Caldwell the clear choice in District 5

By Matt Pope

This is an open letter to my fellow District 5 voters asking them not to be fooled by the disingenuous attempts of a handful of ambitious politicians and their supporters to manufacture a pseudo-scandal and whose motives have little to do with the best interests of our communities. In regards to the supervisor race between Gary Simpson and Keith Caldwell, there are only a few relevant questions that District 5 voters need to consider:

Do you want four more years of being unjustifiably blamed for all of Napa County’s problems, such as traffic, without a supervisor who will stand up for District 5? If yes, vote Gary Simpson, the handpicked choice of the Old Guard establishment. If no, vote Keith Caldwell, the choice for change whose grassroots campaign overwhelmingly won the popular vote in the June primary and who has demonstrated the courage, energy and smarts to fight for District 5.

Do you want a supervisor who apparently hasn’t stood up to, or controlled, his own campaign supporters, and so can’t be relied on to stand up to the big interests who want to shape Napa County’s future? If yes, vote Gary Simpson, who has lost control of his own campaign and let it degenerate into character attacks on public servants. If no, vote for Keith Caldwell, the popular choice for change who has been endorsed by the Napa County Farm Bureau for being “absolutely committed to preserving our agricultural legacy and sustaining our family farms and ranches” and for bringing “significant experience and knowledge to the job, particularly in the areas of fire safety, public finance and land use.”

Do you want four more years of a place-holder supervisor who doesn’t know District Five’s issues? If yes, vote Gary Simpson who has spent big money on campaign literature that attacks people’s character, but doesn’t offer any policy solutions. If no, vote for Keith Caldwell, a candidate who has walked every precinct in District 5 to talk to the voters about their concerns and whom the American Canyon Eagle described as having “articulated positions on water and traffic that emphasize a studied, sensible approach, has done his homework on the issues and has demonstrated a willingness to listen.”

Do you want four more years of a passive supervisor who lacks the energy to take on big development interests? If yes, vote Gary Simpson, who has already committed to giving away your taxpayer-funded supervisor’s salary to a charity of his choosing because “he doesn’t need it” and who refused to take a stand on an issue as important as the Napa Pipe project until Keith Caldwell led the way by publicly opposing it. If no, vote for Keith Caldwell who will put in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, who was the first supervisorial candidate to take a firm position opposing the controversial Napa Pipe project, and has a proven track record of fighting for his home in District 5.

The choice is clear. If you want four more years of a do-nothing supervisor for District 5 who was hand-picked by the Old Guard establishment to mind their interests and who won’t be in charge of his seat or his choices, vote Gary Simpson.

But, if you desire a new voice of courage and change, a candidate who has proven his ability to take the mudslinging attacks of the Old Guard establishment and keep on fighting for District 5 and our important issues, then vote for Keith Caldwell this Nov. 4.

(Pope lives in American Canyon.)

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