Paul Pitino - Third District County Supervisor

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(Total time: 15 minutes, 45 seconds)

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U.S. Army Veteran, former Labor Union Leader, former school teacher
Current Arcata City Council Member
for Third District County Supervisor

IN SUPPORT OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, I AM NOT TAKING ANY MONEY.
I am not soliciting or taking any endorsements, and will have no advertising or lawn signs.

I believe our Third District needs a strong supervisor who will support his constituents. As soon as John Woolley announced that he would not be running for re-election after serving three terms as Supervisor, I went in the next day to get my papers to file for this election.

There was no waffling or indecision or "I wonder who else is running" hesitation for me. I came out first in this campaign to purposely raise the bar for all the candidates -- whoever they would be -- and to encourage grass-roots campaigning. I want to reject the format that has gotten us to this point, where we have so little choice in most of our county, state, and federal elections. To me, this Supervisor's race is not about doing whatever is needed to do to win. It’s about being and remaining independent so voters get ME, not those who endorsed me or supported me financially.

In the 2006 Fourth District Supervisor race two years ago, over $220,000 was raised by those two candidates, for a total in the November election of about 7400 votes. This is close to $30 per vote spent for advertising, polls, fund-raisers, management, and all the other costs that are associated with a "traditional" campaign. In that race, the two candidates had distinctly different views for the future of Humboldt County. I propose that you, the voters, can tell the difference between the candidates without those lawn signs and television ads.

What I am saying is that there is something wrong when an election is based on who can raise more money, instead of what the candidate stands for.

Between now and June 3rd, I'll be out at every chance I have to meet with you. There will be debates between myself and the other candidates. There will be articles in the newspapers. You can read my credentials and viewpoints on this website. And you can call me on the phone. You can find out a lot more about me by meeting with me or talking with me than you ever would from an ad.

If you would like to help, please tell your friends and neighbors about me.
You can contribute and participate in the true democratic process by calling me and telling me what is important to you.
As a citizen and voter in Humboldt County, you should feel connected to every elected official who represents you.
I am here for you.

To ask questions, to chat, or to meet me and introduce yourself, please call me at:

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For polling place or registration information,
please call the County Office Of Elections
at (707) 445-7481 Monday through Friday

or click on my address to send an e-mail to me:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)