever the reporter reports.
Here are at least 3 misperceptions – and there were more -
Statesmanship? Seriously. The only reason Healy and the other 2 move to support Kearney is they knew what may happen if a special election is held – and that is that Jason Davies or Pamela Torliatt would very likely be elected – with the voice of the voters, not the City Council.
We all know they don’t want that. Which leads to misperception #2.
2. The PD talks about \pro-business,\ but what they should be characterizing these elected officials as is \pro-construction-real estate-development,\ as that is typically what business in the past in Petaluma was. The Chamber of Commerce represents that voice – the voice of the past – has anyone forgotten how the PACC Board wrote a letter to the County Board of Supervisors ENDORSING the Dutra asphalt plant at Petaluma’s gateway? Look at their Board members. And Healy, Harris and Albertson are all backed by that group of people. They call themselves \pro-business.\ But if they were really pro-business, they would have seriously considered appointing Jason Davies or Pamela Torliatt. Davies has is not only local, but a regional and international businessman in technology, the type of contemporary business opportunities Petaluma needs to attract. Torliatt, apparently hated by these 3 – Healy, Harris and Albertson – has broad regional and State connections and there’s no one who has been out advocating for Petaluma and bringing business and improving our economy more than her. We are beginning to see the fruits of her labor while she was Mayor.
The economic forecast given at Monday night’s City Council meeting proved that, despite the blaming by the Rabbitt campaign and others of Pam Torliatt for creating Petaluma’s difficult economic times, the truth is a national recession occurred, and wise decisions made in the last 2-1/2 years when Torliatt was Mayor have resulted in an upturn in sales tax revenues (without a new shopping center, by the way) and cautious optimism. So the lies spread to ignorant voters by the negative campaigners about how Pam Torliatt ran Petaluma into the ground and left the City with only $5000 in reserves have now come to light as exactly what they always were – total lies.
Which brings me to #3 – David Glass.
3. David Glass is a very bright man and an experienced elected official and financial professional. From the very beginning, he laid out all of the options available to the City Council without sticking his head in the ground like some others who immediately jockeyed for their positions to hope to get the pro-construction-development-real estate majority back and, at all costs, be sure to try to keep Pam Torliatt out of City government – because of their personal insecurities and their own shortcomings.
And for \Pave Paula Lane,\ whoever or whatever this is, you sound pro-asphalt and just like the old pro-business people whose day is fading away and who would be well advised to adapt to the 21st Century.
Appointing a City Council member that helps alleviate your insecurities will not unfortunately stop the world around you or the types of opportunities that could comet to Petaluma you probably do not understand.
Healy showed he is the real leader of this council, the Press Democrat Editorial today was right-on.
for “Seriously” -
there is nothing hypocritical in my statement or any comment posted.
It appears you have confused the modus operandi of the construction-development-real estate bloc the media and PACC describe as “business.” That’s where those elected officials receive their back scratching.
Interesting that none of the bloc of Healy, Albertson and Harris ever expressed support for Kearney – and both Healy and Albertson are purported to be “Democrats,” just like Healy.
This simply means Healy gave the clue to his cohorts that Kearney would help them prevent both Davies and Pam Torliatt from being elected or a special election from being held, at which time the voters would very likely speak again.
There’s no miracle or leadership demonstrated here by Healy, Albertson and Harris.
Of course, the media and PD reporter whose bias is so clear it’s laughable would like to portray a last minute leadership action.
Renee should be quite vigilant now and provide as much input to Kearney as these other 3 guys, or he may well be led down a path of no return, with, yes, the “back scratching” that is how these 3 operate – back rooms deals – which may have already happened.
I hope Renee will not live to regret her support of Gabe Kearney.
Glass and Barrett could easily have kept their “no” votes. They were supporting the best qualified candidates for what the City of Petaluma needs – which is what they have always done. But they graciously changed their vote to support Kearney.
This is the truth. Spin it however you like. Everyone knows it and some probably know even more.
Kearney did not win the seat on his own merits. He was chosen as a lesser “evil” for Healy, Harris and Albertson for the fear of actually having a qualified business representative, such as Jason Davies, or the former Mayor with her depth of experience and rather incredible regional recognition and advocacy ability for Petaluma.
Make sure we get this right where the Right’s are concerned.
@be very smart….
Are you serious? You are being a total hypocrit!
A few items to point out –
“tried to appear as though they were voting with Renee.”
They didn’t “appear” to vote with Renee…they DID vote with Renee. Your statement should go to Glass and Barett who, in the revote, changed to “appear” to vote for Gabe. Your statement is total hypocrisy.
“had his back scratched and has agreed to scratch someone else’s back – since this is the way that so-called “bloc” does their business.”
Talk about back scratching…..isn’t that what Glass and Barett did with Torliatt and Davies? No compromise, simply total back scratching since that is the way they (they being Petaluma Tomorow folks) do business. Again, a total hypocritical statement.
Are you Serious?
