The Recall of Joe DeVito
Last Tuesday, April 24, Ojai city councilman Joe DeVito was notified that a recall petition had been submitted by Ojai citizen Sean Keenan.
DeVito issued a statement on Thursday, appearing in the OVN, which read as follows: "It is alleged that I have not properly represented the people of Ojai. That should be news to the Ojai voters who have elected me to the City Council in each of my six campaigns … nothing has occurred to warrant a recall; therefore I intend to energetically account for my record on the Council and to fight the recall which was signed and supported by three 'sour grapes' candidates who lost to me in the last election."
Mahatma Gandhi once said: "A language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers."
Joe DeVito's use of the phrase "sour grapes" to dismiss the recall petition against him are telling words, words that are perhaps an 'exact reflection of the character' of the councilman himself. By association, DeVito insultingly dismisses the thousands of Ojai residents that voted for any one of the three candidates, not just the candidates themselves. In his formal statement, he willingly creates an atmosphere of division amongst Ojai residents.
There were thirty signatures submitted (full disclosure: I was one of the thirty signatories), and three of those signatures were from the candidates who ran for one of three open seats on the council, Leonard Klaif, Dennis Leary and Pete Lafollette. The reason that those three men ran for the council was because they felt that the council was not representing the interests of the Ojai community, and they brought numerous examples to the table in their individual campaigns to win a seat.
Election night, as the early results rolled in, all members of the community, from Joe DeVito and Sue Horgan to Leland Hammerschmitt and Nathaniel Wolper, were invited to a beer bash at the Ojai Art Center. This event was sponsored by Len Klaif, and was presented in a gesture of conciliation and democracy at work. There were no "sour grapes" in Klaif's gesture, rather it was one of community and openness.
Weeks later the official results were tallied, and DeVito escaped with a 35 vote victory over Klaif, the nearest competitor. Hardly a mandate. In fact, four years previous, DeVito beat Klaif by 812 votes. In a town of 4,500 registered voters, DeVito's support from the Ojai community has dropped precipitously in a mere four years.
In an interesting related sidenote, most citizens will recall the ballot initiatives that were filed by Jeff Furchtenicht resulted in a lawsuit initiated by City Attorney Monte Widders, and were supported by the City Council, including Joe DeVito. In the October 27, 2006 issue (PDF) of the Ojai Valley News, a letter to the editor appeared from Carl O. Greenfield, defending Monte Widders, in which Greenfield writes:
It appears that a few of the City Council candidates unable to get their way are waging a sour grapes campaign against the city attorney and hardworking council members. Are they trying to poison our beautiful city with their politically inspired charges? Or is it a political gimmick to get publicity for their candidacy? An attack on my good friend is an oblique attack on me, and I resent it. I have lived in Ojai for more than 50 years and will challenge any of the dissidents to match my record in civic improvement, religion and military service.
Does DeVito have a ghostwriter? How telling that DeVito is using the same rhetoric - he attempts to dismiss and marginalize his critics with a meaningless phrase of "sour grapes," with no more substance than "support the troops", "we are making progress" or "defeatocrats".
DeVito appears unwilling to acknowledge that there is serious widespread dissatisfaction with Ojai's elected (and appointed) leadership that goes far beyond three city council candidates, and with twenty years on the city council, he is the figurehead, emblematic of this discontent. His very use of the phrase "sour grapes" and invocation of the election shows that he is looking backwards and not forwards - it makes me doubt his abilities to find positive solutions to the pressing issues that face Ojai today, not twenty years ago.
In the 2006 election, DeVito was content to rest on his laurels as an incumbent - view his two campaign ads (here and here), neither of which contain a single testimonial, endorsement or actual accomplishment on behalf of Ojai.
I look forward to Joe DeVito "energetically accounting for his record on the Council." I trust that it will contain far more substance than his campaign ads or campaign appearances. I also trust that it will appropriately reflect his work on behalf of his constituents, the residents of Ojai. He has, after all, had twenty years to build up a record.
Joe DeVito's defeat of the urgent moratorium against chain stores was not the sole reason for the initiation of the recall, but it is a telling reason. Might I remind Councilman DeVito that the entities that most benefited from his decision were NOT his constituents: property owner and Santa Barbara resident Ernest Salomon, Subway franchisee and Simi Valley resident David Ditomaso, and Subway parent company, Delaware-based Doctors Associates, Inc.
Councilman DeVito is invited and welcome to post an editorial on The Ojai Post - he need merely get in touch with me. Even better, let's talk at a town hall meeting, where Joe DeVito can come face to face with the thousands of citizens of this community that he offhandedly dismisses as guilty of "sour grapes".
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Comments (16)
Mr. Suchman, here's an admittedly small point, please exert the effort to spell my name correctly.
Please make the correcion: I was NEVER invited to any "beer bash" or ANY social event by anyone on election eve. ANY assertion to the contrary is a lie. Period.
Please correct your misinformation for the sake of accuracy.
