Simons Says He Skipped Voting in Several Elections When He Saw No "Clear Choice"

As reported on the San Mateo Daily News site under the headline "San Mateo County Candidates who are too lazy to vote," posted in the Forum by Larry Alvarez as "Spotty Candidate Voting Records," Pacifica City Council Candidate Jeffrey Simons did not vote in 6 out of the past 8 elections for a voting rate of only 25%. The voting histories of  candidates are publicly available through the San Mateo County Office of Elections. This information was obtained from the public record.

Jeffrey Simons voted in 2 out of the past 8 elections for a rate of 25%
Failed to vote 06/03/08
Failed to vote 04/08/08 Special Congressional Election
Failed to vote 02/05/08 Presidential Primary
Failed to vote 05/08/07 Special School District Parcel Tax Election
Voted 11/07/06
Failed to vote 06/06/06
Failed to Vote 11/08/05
Voted 11/02/04
No records available prior to 11/02/04

HERE IS THE FULL POST FROM THE SAN MATEO DAILY NEWS

L.C. WALKER

Jeff Simons responds: "I'll verify that is true, except for the recent Parcel Tax. My wife
and I voted absentee ballot (YES on Measure N), but it doesn't appear that our votes were registered. I would disagree with the premise that not casting a ballot means you're "too lazy to vote," especially for special elections and primaries. It just means I didn't see a clear choice and opted to abstain."

Comments

[Ian Butler]

Jeff,
I stand corrected, John McCain actually voted 18% less than Obama and 11% more than you.

[Jeffrey Simons]

Mister Butler,

perhaps you're looking at the wrong page for McCain, since the database lists him as missing 64% of the votes.

Clearly, there is a difference between voting as a citizen, and voting as an elected official. If we are to consider missed votes the priority of criteria for running for office, then neither Senators McCain or Obama pass your muster.

I consider not just what votes they missed, but what did they vote FOR while in office as more important. I consider also their platforms, and how the will deal with this colossal financial mess left by 8 years of fundamentally flawed fiscal policy, and our prolonged and exorbitantly costly wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global War on Terror. What solutions do they offer? What vision do they have for this country in the next 4 years? What actions have they taken for the betterment of this nation and what actions do they say they will take, if elected?

As for your comment, Evan, I ask you to consider I merely responded to attacks on my voting record, and what significance that plays in my fitness to be elected to public office. I did not lie or cover up my voting record as a citizen. I am just illustrating that I have been attacked, and I responded by demonstrating that even the most influential politicians of our time miss a significant number of votes. I don't begrudge them for it.

I've also been accused of being in the pocket of an influential developer, who supports a candidate many of those who attack me also support. I support that candidate as well because I like his ideas and I like his platform. But I've taken no money from this developer.

I've tried to respond fairly, intelligently, and honestly. I haven't misstated facts or distorted anyone's words.

So come down to the Alma Heights Flea Market tomorrow and feel free to discuss with me the issues facing Pacifica, how I feel about them, and what I would like to see happen if I am elected. If you're not 100% satisfied, I won't begrudge you for whatever vote you cast.

[Evan]

I find this entire thread fascinating. I was thinking of supporting Jeffrey Simons because I am intrigued by his positions. His voting record and defensive stance, however, give me pause. Ian Butler and Bruce Hallman nailed it: Jeff has some explaining to do in order to get THIS voter's vote.

[Ian Butler]

Jeff,
With "Obama team" members like you, who need opponents?

You point out that he missed 46% of his votes this year, while ignoring the fact that John McCain missed 84% of his votes!

Since Obama has voted almost twice as much as his opponent there is no need for you to "overlook his voting record".

But Obama and McCain have good excuses - they are both running for president!

The same can not be said for you, however. and your voting record (or lack therof) is nearly McCainian.

[Bruce Hallman]

No thanks Jeffery Simons for asking: "I'd really appreciate some clarification on these issues. THANKS."

Rather, the voters need YOU to clarify yourself if you expect us to vote for you.

You rationalize that "Obama has missed 303 votes (46.3%)" I am guessing this amounts to your promise to show up and vote at City Council meetings at least 46.3% of the time? Or what do you mean? Please clarify.

And you never answered: What exactly is the secret "Pacifica Hell" email discussion group? Will you continue political email discussions in the dark after you are elected?

[Jeffrey Simons]

OK now I am a little confused. I'm part of the Obama 2008 team (and a registered Democrat) but I am willing to overlook Obama's voting record because I like his platform:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/

"Barack Obama has missed 303 votes (46.3%) during the current Congress."

I am also accused of being a Peebles "puppet", yet Don Peebles is a strong supporter of Obama and a member of his national finance commitee:

http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080825164045.aspx

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=d8cc0ff9-eb35-427d-9f1b-90aff05c8758

Obama is pro-business and pro-growth, and has a demonstrated willingness to reach across party lines for intelligent and encompassing solutions.

I'd really appreciate some clarification on these issues. THANKS.

[monkframe]

"I thought hippies were supposed to be kind and gentle. How come Pacifica has so many mean and angry hippies?"

Too many years under Republican rule.