For “helpmeout” and the selective perceptions of posters about Healy’s so-called leadership -
It’s hardly “leadership” when the 3 pro-building and construction industry and real estate elected officials turn their backs on experienced candidates, especially one with international technology experience. They just chose someone who wasn’t threatening to their egos and tried to appear as though they were voting with Renee.
And someone they felt they might be able to manipulate and make backroom deals with to try and satisfy the appointee’s potential political ambitions.
The telling factor will be whether or not Mr. Kearney demonstrates integrity and groundedness in his decision making or whether he has already had his back scratched and has agreed to scratch someone else’s back – since this is the way that so-called “bloc” does their business.
Mike Healy never does anything unless he feels he can manipulate the situation and make himself look good.
I hope people who comment on this forum and are delirious with happiness because a qualified candidate with broad contemporary business experience, much broader than the Chamber of Commerce sweethearts on the City Council, was turned down for someone who isn’t a threat and is probably someone they will try to make one of them.
Time will tell.
The bashing of David Glass in these forums is also telling of you as posters. He is a bright, articulate and intelligent Mayor whose interests are the community’s.
And, by the way, he wasn’t threatened at all by candidates who had exactly the business experience and depth of experience that would serve Petaluma best.
I wouldn’t expect the people who are posting on this forum and hysterically bashing Glass and Barrett and calling Mike Healy a “leader” to understand this expression either.
As hoped, leadership has finally taken root in the Petaluma City Council.
As expected, none of it came from Mayor Glass.
Congratulations to Gabe Kearney on his appointment. He’s now got two years to show those of us here in town that he is a leader, and not another up and coming machine hack of the progressive left…. which his resume would indicate he could be.
Congratulations to Mr. Healy for leading the Council to a compromise. Congratulations to Albertson, Harris and Renee for reaching a compromise decision. Congratulations to Gabe Kearney (please be a reasoned decision maker not a idealogue).
True to form, Glass and Barrett did not participate in the decision making by clinging to their progressive or scorched earth approach. Ever feel like you are becoming irrelevant?
It is a complete slap in the face to Gabe Kearney and the process of voting that Glass and Barrett asked for another vote to make it “unanimous.” Not only are Glass and Barrett lacking the ability to “lead” or “compromise” or “collaborate” with others outside of their own posse, they don’t even have the ability to stand behind what they voted for. Kearney was appointed on a 4-2 vote, with Glass and Barrett opposing.
All of this talk about the council getting along……ya, on paper- because when Glass and Barrett (and typically Renee)lose a motion, they ask for a revote to make it look unanimous.
What a joke…..
Congratulations to Gabe, I wish him the best!
Now for the challenges, not only in helping Petaluma dig deep out the financial hole they are in, but in being pulled and persuaded by the people who left him to fend on his own – Glass & Barrett. During the entire campaign season their baby was Davies, and for the appointment they only settled for Davies or Torliatt. What a shame.
Thanks to Healy, Albertson, Renee & Harris for getting Kearney appointed to the 7th seat, someone that some of you on this forum thought the Three Wise Men would never settle for. They moved in the direction that was best for the city while Glass and Barrett remained adamant with only their two choices.
Congratulations to Gabe Kearney. He had been endorsed by Sonoma County Conservation Action in the 2010 Election, and we’re thrilled to see him earn a cross-aisle vote of a split Petaluma City Council.
Let’s hope beyond hope, despite what the papers will print and lead us to believe, that there is an alternative to the polarizing pro-development v. pro-environment camps; ie, a pro-Petaluman, pro-clean air and water, pro-three E’s (environment/economy/equity), anti-sprawl majority.
Heh be very spart – here’s your comment before the council meeting. Yes – Harris, Healy and Albertson sure did stay fast to their right wing don’t give a darn about Petaluma get only the ultraconservative Chamber antiquated slobs into the seat.
Oh, that’s not the way it happened? Those 3 changed their vote TO the candidate supported in the election by Glass and Barrett (but didn’t cast a single straw vote for him – bad coffee someone said) and who were the ONLY council members NOT TO VOTE FOR KEARNY. Why, because they wanted their little girl Pam who they could pull the strings for, or, they could push in a special election to get her back into winning an election for her next springboard.
If you didn’t watch the voting, go to the tape. Glass mocked the council for even thinking about taking a vote on Healy’s motion because he clearly could control the result. He and Pam’s handler “be very smart” were positive what the result would be. Instead, for a few blabbering minutes he was dumbfounded with the result.
So, be so smart…..how ’bout them apples.
#
be very smart says:
February 28, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Well, well, I see you are at it again.
This post is for “Kim” and “sadie.”
First of all, everything word in your posts is exactly the opposite of the truth.
The people you are really talking about are
They are the ones who care only for their political futures and for trying to get right wing conservative biases in the majority of the Petaluma City Council. Healy pretends to be a “moderate,” but every now knows his affiliations with the real estate, building and construction industries – which we call “business” in Petaluma, when in reality there is a broad range of contemporary business opportunities, including in technology, about which Healy, Harris and Albertson, and apparently you, are clueless.
