Steve Hwangbo’s “Our La Palma” Blog

I did not win. I placed 4th and top three are elected. Two incumbents are re-elected and a candidate that the police association (union) aggressively campaigned for got elected with most vote. I disagreed with the police union’s involvement in the city politics and I did not participate in their endorsement process. Unlike before, they campaigned very aggressively for their candidates and I think that costed me the election. Many voters confuse police association with police department. The police association became a political power group and they will try to control every election now on.

Thank you again for your support and, in a way, I am glad that I can resume my normal life now. I will be able to watch my middle son play in a tennis match this afternoon. Life goes on….

This morning, my middle child told me that his school starts late today. So we went to IHOP to have a breakfast. While waiting for our food, he started to play around with my iPhone. He was playing with a program called “Magic Ball” which is like digital version of the crystall ball. You ask it a question and then shake the phone to get its response. The first question my boy asked was “Is my dad going to win tomorrow?” He shook the phone and it came back with an answer - “YES.” He asked a follow up question - “Are you sure?” and shook the phone. It responded with “Without a doubt.” We were just amazed and just started laughing so hard. Considering that it has twenty responses and only ten are positive, it is pretty amazing how two perfect responses came up in a row. Maybe it knows…..  hahaha….

Thank you for your support. Many of you already expressed your support for my candidacy. I feel really good about the outcome. I even see that a candidate is trying to put his signs next to mine to create an impression that somehow we are associated and/or I am supporting that candidate. haha…. Some of you already voted for me but rest of you still need to vote on Tuesday to help me get elected. With couple of days left before the Election day, allow me to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to get to know you and discuss many important issues. Feel free to call me or write me if you have more issues to discuss. Thank you again and see you at the poll on Tuesday. Oh…also, please keep your eyes on my signs and banners….so I can have at least a few left by Tuesday…

My oldest boy came home from college for a visit last night. I am going to spend some time with him tonight. Have a blessed evening and may God bless your family.

Again, I am a strong supporter of our Police Department and public safety. However, I am against the Police getting involved with the politics because it is wrong. That is why I politely declined Police Association’s endorsement interview. Since I am trying to be on the City Council which is boss of City empolyees including the Police, it is not right to discuss salary benefits, and etc. while campaigning. For the reasons I can’t understand, the Police Association (union) is very active in this campaign. It obviously is not for the benefit of the residents. They obviously want to become a political power group in our city. Even though I will continue to support our Police Department and public safety, I believe the police union is making a mistake.

At the last City Council meeting, Mr. Gerard Goedhart spoke about this issue. He is in a process of moving into La Palma and he has served multiple terms on Signal Hills City Council and has much experience with this issue. He stated that…

“I think it is abhor thing to start to get involved with Police Association….I think it is a very dangerous thing….I wouldn’t like to see you (City Council candidates) compromise yourself by discussing those issues (salary benefits). We all support Police. I do not like the fact that Police is getting involved with politics and supporting candidates……I never did it  and I wouldn’t do it because I just think it is inappropriate. ….when it comes to starting to discuss salary benefits and ets…that is for negotiation. That should not be discussed in the course of campaign. If that is the price you pay to get support, I think it is an extremely poor judgment….I would really caution everyone involved to watch that. Do not get the Police involved with the politics and don’t have City Council members (candidates) get involved with discussion of salary benefits, and etc. ….even if it is general thing. Again, we all support police but we really don’t want to see the Police get involved with the politics. I caution about that….”

This is precisely the reason why I did not participate in the Police Association’s endorsement process. Knowing that, Mr. Goedhart became my supporter and many of the residents told me the same thing. Our police should serve and protect, not play politics. If they are successful this time, they will continue to do it in the future Elections.  They are doing this knowing that average voters sometimes don’t recognize the difference between the Police Department and Police Association (the union). By choosing not to be endorsed by the Police Association, I took a risk of not getting votes from some who may not recognize the difference between the Police Department and Police union. However, I do not regret because I did the right thing.

Mr. Gerard Goedhart sent me following message today…

“….I appreciate your approach to government and stand on issues, and think you would be an excellent member of the La Palma City Council. ……use my name and title as a formal endorsement of your election. Good luck on the campaign”

Hello La Palma Residents,

I want to thank you for your support 4 years ago. I have served my City with my hard work and with the help of your vote and support I will continue for another 4 years. I have a great sense of pride and it’s an honor to serve as your Councilmember. I have been asked who I support and why? I have worked with, and/or known, all of the candidates in this election for at least 4 years. I’ve seen them all in action and in some cases non-action.

First, I won’t support those who surface and become active only when they want your vote. I won’t support those who accept “special interest” money, and I won’t support those who would give themselves a 25% raise at taxpayers’ expense. I do support those who are truly involved in our community. I support those who work to improve our schools, our community events, and way of life. I support those who share our values, and believe in making our City a safe, clean, wonderful place to raise a family, and enjoy our sunset years.

For all these reasons and more, I will be voting for Steve Hwangbo and Ismile Noorbaksh. These gentlemen bring the perfect balance of technical skills and community knowledge to the Council. Through integrity and good judgment, both have shown they can be trusted to lead La Palma.

