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San Diego County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter

You would never hire the fox to guard the chickens.

By Larry Jackman

Candidate for Board Member; San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District

This information is provided by the candidate
Significant issues face fire district should the labor union win control of the fire board. Our community cannot afford the potential high cost to taxpayers.
Many of the financial problems facing the City of San Diego with its bankrupt pension program and its uncontrolled costs of wages and other benefits are a result of labor unions' influence. If the firefighters labor union's candidates are successful in winning the election, there will no longer be any checks and balances controlling how taxpayer's money is spent. Recent contract negations have shown the labor union's propensity for wanting "more" now verses insuring the long-term financial security of the fire district.

There may also be significant operational consequences of the labor union having a majority vote on the fireboard. Within the next year or two, the newly constituted fireboard will be hiring a replacement for the retiring fire chief. A new fire chief chosen by the labor union will promote and reinforce labor's agenda.

The labor union's presence on the fireboard could also have grave impacts on regionalization. San Miguel is the largest fire district in the county and our firefighters are at the top of comparative total compensation for salary and benefits. Significant increases in San Miguel firefighter's compensation will seriously impair regionalization efforts to bring together neighboring agencies.

Re-electing the incumbents to maintain taxpayer control that reflects what is best for the community rather than board members influenced by the labor union is essential to the long-term interest of the fire district.

For more information visit http://www.SanMiguelFire.com

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ca/sd Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 21, 2004 19:01
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