So, to them, and to you, hard working families and “business” opportunities are about supporting the Chamber of Commerce and its antiquated views and the old timers in Petaluma who want nothing more than to keep this a backwoods truly non-progressive community.
A truly progressive community- not a made up political tag – is one that embraces its history and strives for economic development that includes the 21st century.
I hope Mayor Glass, Councilmember Barrett and Councilmember Renee will stay true to their values, in representing what is best for the community of Petaluma, and not be swayed by the ignorance that is so evident in perceptions like those posted in this forum.
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Sorry but you guys down in Petaluma need to have more elections. These annual appointments feel like a game of missing chair.
Watching Survivor, or watching Glass and Barrett-same thing-blind partisanship usually gets you voted off the island.
Kudos to Healy for filling the leadership void Mayor Glass’s narrow mindedness created. Also, Albertson, Harris and Renee deserve a lot of credit for moving forward from the 3-3 impasse. Let’s hope the Council can get some much needed work done in creating a jump start to the local job situation.
OK, I’m flabbergasted by this turn of events. Who’da thunk it?
Glass and Barrett should have been dancing on the dias having one of their kind being appointed, but no…..they fought for Torliatt or Davies ’till the bitter end. Only until they were cornered did they go along with Kearney.
Glass’ leadership shined through, didn’t it?
Let’s see if this new cooperation leads to less stalemates on the council. Thank you for not putting Princess Pam on the board again – that would have been such a joke!
Council appointments in Petaluma definitely makes strange bedfellows. 4 years ago Torliatt and Barrett (the only two progressives on the council at the time) joined David Rabbitt and Mike O’Brien to support Samantha Freitas (remember her??). She definitely did not feel beholden to Torliatt and Barrett (Harris and Nau did not initially support her). It will be interesting to see how Kearney reacts to be voted in by such an odd coalition.
I learned today that you don’t have to work hard if you just piggy back off the success of others and use an otherwise well intentioned group as your running platform!
Cheers Petaluma! You now have a City Council member that roughly 10% of your population voted for.
Is this the same Gabe Kearney who as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Sonoma County Democratic Party has not called a committtee meeting in a year? I’m waiting Gabe, you haven’t responded to email requests for Finance Committee meetings. As a life long Democrat I want to know “who’s watching the cash boxs?”
If this is typical of Mr. Kearney don’t expect much follow through.
I too wish Gabe all the luck in the world – he will need it! However, I can’t help think it quite odd that Healy supported Kearney as he is clearly not “above the fray”. What could Kearney say or promise Healy to make him change his mind I wonder? And why did Albertson and Harris blindly follow their leader after not voting for him in the first two rounds last night? Once they saw Healy support Kearney Albertson jumped immediately on board and Harris eventually did. I think the pro-development anti-environment bloc just got a little bit bigger with Healy as the masterful puppeteer. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Petaluma can get things done, but not under the Leadership of Mayor Glass, he wanted to end the show, and only have 6 members.
The true leader last night was Healy. The media should change the split on the council from pro growth / slow growth to pro common sense/ no common sense.
The other fun story is how Mayor Glass and Barrett asked to change their no vote after the loss, clearly trying to wash the egg off their face.
Healy, Albertson, Harris and Renee showed the leadership Petaluma needs.
KUDOS to Gabe Kearney.
Patrick, I agree with you. Good job Council….well, four memmbers of the Council.
“Not making that decision was abhorrent to me,” Albertson said after the vote. “That was our job. We needed to have a seventh member. Mr. Kearney is a good man.”
Yes he is a good man, and so is Albertson. Thank you for doing what needed to be done for Petaluma!
“Glass said his choices, which included Torliatt and Davies, were the only candidates “the environmental community knows,” and would therefore be the only ones he would support.”
David, shame on you and Teresa. Just when you begain to gain my respect back you go and behave in this manner and say such ludacris things. Unreal. The only candidate they know so the only one he will support! I just can’t believe he said that!
Great job Chris, Mike, Mike and Tiffany, great job. Tisk Tisk David and Teresa. Four members worked toward compromise and for the good of Petaluma, two members acted like children and did not behave for the betterment of Petaluma.
Seriously?
Let’s see if I’ve got this right. The three so-called business candidates move from their original positions to join with Renee to vote in a liberal-thinking Kearney while Glass and Barrett dig their heels in and refuse to budge. What does that say about Glass, who said earlier he didn’t even meet with other hopefuls because he would only back Torliatt or Davies, or Barrett being able to play with the other children. So much for Glass’ claims of leadership.
Congratulations to Gabe. He’s a dedicated and passionate member of the Petaluma Community who will serve Sonoma County’s second largest city very well.
And kudos to Tiffany Renee (as well as Albertson, Healy, and Harris) for being willing to consider the greater good of Petaluma and end the absurd game of chicken.
I wish Gabe and the entire council the best of luck in the coming term.