For “A Better La Palma”, please vote for Hwangbo, Noorbaksh, and Rodriguez. Thank you for taking the time to read this message, and especially for your vote on November 4th!

Your Public Servant,

Ralph D. Rodriguez
Councilmember City of La Palma  

As I said before, my signs keep on disappearing and even my banners are getting stolen. On some major corners where every candidates’ signs are placed, only my signs are getting stolen. The police chief promised that he would catch the thieves. At the recreation center re-opening ceremony/reception, I ran into a councilmember. S/he told me to stop complaining and told me that “kids are doing it.” I was very surprised to hear that from someone who is in a leadership position. I am not sure how s/he decided that kids are doing it. I definitely agree that it is childish behavior, but I am fully convinced it is the “childish” adults who are doing it. There are many things that indicate that it is an organized effort by certain people/group. I really don’t think La Palma kids would do things like that. It is indeed childish. I may not have too many signs left before the campaign is over but my message is out there and the voters know what I am all about.

As all of you know by now, I am the only candidate who has his pictures on campaign signs. Many people told me not to do it because they thought kids will draw on my pictures. I went ahead and made signs with my pictures on them. After almost three weeks since the signs were placed, I have only one sign that someone highlighted (w/ silver color) my mustache. All my signs and banners are absolutely clean. I am SOOOOO proud of La Palma kids. The families in our city are doing wonderful job raising their kids.

He was obviously kidding. So many of you came up to me and told me that you have already voted for me. Even when I was in a line at Target paying for my boy’s toy the other day, someone came up to me and asked if I was Steve Hwangbo. (People are recognizing me on the streets because of my pictures on campaign signs.) When I confirmed this, he also told me that he and his wife already voted for me. Wow…how encouraging.  So many of you are supportive of my message and my vision for our lovely city. I am very encouraged and I feel very good about the outcome of this campaign. I just want to thank you and, if I get elected, I will keep my promise and I will do my best to put the council on the side of the people, the resident, yes you. Thank you.

A voter told me the other day…”Steve, I am voting for you this time but don’t run again because I don’t vote for incumbents.” I smiled and told him that I need to win this one first. I think we all know why he said that. Also, we have a “term limit” system for the same reason.

At the candidate forum, I said that incumbents running for re-election should run on their records and it is time to make the incumbents accountable for their records. If an incumbent is proud of his/her voting records, s/he would run to his records and welcome the opportunities to discuss them but if s/he is ashamed, s/he will be afraid of his/her record being discussed and run away from them.

We have two incumbents running for re-election, let’s see which one runs to his record and which one tries to hide his record and try to run away from it. The one who is proud would want to let his record known but the other would be afraid.

Below is the message Larry Herman e-mailed regarding one of incumbent’s voting record. Both L.A. Times and O.C. Register wrote articles concerning these votes and many websites discuss these votes as well.
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Dear Friends;

I feel a responsibility and a duty to share the following with you.

Councilman Mark Waldman has served as your representative for the City of La Palma on the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) since 2005. Within the last 11 months he has cast three critical votes that have been, in my opinion, irresponsible, self-serving and hypocritical.

He has also failed to inform the rest of the Council of his voting intentions on all three issues and he did not ask for Council directions prior to any votes being taken.  On some of these issues, the Council members were not aware beforehand of the important vote taking place and had to read about the outcome in the newspaper later.

Please read the following and you decide if he deserves your vote on November 4th.

Sincerely,

Larry Herman

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You have all by now received your property tax bill for 2008-2009.  Did you notice the increase in the OCSD – Orange County Sanitation District – SEWER FEES?  It increased this year by 10% and WILL INCREASE over the next 4 years by 10% each year to a total of $294.00 – up from $182.00 last year. The Orange County Register, in a recent editorial, puts it this way: “They are flush with your cash”.

Were these tax increases planned all along?

Check the timeline below:

November 2007, the OCSD directors (there is one from each City that the District represents) voted themselves increased stipends; up from $170.00 to $212.50 per meeting –  (there can be up to 6 meetings per month - some lasting less than ½ hr. each!). In addition, the representatives get mileage and a catered dinner each meeting – all at taxpayers’ expense!
La Palma Director MARK WALDMAN voted YES!

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February 2008, the OCSD directors approved the SEWER FEE increases mentioned above – a 61.5% jump over 5 years.  Note, this fee/tax increase passed by 1 single vote, your representative Mark Waldman chose to raise our fee’s … 
La Palma Director MARK WALDMAN voted YES!

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September 2008, the OCSD directors gave their Chief Executive a $43,443.00 pay increase! That’s a 17.6% raise in salary. His new base pay is now $225,000.00 per year, plus a $14,692.00 merit pay increase, plus $20,500,00 in deferred compensation, plus health care reimbursement of $3,500.00.
La Palma Director MARK WALDMAN voted YES!

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NOW… in his colorful Re-Election flyer Mark Waldman states:

“It is crucial that we continue to have someone with a trained and experienced eye overseeing how our precious tax dollars are spent”

Do you really want MARK WALDMAN on our City Council ”overseeing how our precious tax dollars are spent”?

We can’t afford a councilmember who gives himself a 25% raise,  a councilmember who raises our SEWER fees/taxes 61.5%,  a councilmember who spends $43,000 of our taxes on annual administrator raises!