That said, goin' forward, I'm lickin' my chops and wettin' my fingers, Mr. Suchman.
To paraphrase a well known film: "YOU can call me Mr. Hammerschmitt.
Don't look for a response in this godforsaken leftist blog; you can read me in print.
CYA,
Leland P. Hammerschmitt
Comment #1 Posted by: Leland Hammerschmitt | April 30, 2007 06:05 PM
Dear Leland -
How great to see you are still an avid reader of The Ojai Post, a "godforsaken leftist blog".
I've corrected the spelling of your name - my apologies.
And regarding the invitation - it was open to all citizens of Ojai - it was published on The Ojai Post as an open invitation, and I believe was mentioned in the OVN as well.
I only mention you as one of the diverse and valuable members of our community, not to define you as part of any clique or faction in any way. Take it however you like. Cheers.
Comment #2 Posted by: Tyler | April 30, 2007 06:11 PM
Excellent post Tyler. I couldn't agree more. I hope Joe DeVito will engage the concerns of citizens on the issues, and on his record, and not just run a campaign of ad hominem attacks.
He is not off to a good start. Between his own "sour grapes" and his lone defender on the Ojai Valley News blog who - without addressing any issue on the merits - has already compared those concerned about Joe's record to Nazis, it is not looking good.
Let's see what Joe has to say about his supporters calling Ojai citizens Nazis.
Comment #3 Posted by: Chain Free Ojai | April 30, 2007 06:43 PM
Joe DeVito used to paddle children as a measure of discipline when he was the principal of San Antonio School. I recall (pun intended) that the parents signed a petition that stopped the paddling. I can remember distinctly, one kid that didn't have the petition signed (apparently his parents were pro-paddling) and so he was one of the few that still took a whacking when he was bad. I'm not one to bring in old testimony but I believe this to be an important piece of information as it relates to Mr. DeVito's way of going about things. If there is a problem child, don't address the issues, just whack em! If there are problems facing Ojai... well.. you get the picture... just whack em!
Joe is from the old school... and although I appreciate his service here in Ojai, I'm not sure the old school way of thinking is going to solve the complex issues that face us today. This isn't a black and white topic. In other words, step down Joe, and give the next generation the reigns. We'll take if from here. Let's pick the grapes fresh off the vine.
Comment #4 Posted by: Brian Holly | April 30, 2007 06:44 PM
Sidenote regarding the election night party: it was posted in the Ojai Valley News on Friday November 3, 2006.
ELECTION NIGHT PARTY — An election night "win, lose or draw" party will be held Tuesday from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St., with music by The Sofa Kings and friends. The event is sponsored by the Committee to Elect Len Klaif, but all candidates, their supporters, those living outside the city limits (and thus non-voters in the city election), and even those who could care less about politics are invited to attend. Vote, and then put aside our differences, and have a party to celebrate the process. Admission is free.
Comment #5 Posted by: Tyler | April 30, 2007 07:06 PM
This is gonna be fun. Some may be licking their chops now, but we'll see who'll be licking their wounds after the election. No matter the outcome, Ojai will be the better for it. Since the last election, it has become clear how the handling of JF's initiative and subsequent SLAPP suit during, and after the election were put off to lessen any political damage to those running at the time.
So this fight will air those and other issues that concern many, many who may now, or soon will, see those events in a different light.
----------------------------
I find it interesting any time people stand up for themselves, particularly in the Democratic process or simply in the discourse of community interest, they are branded leftest. This typecasting of people from the repugnantcans, (I reserve that phrase for the Far-Out-Right, which happen to control the republican party) has lost all the bite it once had, and is met by blank stares, rolling eyes or is simply tuned out all together.
The Political Pendulum has already begun the swing to a more liberal policy in the United States and not too soon for all those dying overseas for a policy of 'save face-damn the troops'.
We are seeing it here, in that Ojai politics had become too motivated by pro-development policies and ignoring the values that Ojai had cherished for so long. Allot of damage has taken place in that time and the ire of a few has taken hold, making for bold challenges to what had become a rightest body polity.
Saying all this is not to say all that is right is wrong. It's that the Far-Out-Right, that claim my religion and all I hold dear, hock it, all for political gain, challenging our patriotism, mocking our intellect, dispensing with our constitutional rights, has finally, bitten off more than they can possibly chew. Indeed, they are gagging on all their lies that are made known.
I won't say I'm licking my chops, but I'm grateful for the honest fight ahead at the national level as well as the one here in Ojai. An open, honest, vocal demonstration of democratic rights, lived by republicans, democrats, or any other affiliation, to solve our mutual trespasses.
This is Gonna be fun
Comment #6 Posted by: Dana and Alyeska-kg6amv@yahoo.com | April 30, 2007 07:58 PM
As one of the "sour grape" city council candidates
Mr. Devito smears in his frustration of the threat
of recall as a city council member, the only thing
I really sour at is a council that perform their
duties protecting Ojai so poorly that a recall
petition is necessary and going forward. I observed
so many transgressions by this governing body in the
past few years that I felt compelled to run against
them, that even inexperience could yield better
results than what we are now seeing. What's more, with
the other two quite able candidates running on a
simular platform of managed growth we received almost
a third of the votes cast, delivering Devito his seat
by a very slim margin. We have indeed seen Mr.
