The Plot Thickens -- Negative Campaigns, Part 2

It has come to our attention that within 48 hours of our initial release of the news that Royce Pollard did not sign the LWV campaign ethics agreement, my opponent's name somehow appeared on the list.

Lest anyone think we are making false claims, we printed the list two days ago. A scan of that printed page, which does not include the mayor of America's Vancouver, is below. (And for anyone who might think we doctored it, we'll happily show you the original print, or you can visit Google's cached list page from last month.)



To give my opponent the benefit of the doubt, it's entirely possible that Mr. Pollard did sign the agreement and a simple oversight meant that it wasn't posted online in the many months since the campaign season began.

But if he did sign the agreement to campaign ethically and honorably, then that very much begs the question --

Why Hasn't He?

It remains unclear if it would have been better for Mr. Pollard to stay "unsigned," or to now be effectively admitting that he has broken the oath.

Royce Pollard, as the candidate, has the power and ability to stop this negative campaigning. Even those attacks that are coming from independent organizations -- he has the ability to stop them and he is choosing not to.

We've only got a couple weeks of this campaign left, and I urge all of you to examine the disconnect between my opponent's words and deeds, and know that I will continue to operate above-the-level and treat the office I am running for with the dignity and respect it, and you, deserve.

Thank you for your support.

Negative Campaigns and Dirty Politics

Last week, the League of Women Voters held their final candidates' forum for the Vancouver Mayor and City Council candidates.

When I began my campaign for Mayor, I signed the League of Women Voters’ campaign ethics agreement without reservation. I intended to debate and deliberate with my opponent on the issues of our community, a task that would require no unethical behavior.

After weeks of increasingly negative attacks from my opponent and his supporters, I am not surprised to learn that Mr. Pollard did not sign the agreement to campaign ethically and honorably.
Negative campaigning hurts everyone —- not just the target of the attacks. In assaulting my character, allowing and encouraging the fire union and electricians’ union to dig up “dirt,” distorting the truth, and manufacturing lies that he tries to pass off as truth –- one is naturally led to question the ethics behind these acts of desperation.

Politics is a contact sport. And aggressively defending one's positions and vision for our future is to be expected. But….

My opponent and/or his supporters have vandalized our campaign signs, threatened and harassed my supporters, sent unidentified canvassers door-to-door in my name in order to lie about my platform, broken campaign finance laws, and misused private mailing lists and contact information in continued efforts to smear my name and mislead the public.

There is no place for this behavior in Vancouver. This is not respectful of the people we have been elected to represent.

If this is politics-as-usual, then we definitely need a new direction.

Royce Pollard, as the candidate, has the power and ability to stop this negative campaigning. Even those attacks that are coming from independent organizations –- he has the ability to stop them and he is choosing not to.

In fact, the Columbian reported on October 14, he thinks the attacks are funny and has no intention of putting a stop to them.

Well, I have a different sense of humor, a different level of respect for the office of the mayor, and a different approach when it comes to setting an example for and listening to the people of Vancouver.

When campaign tactics sink to this level, who benefits? Certainly not the community.

And the citizens of Vancouver, frankly, are my greatest concern. I refuse to stoop to the level my opponent has sunk to. I will continue to defend my name, my positions, and the people who have made the courageous choice to support me even in the face of harassment and bullying by representatives of the status quo.

But I will not sling mud, nor will I lie or distort the facts.

One candidate behaving that way is one too many. It is now long past time for my opponent to act in a way that is respectful of me and of the citizens he is supposed to represent, and to denounce and retract the assaults that he is making and others are making on his behalf. When this is the game we play, everyone loses.

I will not become a part of the circus he is building around him.

We've only got a couple weeks of this campaign left, and I urge all of you to examine the disconnect between my opponent's words and deeds, and know that I will continue to operate above-the-level and treat the office I am running for with the dignity and respect it, and you, deserve.

Thank you for your support.

A Weekend on the Campaign Trail

We're quickly closing in on election day!

This past weekend was quite busy both with events and campaigning. I attended a couple of great events on Friday night:

Korean American Celebration: Hosted by the Korean Society of Vancouver, the purpose of the event is to celebrate Korean culture and American citizenship. There were a number of Korean speakers, including Yeong Han Choi, the Consul of the Republic of Korea. The evening included performances by the Korean School of Vancouver Choir, Tae Kwon Do Master David Han, Nanta, and traditional Korean dance and drum. Korean dinner also was served. It was a great event, and packed with an enthusiastic crowd.

Silver Buckle Fundraiser: Also on Friday night was a fundraiser for the Silver Buckle Equestrian Center . This non-profit has the mission to improve the quality of life of young people by teaching life skills to help them become productive members of society. The mission is accomplished through horsemanship, with lesson plans designed to assist youngsters to achieve personal growth and responsibility. I am proud to support this group and the work they do -- they've made incredible impacts on the lives of so many young people here in our community.

Courtyard Coffee Lounge: Thank you to the Courtyard Coffee Lounge in the Academy building for opening up on Saturday morning and hosting our candidate coffee talk. Some 20 participants engaged me with questions and conversation about important issues in our community, including matters of leadership by example, communication with our citizens, and the affordability of living in our city.

Doorbelling: On Sunday, we spent nearly 4 hours in east Vancouver saying hello to residents at their doorsteps. Much appreciation to my supporters who joined. We had quite a productive day, visiting some 250 doorsteps. The reception was fantastic! Many folks have already submitted their ballots and are in favor of a new perspective at City Hall! Thank you!