South Texas Anti Incumbent Candidates

Nueces Democrats: We dont know that Joe Benavides will make a better Commissioner than the incumbent

2007-12-28T02:59:00.000-08:00

Nueces Democrats: We dont know that Joe Benavides will make a better Commissioner than the incumbent

With this precinct I have not a vote however, the County Commissioners are engaged towards progress for our community as a whole.

Dannoynted1:

"Our Large Family attended the "Annual Feast of Sharing" event held at the Bayfront Plaza.

Joe Benavides was one of our servers (i believe he was a soft drink server), and Mrs.Banales also was there with her husband.

I will not talk about the burnt tamale(only I got) but lets just say the mashed potatoes were the best my man says the rolls were the best.

Considering it is election time, I am surprised most politicians were absent. But with the way they rushed you out after you ate, You certainly did not have any time to "network".

The candidates that did attend, I apologize for not mentioning you as I was there only a small window of time..."

It was so different from the last time I went, which with regret, was not last year.

I must say the food was better at the events that cost money."

JK:

We dont know that Joe Benavides will make a better Commissioner than the incumbent but I do know Joe was working and he volunteered out of his commitment to the community. Joe has over the years volunteered and donated his services diligently. One might argue he is only volunteering his time and services because he wants to "get elected".

I dont believe this is the case. I have known Joe for a little over two years and I know his father. In the past, Joe Benavides has run a couple of times for office but, he volunteers regardless of whether he is running or not.

Will Joe Benavides continue to volunteer if he wins?

We can only know after we vote for him.

We do know his incumbent opponent was not volunteering at the Feast of Sharing.

We do know Joe Benavides' incumbent opponent was parading around with her hubby in tow. Was she making a statement? The message IMO was she is not worried about her challenger, she does not take him serious and she is not going to change her routine ways for her constituents. We do not know how she represents her constituency but we do know she is not going to change it.

All we can do is allow Joe Benavides to tell us how is going to represent his constituents.

We can ask him questions and hear his answers.

With Joe Benavides' incumbent opponent we dont have to ask her anything because we have her record to refer to.

The only thing I remember is that, "She could work harder" if she gave herself a pay raise.

I also know she was walking around when she should have been working.

As far as the Family name and integrity, we might should ask the ME about the trangressions.

Ask her about the real reason she decided to run.

Parkdale Bank: Ray Mc Murrey Is From Here, He Still Believes Like It Says In The Intro, "I'll be a straight-shooter & a square-dealer "& He Does "Reme

2007-12-28T01:11:00.000-08:00

Parkdale Bank: Ray Mc Murrey Is From Here, He Still Believes Like It Says In The Intro, "I'll be a straight-shooter & a square-dealer "& He Does "Remember The Alamo"

"I'll be as hardy of mind as I am of body. I'll be a straight-shooter and a square-dealer. My family name will be sacred My word will be as good as any contract. I'll remember the Alamo. I'll stick by my friends. And I'll eat more chicken-fried steak."

"We do not win by replacing a corporate Republican with a corporate Democrat," said Mr. McMurrey, speaking to about a dozen supporters at an East Austin residence.

Ray told me this before he spoke at his Official Announcement to run against the Corporate Democratic Military Industrial Complex Candidate for Texas US Senator.

A very passionate candidate who is anything other than a fake or what some like to call a politician.

Ray is not a Politician and this is a very very positive attribute.

Dont get me wrong he is very well suited for the Senate and the diplomacy is there but there is a sternness that demands his respect kind of like the respect and command he possesses in the classroom. I think we can all agree, if he can handle our youth in the classroom he will do well for us in Washington.

Two more things

Remember the Alamo

and

Stay tuned for Jan 2 next year.

"We do not win by replacing a corporate Republican with a corporate Democrat," said Mr. McMurrey, speaking to about a dozen supporters at an East Austin residence.

Ray Mc Murrey is from Corpus Christi.

He tells us upfront of his progressive leanings and his disappointment in both of the Hegemonic Parties.

Hegemony,.... Watch the Movie "Hot Fuzz".

