Guest Editorial: Don't Let the 'Good Old Boys' Club' Determine Council Election

Guest Editorial from concerned Arcadia resident Jim Helms

I was shocked to hear a message on my answering machine from Bob Harbicht asking me to vote for John Wou for the city council. In the many years that I have been associated with Arcadia politics I have never seen such a blatant effort by a member of the City Council to promote the election of any candidate.

That smacks of the "Good Old Boys Club". It is a game of "Musical Chairs". That is exactly what the voters of Arcadia said that they did not want to create when we overwhelmingly approved a charter amendment limiting council members to two 4 year terms in office.

That is a form of nepotism that can lead to problems such as in Bell and other communities. If elected John would be beholden to support any suggestion by Bob. Councilmen should be independent and think for themselves. 

Fortunately Bob and John and Gary are all good men and have served our city well. The Charter looks to the periodic input of new faces and new ideas on our City Council. That promises new and independent thought. That is the result I hope we will see in this election.  

Jim Helms