Ask Yourself This Question...

By Terry Warren Johnson, Sr.

Unless a real leader is elected - not an incumbent who is beholden to the same public safety unions that are reluctant to grant serious concessions or an ideologue who walks lockstep in his party's effort to privatize any and all government services - Oceanside is doomed.

There is another election that is as important to me - and should be to you, too: Who will be the mayor of Oceanside for the next four years. This will be a crucial period in our city's history. Our magnificent city waits on the cusp of bankruptcy due to the unfunded pension liabilities. The UT San Diego reports Oceanside can cover just 64.9 percent of its pension liabilities for general services. For public safety it is just 69.2 percent funded.

I do not raise the bankruptcy observation to scare you into supporting my candidacy. It is a reality we all are facing and is probably the most important factor to consider when you make your personal choice for the next mayor of Oceanside. Unless a real leader is elected - not an incumbent who is beholden to the same public safety unions that are reluctant to grant serious concessions or an ideologue who walks lockstep in his party's effort to privatize any and all government services - Oceanside is doomed.

How bad would it be for Oceanside? The other two candidates are quick - too quick - to dismiss the bankruptcy option. So did Stockton, Calif. Bob Dies, the city manager of bankrupt Stockton, writing in the Sept. 27 edition of The Wall Street Journal: "Bankruptcy is a costly, undesirable process, but sometimes it's the only way to keep a city viable and continue providing for public health and safety. This was the case in Stockton after California's Central Valley was hit hard by the recession. Over the past four years, the city's property values have fallen 70 percent, unemployment has been as high as 22 percent..."

Without honest, legitimate pension reform, Oceanside will continue down the vortex of cutting services residents appreciate, such as library hours, park maintenance, the community pool, senior services. What the two candidates who sit on the City Council today, the two candidates who seek your vote for mayor, are not telling you is this: The complete elimination of library, park and senior services will not prevent economic collapse unless pension reform is achieved. This is the reality lesson occurring in cities large and small across California. The City of Los Angeles, where public employee unions dominate and the mayor is a former labor organizer, the City Council voted 14-0 for pension reforms that are projected to save the city $4 million over 30 years.

You have my pledge to bring about real, long-lasting pension reform that respects the employees who are hardworking and care about our city and restores Oceanside from this looming chiasm of default. But I need your support - not only your vote on Election Day, but also a few hours of your time to walk precincts so that our message of reform is heard over the rhetoric of distrust at City Hall.

One faction at City Hall that opposes pension reform calls itself "Team Oceanside" and challenges you to "Help Take Back Oceanside." The other faction tries to downplay the crisis. On his website, Councilman Kern opines: "You may notice some similarities in what Oceanside and San Jose is experiencing although Oceanside has not reached San Jose's level of problems yet. Nor has Oceanside dealt with their pension obligations in a manner as direct and with such impact as the City of San Jose has either." This is far from a ringing endorsement of leadership.

Team Wood or Team Kern - both are the same in many ways. You have the power to end partisan politics in our beautiful city. Your vote, your support, your generous contribution, will break this gridlock.

We should be one team, with one focus - real pension reform now.