And you can take that to the bank!

2007-02-16T04:51:00.000-08:00

I respect the gesture (in this forum) of free speech and will continue to engage this board and the email community as long as my work is not moderated, censored or manipulated.

AT LARGE -

Pete Alvarez (failed ex-police chief; failed sheriff candidate)

One anonymous source says "He is Lencho Rendon's boy. They are charging at a piece of city govt ..... t socialists will be proud."

Arthur Brooks (wants to restore the long-lost nonpartisan role of the City Council)

James Chrobocinski (fought hard to give away our beach to foreign developers)

Beach Thief

Melody Cooper (useless incumbent who tried to give away our beach; when people say “throw the bums out,” they are talking about her)

Beach Thief

Jerry Garcia (another do-nothing incumbent who tried to give away our beach; he has also earned throw-the-bums-out treatment)

Beach Thief

Mike Hummell (local Crime Control and Prevention District representative who fought hard to keep out beaches open)

Who is he connected to? Wasn't he a prosecutor with Carlos Valdez? What is his position with respect to the DMC issues?

Nelda Martinez (failed candidate for state representative; close political ties to no-good term-limited incumbent Rex Kinnison; close ties to realtor special interests)

Isn't she very close to Judge John Martinez?

Also, you mention her real estate special interest, did she have a position on the beach issue or did she sit on the fence?

DISTRICT 4 -

Norm Baker (banker, owner of a plastics company, real estate investor - no surprise that he favors increased industrialization; he has close political ties to perennial failed Republican candidate Joe McComb)

Better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed.

Sandy Billish (ex-insurance claims analyst with close political ties to corrupt ex-politician Gene Seaman)

James Duerr (he runs a propaganda mill that put out much of the false information favoring the failed beach give away; he was also responsible for paying hate-monger Ann Coulter to come speak in our city and has close political ties to corrupt ex-politicians Gene Seaman and Jaime Capelo)

Seaman & Capelo? What strange bedfellows. Why is close ties to Capelo a negative?

Mike McCutchon (local doctor who helped keep our beach open; he sees “too much time spent by our city government on pet projects that the public does not embrace”)

I agree with his take on the pet projects. I call it self-dealing.

Guy Watts (Del Mar College regent and president of the Texas Association of Community College Trustees)

Danny Williams (25 year old pizza delivery guy who would do a better job than Baker, Billish, or Duerr)

I hate to lose Guy Watts on the Board of Regents, he is a stand up GUY in my book.

Danny Williams,???? That boy shoulda run for Mayor. Also, I would have liked to see Israel Garcia make a run for it.

Roy Pell (owner of Pell Simonelli Automotive - makes you wonder if he knows why Corpus Christi car owners pay an average of $529 a year on repair bills for pothole damage)

First of all, he didn't break the car. Second, $529 a year because of potholes? Third, Shamsie and DOS Logistics got rich from the County Potholes and the City has more important issues like stealing our beach, entrusting themselves and upward mobility moves that are as simple as ABC and WATERS Reports.

Elizondo was on the CCISD Board and did nothing positive I know of.

Kinnison is a "Beach Thief"

Now to the ones you failed to mention first Rene Saenz who is running against the incumbent beach stealer and a respectable lady who might be better sitting on the Board of Regents or as a County Commissioner.

Remember the self dealers and their mantra?

It's about time Corpus Christi!

That's RIGHT

It's about time we vote the incumbents out and get some fresh clean ideas in here.

That is with the exception of John Marez. However, I would like to see him more assertive and for him to speak up more. Let's get something done for a change. Maybe with a fresh influx he will have the opportunity to show us what he is capable of accomplishing.

Whoever, gets elected needs to understand we will not remain on the wayside as uninterested spectators. We will bring the City to your doorstep.

I promise.

