Dalton On Politics

When I left office roughly twenty months ago I promised the lovely Mrs. Dalton I had no desire to get involved with any civic duties not involving GOD or Country (this blog not withstanding) and would try and spend more time on my 'latest new boat' and work on teaching Police Chief Carrigan how to golf. But it's early August, and although the temperature says late summer, the promise of the coming fall denotes the start of one of my favorite blood sports, the off year elections in Paradise. The field of candidates is slim thus far but as a veteran in this field of play I can hardly contain my desire to comment. The fact is there are a number of candidates who have pulled papers but only a few are truely viable.
I have had the great pleasure to serve with Mayor Sam Dresser, who had decided he did not want to run again, but given the dirth of future leadership on the ridge he and wife Joan have made a great sacrafice, He will indeed have my vote and support.
I have as well served with Councilman Scott Lotter. Although he and I are members of opposing political parties (city councils are non-partisan, but make no mistake, it is an issue) we have worked well together as Scott has voted more often than not like a good Paradise conservative, however, you can teach anyone with opposable thumbs to vote, it is character that matters most to the Paradise voter. A quality Mr. Lotter showed to be lacking when we chose to engage in secret meetings with the "tolerance" group to gain their support, a move I believe has cost him credibility with community insiders, and will without doubt continue to plauge him come November. Paradise needs and deserves leadership they can trust.
Kimball Shirey ran as a virtual unknown in '04' and lost by a narrow margin, he is now President of the Paradise Exchange Club, a member of the Redevelopement Committee rebuilding our downtown, and serves on our design review board. He has assumed leadership of the Paradise Ball contributing $7,000.00 to the Paradise Senior Center this past spring and helped raise nearly $50,000.00 for the Paradise Boys and Girls Club. Kimball and wife Tammy are next month sending their daughter to boot camp to serve our county as she sees fit (you gotta love a kid like that). Kimball I believe will enjoy the support of the majority of the current council , the Paradise business community, Paradise Police, Fire Fighters, and one of the most influential members of the community, three-term council member Alan White.
I also have it on good authority that a pair of 'infamous' female members of the business community are poised to pull papers this coming week which will further complicate this political caldron, we shall see.
At this early date these are my observations and/or predictions. There is still lot of time and many issues to be wadded through, but their needs to be a jumping off point. This is mine.