Devito's violation of the public trust, and, much to
his and other council member's astonishment, many are
actually following them acting on the behalf of a
community that, by the way, cares about how and by who
they are being represented. More sour grapes, please!
Comment #7 Posted by: pete lafollette | April 30, 2007 10:20 PM
Mr. Hammerschmitt...
Don't you still live in your Mom's garage???
Comment #8 Posted by: Magnum PI | May 1, 2007 12:03 AM
Hammershat the hog saw some pearls. Mistaking them for food, he licked his chops. Hammershat inhaled the beautiful pearls like a Big Mac Whopper Sub sandwhich all rolled into one. Oops, Hammershat the hog, started choking and gagging on the pearls. Lesson is look before you eat, hog breath.
You live in your Mom's garage?! ha ha! Does she do your laundry?
Comment #9 Posted by: hog teacher | May 1, 2007 04:40 AM
I don't agree with LH, but I don't see how the last 2 comments at all contribute to a meaningful discussion.
Comment #10 Posted by: Anonymous | May 1, 2007 07:53 AM
This is exactly why many of us who have lived here for a good period of time write in anonymously. Because some crackpot who didn't like you in the seventh grade can resort to personal, tasteless and uncalled-for posts. Not cool!
Comment #11 Posted by: Ask Me Why I'm Anonymous | May 1, 2007 08:03 AM
When I came to Ojai a couple of years ago, I discovered two grave and unjust situations: Mallory Way and O-Hi Frostie. They got me involved in Ojai politics. I don't know what Mr. DeVito did years ago but I heard he supported Los Arboles. He enjoys a position of power, and I saw that he did nothing to save Mallory Way or Frostie, despite being asked to do so repeatedly. The only conclusion I can draw is that he does not represent the common people but does support the financial interests. That is his choice but I do not believe it is in the best interests of Ojai, and therefore I oppose him. This is not a matter of personalities or feelings but of principle. I also heard that he voted against saving an oak tree years ago. The chinaberry tree on the corner of Canada and Ojai Avenue recently was cut down. I heard the excuse given was that it was diseased. Maybe, but I doubt it. But this incident is instructive as to the real motives of Mr. DeVito and the other members of the council. Trees, people and beauty fall before the money "chain" saw. To this day, they will do nothing to save Mallory Way, even though all they have to do is declare it a landmark. They make up all kinds of excuses and give out false information but when push comes to shove, they vote with the moneyists. I believe Mr. DeVito is projecting his own feelings when he calls my motives "sour grapes." Like the fox (guard of the chicken coop), he says: "Oh, if I only could, I would pick those delicious grapes of prosperity for all Ojaians, but I just can't, and they're sour anyway." (He can't because of the money addiction that grips and gripes the Ojai leadership). Jersey Mikes or Subway would not be here if Joe had stepped to the plate as the general plan mandates. He could have supported Jeff's initiatives but instead voted twice to sue this citizen. Even with the ACLU in the game, he will not speak for the common women and children, but his actions speak loud and clear for the moneyists. Ojai is threatened with wrack and woe; subway Joe has to go.
Comment #12 Posted by: Dennis Leary | May 1, 2007 08:57 AM
We will all be served better on this and most issues by maintaining some decorum. There is no need for name calling or personal put downs. This is a serious situation and is deserves some serious contemplation and respect. Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but some of the above comments have been simply rude and they detract from the central issue.
Comment #13 Posted by: SPK | May 1, 2007 09:38 AM
I agree with spk's comment above about decorum and civility. Call me on it if I overstep the bounds of respect and empathy.
Comment #14 Posted by: Dennis Leary | May 1, 2007 10:21 AM
Joe says:
"… nothing has occurred to warrant a recall..."
While I think reasonable people will dispute that (the initiatives SLAPP being thrown out of court and the ACLU coming in, the new Subway, even the chopping down of the chinaberry tree, so reminiscent of that great oak years ago), isn't part of why people think a recall is warranted precisely because "nothing has occurred" to protect Ojai during Joe's watch? I think people have concluded that indeed, nothing will occur to protect Ojai while Joe remains on the council, and that is what is driving this recall.
Thank you Tyler for your post, and for your courage and your efforts to make Ojai better. We are a better place because we have you.
Comment #15 Posted by: Anonymous | May 1, 2007 04:52 PM
Well, between Kenley's initiative and the recall, Ojai has already accomplished one thing: Joe DeVito reversed course and switched his vote to "yes" on the chains moratorium tonight. I predict he'll renew the moratorium as long as the recall effort is on. That's a good thing for Ojai. Everyone who has supported the initiative and the recall deserves thanks. Keep it up!
Comment #16 Posted by: Chain Free Ojai | May 2, 2007 01:17 AM