Only one Incumbent Deserves to be Re-elected the rest tried to "steal our beach"

2007-02-14T04:01:00.000-08:00

City of Corpus Christi General Election
April 14, 2007
Names on Ballot

MAYOR

Henry Garrett

COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE
Beach Thief

Beach Thief

James Chrobocinski
Mike Hummell
Melody Cooper
Pete Alvarez
Arthur Brooks
Nelda Martinez
Jerry Garcia

COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 1

Bill Kelly

COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 2

Chad Magill
John Edward Marez

COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 3
Beach Thief

Jesse Noyola
Rene Saenz
Priscilla Leal

COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 4

Norm Baker
James Duerr
Danny D. Williams
Guy Watts
Sandy Billish
Mike McCutchon

COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 5

Beach Thief

Roy Pell
Larry Elizondo
Kendra Kinnison

Howard Karsh is Correct, The Caller Times Nick Jimenez is a Hypocrite. Jamie Powell well that's a Bull's Eye for another Day

2006-10-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

In response to Nick Jimenez Viewpoints, Look down-ballot for the nitty-gritty stuff.

I am a candidate for DMC Regents District 5. Several weeks ago I sat with the Caller-Times Editorial Board and described problems facing the college as presented in the Rangel Report; problems with accreditation based on the failure to follow and enforce DMC Policy; issues of sexual harassment, the firing of the female EEOC officer, the expulsion of the female student she tried to help and the abuse of power by the college president and the regents. Recently, I have learned of questions concerning the Baker-Botts report and the Waters Study which the college is refusing to release to those who have filed Freedom of Information requests. These reports cost the taxpayers a great deal of money. None of these stories have been covered in the Caller-Times accept if at all superficially. If you read the newspaper all you get is the gospel as paid for by the DMC public relations department and as promoted by Nick Jimenez and his cronies. Nick Jimenez is 100% correct that “there are more associate degrees and more certificates from Del Mar College hanging on more walls in Corpus Christi than diplomas from any other institution of higher learning.” What that does in the eyes of the Caller-Times is buy the College, corrupt and incompetent regents and administrators, a free pass to deny students and employees their rights to due process and rip off the taxpayers of Corpus Christi. The Caller-Times refuses to investigate and do any in depth reporting of Del Mar College, unless it’s a fluff piece. The Caller-Times has done nothing since September, to cover the candidates for regents and the issues I have addressed. How about spending a week or two in the weeks prior to the election to do some in depth reporting on the goings on behind the scenes at Del Mar College and the position papers of those who are candidates for the Board? Nick Jimenez, you hypocrite, how can you state, “That surely merits more than the bottom of the ballot, or at least being sure that every voter devotes a thoughtful decision to those elections,” when you and the Caller-Times bury the stories and endorse the status quo candidates to cover up for the abuses and corruption of your hometown team? Or maybe I misunderstood. It’s not the voters who should do the thinking? How could they without the information? It’s your thoughts you want them to use to make that decision. I get it now.

Howard Karsh, Candidate for District 5, DMC Board of Regents.

5406 Wooldridge Road

Corpus Christi, Texas.

361-993-8449

361-563-0977

Kenedeno Blue Ribbon Committee Endorsements For Del Mar Board of Regents Candidates

2006-10-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Kenedeno & Associates Editorial Blue Ribbon Committee Responds to Article Published By Corpus Christi Caller Times Editorial Board on October 15,2006

CCCT: Del Mar regents play key role in community

JK: Why has the Award Winning Caller Times not consistently reported the events surrounding the Board of Regents? Why has the CCCT gone on aggressive PR campaigns to drown out the truth?

Presently, within the Del Mar Board Room, a certain group is horny and the other greedy.

It is common knowledge at Del Mar College, The Powers That Be, gather and utilize dirt on each other. One group can cite overruns and an Avaricial Fultonian influence; the knowledge of the creative accounting and financials enables the President and Instructors to target female students for sexual encounters without fear of recourse. Of course President Garcia or Ben Blanco’s word is more credible than the student’s word.

Whether it be in their dreams, or where “Dreams Come True”, the liaisons and encounters between student and Instructor, student and custodian, or student and president are a desecration of the student’s inalienable rights and approach felonious commissions of abuse of power and official oppression.