[John Maybury]

no frickin way, dude, i am the anti-Hippie...back in the day, i was Clean for Gene (McCarthy)

[Steve Sinai]

"Does hippie mean long hair and a beard, like Jesus of Nazareth and Robert E. Lee, and Santa Clause?"

When I think "hippie," John Maybury's image is what pops into my mind.

[Dan Underhill]

"CHEAP SHOT and UNTRUE! " ????

Do you mean he had already been chosen or that Peebles didn't actually put him up to it. Either way, from what I have seen of him, I suspect that if Mr. Simons were to become a Pacifica City Council member, the effect would be very much the same as if Mr. Peebles had bought him the position personally.

[Dan Underhill]

Does hippie mean long hair and a beard, like Jesus of Nazareth and Robert E. Lee, and Santa Clause?

[Mike Bell]

Mr. Bray's paraphrase was a lot off and you haven't offered an interpretation at all.
I'll help you. It's called DISSENT: publicly disagreeing with the ruling elite.
The beginning of all great social revolutions in history.
Dissent is the the mother of ascent. Demean it at your own peril.

[Ian Butler]

The exact wording of the PBRG letter, written by it's president and circulated around town says: "by nature and mission, we are a group of business people who have charged themselves with an adversarial position." and again says: "while negotiation and consensus building is very important to the overall scheme, it is contradictory to the position that PBRG takes."

Mr. Bray's paraphrasing was a little off, but not by much.

[Ridge Gardener]

The Jeff Simons vote/no vote record reveals an undeniable voting record. After reading all the comments, whatever candidate(s) we choose cannot include someone who clearly has not made an effort to vote. Are there any reasons anyone living in pacifica, active in politics would run for office and not make it to the polls and vote?

[John Maybury]

As a non-hippie, I can only guess that you are looking through the wrong end of the kaleidoscope. All the true hippies I know are mellow, not "mean and angry," as you say. Are you sure you're not talking about that other relic of the Sixties, John McCain?

[Steve Sinai]

I thought hippies were supposed to be kind and gentle. How come Pacifica has so many mean and angry hippies?

[Cynthia Montanez]

Mr. Bray, to my knowledge, no one in Pacificans for Progress or PBRG has ever issued a memo or statement "describing the purpose of your groups is to simply harass the council purely for harassments sake."

You really need to stop and think a moment before you click on post. By posting things such as this, you take away from all the other well researched and informed things you have posted.

[Frank Siciliano]

After eight years of the Bush mis-administration and 12 years of a Gingrich-led and Tom Delay-led Republican Congress, its pretty clear that being good at attacking, belittling, and complaining about government is a pretty big warning sign that they'd be incompetent at actually running it, or, as we're seeing with Jeff Simons's non-voting record, at even participating in it at all.

Heckuva job, Jeff.

[Mike Bell]

"I think it is unfair to give Jeff a hard time for not voting. It was before Peebles had chosen him to run so he had no way of knowing he would need to have voted in those elections".
CHEAP SHOT and UNTRUE!

[Mike Bell]

I'm not in favor of failing to vote either, however not knowing the personal circumstances begs a suspension of judgement. Vreeland and deJarnatt have missed many opportunities to vote on city business citing; family vacations, work schedule conflicts and health problems. Life happens.

Resist these Rovians. We can't afford four more years of the mismanagement and abuse of office that placed Pacifica on the leading edge of our current national financial meltdown. Jeff is intelligent, carefully studies the issues and has a common sense approach to fixing Pacifica's problems.

[todd bray]

Mike, Members of your groups have circulated memos describing the purpose of your groups is to simply harass the council purely for harassments sake. There was no mention of dissidence, just harassment. As for feeling slander, get in line.

[Steve Sinai]

I have to admit I winced a bit when I saw that Jeff only voted 2 (or 3) times in the last few years. Along with being a poll worker, I think I vote at least 90% of the time. Even if there's nothing on the ballot that's of interest, I still believe people have an obligation to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens, which is to STUDY THE ISSUES and vote. (Don't let Rush Limbaugh or Keith Olbermann tell you how to vote.)

But nobody's perfect, and I'm still voting for Jeff (and Cal.) A poor voting record is of much less concern to me than the poor way the city has been run by council members like Pete DeJarnett, e.g., frogs come before people and applying for grants is better than developing an economy. I lost all respect for DeJarnett when he came up with bs charges against David Carmany, who ended up getting a pretty nice settlement from the city for being fired unjustly.

I also would be interested in the voting records of other candidates.

[Mike Bell]

Todd:
You dismissively say "so what". I say guilty of incompetence and malfeasance.
You slander and demean us as "real estate activist groups that boast of our willingness to simply harass the council". I call it legitimate and necessary dissent by a cross section of citizens resisting Pacifica's economic destruction by a self interested inner circle who often operate under the cover of environmentalism. If thinking people are willing to "go along to get along" they deserve the outcome.

I suggest this as a friend.

[monkframe]

Good "opposition research", whoever did it.
Very damaging, although it might not really measure a person's commitment to the community accurately.

[Dan Underhill]

I think it is unfair to give Jeff a hard time for not voting. It was before Peebles had chosen him to run so he had no way of knowing he would need to have voted in those elections.