CCCT: Thousands of South Texas residents have been educated at Del Mar College over the history of the local tax-supported community college. And thousands of those former students live in the area, hold jobs here, pay taxes to local government and contribute to its economy and to its civic life.

JK: Out of those thousands of South Texas residents, all of them were students at one time; at one time they were in the subordinate position to Del Mar Faculty and Hierarchy. Del Mar at one time exhibited exemplary Professional conduct and educated the students and civil rights were not violated. The formal and informal grievance process was not a complex protector of the Superior Institution. Why do the regents continue to sanction the deviant, aberrant and corrupt?

CCCT: Throughout the years, Del Mar has not only delivered first-rate educational services; it has been a powerful engine for change, transforming the lives of individuals, families and, ultimately, the entire community it serves. There may be no institution of higher learning so integral to the future of the Coastal Bend as Del Mar College.

JK: At one time this was true. It was first rate.

Yes, there are lives being transformed, but it matters not the summation of all the positive results but the negligent destruction of students’ lives.

The student body function and influence has deteriorated. The Student Government Association cratered under Joseph Ramirez. In Mr. Ramirez’ own words, he don’t know, “I don’t know if I’m even the president of any club at this point,” he said. “Things are being done without my knowledge”. According to the Foghorn (the official College Publication) membership of the Del Mar College East Campus Student Government Association (SGA-East) was reduced from 11 to eight this week after three members resigned via e-mail, Joseph Ramirez, president, confirmed. Joseph Ramirez failed the students who elected him. His tenure as (SGA-East) president was, in a nutshell, a comedy of errors. Ramirez’ questionable judgment and alignment with the President does not serve in the best interest of Del Mar College. He has surrendered what he was elected by the student body to uphold.

CCCT: The regents in the coming years have a major responsibility as they oversee the implementation of a $108 million bond issue approved by the voters two years ago.

That makes the election of the college regents a major decision for voters. More so because the regents are elected for six-year terms: We are all going to be living with the choices we make in these contests for a long, long time. The Editorial Board recommends to the voters the election of the following:

District 1: Gabe Rivas

District 3: Elva Estrada

District 5 (unexpired term): Jim Boggs

At-large: Minerva "Minnie" Arriaga

Los Kenedenos recommends to the voters the election of the following

Anti Incumbent Candidates

District 1: Linda Garcia

District 3: Elva Estrada

District 5: Howard Karsh or Israel Garcia

At Large: Nick Adame

CCCT: The case for the re-election of Rivas, the president of the Board of Regents, is a powerful one. Rivas, since his election as leader of the board in 2003, has brought a steady and calming brand of leadership to a board that had been in chaos under the previous president, Olga Gonzales. He has been strikingly effective in promoting healing in an environment that was once driven by rivalries and distrust.

JK: There has been no healing. The same environment remains; the difference is the perception of the CCCT. The CCCT has turned a blind eye to the public and the student’s information. Jaime Powell does not want to hear the information and even with attached documentation she chooses to remain ignorant. Gabe has sided against placing the President on Administrative leave and in doing so demonstrates DMC as a multi-tiered system with respect to due process and civil rights of students Rivas should have done the JOB he was elected to do and act in the best interest of DMC. Rivas has allowed the Board to unfairly apply the same rules differently (depending on the rank of the individual) to the detriment of the institution. The drop in enrollment is a reflection of the injustice. Parents are sending their children elsewhere.

Linda Garcia is our choice for District 1.

CCCT: Rivas is neither dramatic nor confrontational. He does his homework on the issues assiduously, guides the board through challenging decisions and gives the voters of District 1, which mostly encompasses an area immediately west of downtown, a responsible and informed voice to articulate their interests and needs.

JK: I respectfully disagree. Need we rehash?

Linda Garcia is our choice for District 1.

CCCT: Rivas has a hopeful but realistic outlook on the continuing issue of expanding the college's taxing district. "I do not see a lot of help from the Legislature," Rivas told the Editorial Board. That means the Board of Regents, including Rivas, must make up for the lack of area leadership on an issue that puts too much responsibility for supporting the college on the taxpayers of a district that mostly includes only City of Corpus Christi taxpayers. Yet the college serves all of Nueces County and several surrounding counties. Rivas' challenger, Linda Garcia, did not respond to the Editorial Board's invitation.

JK: More money, more problems for this group of regents. Why should Linda Garcia respond? The CCCT already had their mind made up. This is evident in the brown nosing prevarication the Editorial Board Leadership conjured up. Where did they get their information? Or shall I say misinformation?

Linda Garcia is our choice for District 1.

CCCT: The District 3 incumbent, Gonzales, did not respond either. But as mentioned earlier, her tenure as board president was, in short, a failure. We cannot recommend her re-election. Gonzales was first elected to the board in 1994, but her questionable judgment does not serve the constituents of District 3 well. The endorsement of retired educator Elva Estrada is made with the expectation that she will be a quick study on the weighty issues that will face the regents in the future. Estrada is a former teacher and principal with more than 30 years experience in public education. That is a good beginning for a post as regent.

JK: Elva Estrada will affect Positive Change and wields the supporting network to help her achieve these goals. She can and will stand up to Chris Adler.

Elva Estrada is our choice for District 3.

CCCT: The resignation of attorney William Chriss, who left the city, opened the District 5 seat for the rest of his unexpired term. Architect James Boggs gets the nod over former college employee Howard Karsh and business owner Israel Garcia. Boggs has a better grasp of the college's potential than do his opponents.

False Statement: ”Boggs has a better grasp of the college's potential than do his opponents”

JK: Boggs is pro establishment. Furthermore for the CCCT to make the bold statement, “Boggs has a better grasp of the college's potential than do his opponents” is demonstrative of the Editorial Leadership’s misinformation. Howard Karsh and Israel Garcia have demonstrated their mastery of current issues and without a doubt have a much more informed outlook regarding Del Mar College’s potential. Both candidates embrace each other and have produces only positive results from their dialogue.

CCCT: Arriaga, a local attorney, has shown she deserves election to a second term as an at-large regent. She is the choice over Nick Adame, a chiropractor and president of LULAC Council No. 1, and Joseph Ramirez, a Del Mar student. Arriaga demonstrated to the Editorial Board a firm grasp of the wide range of issues issues facing the college. After one term, voters should expect that Arriaga's learning curve is over and should look for her to emerge as an energetic and independent regent.

JK: Joseph Ramirez has demonstrated his lack of leadership as President of the SGA-East. He has also displayed arrogance and lack of common respect towards established community leaders yet ignorantly defends the President without regard to his training in criminal justice and death investigation. He is much too immature at this time to lead our community. The only vote we recommend for Joseph Ramirez is a vote of no confidence.

. Minnie Arriaga is the incumbent in the at large race. Minnie, a very respectable lady; has been lackluster at best. Minnie appears too demure and appeasing to grapple with the current issues facing the BOR. Her plate is too full and her representation of clients is not up too par.

Nick Adame on the other hand brings a refreshing invigoration with him. Nick’s energy, determination and diligence coupled with his leadership abilities and charisma make him the best man for the JOB.

Nick Adame is our choice for Regent At large.

Link: CCCT: Del Mar regents play key role in community

Del Mar Electronic Anonymous Input Forum: WATT will happen 2 morrow @ the Regents Meeting with CG who LOVES TA. Also, there is an individual (per Cox

2006-10-03T00:58:00.000-07:00

Del Mar Electronic Anonymous Input Forum: WATT will happen 2 morrow @ the Regents Meeting with CG who LOVES TA. Also, there is an individual (per Cox v. DMC) Who's Welfare is Threatened

Jaime Powell Shows She is Definitely NOT "In The Know" and Ambivalent (Ignorant) to Del Mar's Plight

2006-10-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

Saldana brings regent front and center at event

At a fundraiser for district judge candidate Marisela Saldana at lawyer Epi Ysassi and his wife Christina's house this week, the crowd included former District Judge Robert Blackmon, District Judge Nelda Gonzales Ramos and San Patricio County Attorney David Aken.

Saldana, meeting Del Mar College regent Israel Garcia for the first time at the event, dragged Garcia up to the front of the crowd for some ad lib stump time.

Garcia, a 1997 West Point graduate and veteran, said afterward, "I'm flattered that Judge Saldana would share her fundraiser and give me part of her stage."

TEN INDIVIDUALS VYING FOR FOUR BOARD OF REGENTS SEATS

2006-09-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

September 5, 2006

TEN INDIVIDUALS VYING FOR FOUR BOARD OF REGENTS SEATS

Four seats among the Del Mar College Board of Regents will be included on the Nov. 7 election ballot, including Districts 1 and 3, an unexpired term for District 5 and one at-large seat. Today, Tuesday, Sept. 5, the order of names that voters will see on their ballots was determined during a drawing for the 10 individuals now filed for candidacy.

Based on the drawing, the order of candidates’ names for each seat is as follows:

DISTRICT 1 - FULL TERM
Linda Garcia
2419 Grisham Court
Corpus Christi, TX 78405
Home: 361/888-5742

Gabriel “Gabe” Rivas III
1106 S. 19th Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78465
Office: 361/883-8970
Home: 361/765-6290

DISTRICT 3 - FULL TERM
Elva Estrada
4805 FM Rd. 1889
Robstown, TX 78380
Cell: 361/510-7114
Home: 361/387-7114

Olga Gonzales
1809 Yale St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78416
Home: 361/853-8404
Alternate: 361/884-8877

DISTRICT 5 - UNEXPIRED TERM (SERVES THROUGH 2010)
James B. (Jim) Boggs
4701 Donegal Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78413
Office: 361/826-3798
Home: 361/255-9197

Israel Garcia
5938 Cinnamon Oaks
Corpus Christi, TX 78414
Cell: 361/438-6186

Howard Karsh
5406 Wooldridge Rd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78413
Home: 361/993-8449

AT-LARGE - FULL TERM
Minerva "Minnie" Arriaga
426 Santa Monica
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
361/853-6141

Joseph C. Ramirez
3608 Sumster Cts
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
Office: 361/548-6819
Home: 361/884-7734

Nick Adame
6318 Senators Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78413
Home: 361/854-0522

The Del Mar College Board of Regents includes nine regents in a modified single-member district configuration. Five regents represent specific geographic districts while four serve at-large. The Del Mar College District includes all the area in the Calallen, Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Tuloso-Midway and West Oso Independent School Districts.

Regent candidates must be registered voters who reside within the Del Mar College District. If they are running for a single-member district seat, they must also reside in that district.

-DMC-mce

Opening Richardson Performance Hall, facelift subterfuge dishonest!!

2006-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

To Whom It May Concern;

I am concerned with the recent announcement that Del Mar College is reopening Richardson Auditorium as Richardson Performance Hall.

I have heard some media reporting this as a renovation.

It was specifically explained to me when I was the Auditorium Manager that the auditorium would not be renovated, it was to be an upgrade or a facelift.

The coordinating architect explained to me and Board of Regents members that were present that a renovation would require the expenditure of additional funds to meet building codes and by using the subterfuge of a facelift or upgrade the College could avoid code enforcement.

I am concerned that the public is being misinformed as to the use of their tax dollars.

One of the major complaints particularly from older patrons was the lack of available restrooms.

This facelift as best as I can determine from the documents posted on the DMC WEB site adds a very few additional restroom facilities that will make very little impact on older patrons and there will still be long lines at the restrooms.

Based on the plans I've seen I suspect that the placement of the box office and concession stand will create crowd control problems, particularly when there are large audiences in the auditorium.

I will reserve judgment on the backstage issues of safety that I originally addressed as Auditorium Manager and which were used to force me into retirement.

The regents and administrators knew that if I remained as Auditorium Manager, I would resist taking short cuts that would compromise the safety of everyone using the auditorium.

Unfortunately, by eliminating my presence only the lackeys were left.

Please, do not misinform your audience correct your reporting and do not report this as a renovation!

Howard Karsh, retired Richardson Auditorium Manager, Candidate for the DMC Regents, District 5.

We already know from the deposition of Regent Gabe Rivas, President of the Board, that policy is not followed by the board

2006-09-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

Concerning Richardson (Auditorium) Performance Hall fees and rules. I have allowed myself to fall into a trap when reviewing the new fees and rules. After all this is not a business run by outside contractors like the DMC bookstore. The Auditorium Manager is just a manager. He or she is subservient to all the administrators, deans, and chairs and in some cases the faculty at Del Mar College. These rules and fees are just more policy and we already know from the deposition of Regent Gabe Rivas, President of the Board, that policy is not followed by the board, let alone by the administration. I know from my experience, when the old fees were one third of the new fees, even those fees were often not paid, at the whim of Vice President of Business and Finance, Alaniz. Some people paid all the fees and others who knew their way around the College got deals. I see nothing in these new fees and rules that prohibit VP Alaniz from waiving fees, or from using College funds from Student Cultural Programs for example, to pay for a "friend's" event. The fact is, this is all done in secret, to benefit "friends" of DMC regents, administrators and faculty under the false guise of fairness for all.

Howard Karsh, Candidate for the DMC Board of Regents, District 5.

VP Alaniz has gone and set the Richardson rates in a very unprofessional un-business like manner

2006-09-14T01:31:00.000-07:00

I was told that the first event for the new Richardson Performance Hall was being promoted via mailings. I went to the DMC WEB Site and than the Foundation page to find a posting of the event set for November of 2006.

It appears that VP Alaniz has gone and set the Richardson rates in a very unprofessional un-business like manner, showing, no surprise, his incompetence has no limits.

I recently had the opportunity to check out the Richardson ecch "Performance Hall" home page if you can call it that. "Performance Hall" has a stuck up attitude to it. It must really sound good to those high and mighty academics and wealthy foundation types at Del Mar College who walk around with their noses in the air. Certainly the new fees will eliminate the lower classes from most performing arts events. The name really belongs more to a private university or four-year college. I had always favored the usage of "performing arts center" myself. Richardson Auditorium Performing Arts Center as opposed to Richardson Performance Hall.

Anyhow, the home page is a little lean but it does list the current price for usage as $1,800 for a For-Profit/Commercial event and $1,500 for a Non-Profit event. In order for a non-profit event to pay the bill they would have to sell 1700 seats at a minimum of $1.20 per seat. Not to bad if you sell that many seats? Since most non-profit events don't sell 1700 seats, a more realistic estimate would be for events selling 200 seats at $7.50 per seat, 400 seats at $3.75 per seat, or 800 seats at $1.88 per seat. As you can see this is why professional public assembly facilities operating to acceptable business standards have sliding scales, lower up front fees, and a percentage of ticket sales to a maximum fee. The only reason I can see for these new fees is to discriminate against the Corpus Christi non-profit community. Beyond that there are new labor fees, equipment fees and something new a "$1.50 per performance for tables, chairs, music stands, platform risers". This fee statement is poorly written, possibly purposely, so that it is not clear if this is a per item charge which in the case of a musical event could get pretty expensive for equipment the College offered inclusive in the rental fee in the past. On top of the fact that the "Haalll" is requiring an additional fee of 20% as an "administrative fee." Considering that many non-profit events in the past charged $10 a ticket to meet their expenses, ticket prices will have to go up, at least for events that don't bring in large crowds. Wouldn't want to bring those "lower classes" into a brand new upholstered and painted "Haalllll."

Then in a smoke and mirrors false advertising worthy of the small print on credit card contracts, the "Facility Usage Guidelines" lists an added fee of eight percent per ticket for "all events in which an admission is collected". It claims to cover "administrative expenses." In a little twist of terminology, this 8% may be deducted from "all revenue generated as per the Rental Rates". How about some straight talk? Which is it? If the eight percent exceeds the rental fee does the College keep it as an administrative fee? Is it only to the maximum stated rental fee? Then wouldn't it be the rental fee not "administrative expenses?" It appears that there has been some plagiarism going on here? I suspect that this document may have been copied from some other facility where the rental is referred to as "revenue" as opposed to Del Mar College where it is referred to as "Rental Fees?" Of course they could just be incompetence or purposely deceptive? This shows a lack of public facility management business sense. Why not just be upfront about it all? Or is there some ulterior motive here to bill enemies differently than friends? Then there is another additional charge of $2.00 per ticket for a facility use fee that must be included in the ticket price and a $4.50 additional charge to the ticket buyer if they don't buy the ticket at the door. For a small event in the 200 seat range this brings the base price before the expense of the performance for the non-profit to $9.50 per ticket and the minimum base price to someone buying the ticket on the WEB or telephone to $14.00 before the actual cost of the performers is considered. .

I have checked the DMC choice of on-line ticketing and it is disappointing. But considering the way they are sticking it to groups who would rent the auditorium, it is not surprising that the ticketing software would be so consumer unfriendly, particularly when their first event is asking $200 for orchestra seats. For a community college there appears to be little sense of community here. The on line ticketing software does not provide a seating chart or as some more sophisticated ticketing software provides, a view of the stage from the seats you have chosen. I checked the link for this software company and they don't appear to have very many users although they show a map of the USA. Click on a state and I couldn't find more than four or five users each in Texas, California or New York.

Concerning this "Facility Usage Guidelines" document. I suspect that if the current manager insists on following these guidelines, he will continue to make a lot of enemies in the Corpus Christi Performing Arts Community. Most non-profits are not well organized and do not have the funds to pay employees to plan these events in the detail the Hall Manager requires. What is he going to do when some one needs a table or music stand at the last minute? There has to be some flexibility? There will be a great deal of room for favoritism for those groups who are friends of DMC regents, administrators and faculty. Too bad if your not on the A list.

In my proposal I included all the rules in the auditorium contract. Everyone, including the Foundation, and faculty would sign the same basic contract. I proposed a much fairer system, which would favor local community non-profit groups, make their expenses deductible from their fees and make additional funding available to them if the auditorium were used to its fullest potential. I also proposed a superior ticketing software to what was chosen. It including a seating chart and views of the stage form the seats chosen. In the past, all Auditorium revenue went to "auxiliary funds". Under questioning by ex-Regent Dorothy Spahn, the VP of Business and Finance claimed that a percentage of "auxiliary funds" were used for student scholarships. I never heard any explanation for what was done with the "auxiliary funds" that were not used for student scholarship. As VP Alaniz never offered the information, even under Regents questioning I can only assume the answer would embarrass Mr. Alaniz and the College. The only benefit of all these fees would be if the income went to the facility and could be used to book additional events for purposes of profit to help offset non-profit events. Even so the ends do not justify the means. An expression that should be the first line of DMC Policy, as it seems to be the excuse for most of the evil committed at the College. It now appears that the days are gone when local community groups could depend on Richardson Auditorium being available to them and that was never my intention when I fought so hard to make the auditorium a safer, healthier and performance friendly environment for all of us. This is truly a shame as the arts are a major factor in the growth of a community like Corpus Christi. Beach resort developments make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer (apart from increasing our insurance rates.) The arts, theaters and galleries can make everyone richer.

Howard Karsh, retired Richardson Auditorium Manager, Candidate for DMC Regents, District 5

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2006-08-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

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MAYOR		Henry Garrett
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE Beach Thief Beach Thief		James Chrobocinski Mike Hummell Melody Cooper Pete Alvarez Arthur Brooks Nelda Martinez Jerry Garcia
COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 1		Bill Kelly
COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 2		Chad Magill John Edward Marez
COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 3 Beach Thief		Jesse Noyola Rene Saenz Priscilla Leal
COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 4		Norm Baker James Duerr Danny D. Williams Guy Watts Sandy Billish Mike McCutchon
COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 5 Beach Thief		Roy Pell Larry Elizondo Kendra Kinnison