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JUST SHUT UP!!!!
JUST SHUT UP!!!!!
Election season is here, campaign signs abound, vote for t-shirts everywhere, and in this country it is called “free speech.” This precious freedom, like a prized orchid, must be handled with care, tended to, and protected from harm. Today, sadly, I recognized just how naive I was in the need to protect this right and freedom. I, like hundreds of citizens across the county, have been out campaigning for the candidate of my choice. Our freedom of speech gives me the right to publicly state my view and convey facts, or so I thought.
Yesterday, March 17th, I chose to hold my candidate sign, Matt Schellenberg, and an additional sign with facts about the opposing candidate at the South Mandarin Library early voting site. At 6:00 PM I parked my vehicle in the library parking lot gathered my signs and proceeded to the street, San Jose and Orange Picker, to sign wave. I placed my candidate sign in the ground about 35 feet south of the intersection and began waving my other sign. The city ordinances that relate to the statements on the sign are 2008-555, 2010-557, 2010-216, 2010-446, 2010-554, and 2007-838. There are likely other related ordinances as well.
Once on the sidewalk, I spoke with a Webb supporter for several minutes and though we supported different candidates we had a pleasant conversation. As she walked back to the corner, Mr. Youngblood, another candidate in the same race, walked over and we began talking. While Mr. Youngblood and I were talking, a white double cab truck pulled up and three men jumped out. It wasn’t until they walked through the bushes between the parking lot and the sidewalk that I noticed it was Jack Webb, Peter Kelley, and Anthony Hemmerly. Mr. Webb headed, like a bullet train, directly towards me with his signs waving and attempted to stand directly in front of me. I then stepped into the street to avoid his aggressive stance. Mr. Webb, my city council representative, then stated, “It is illegal for you to stand in the street,” I replied, “O.K.” He followed with “I am going to call the cops” I replied “Go ahead,” He returned stating “Don’t you know I am the city council president!” I said, “I know.”
Freedom of speech, as I previously stated, must be protected. Mr. Webb and his thugs, three men harassing one woman, will NOT intimidate me for it is my DUTY as an American citizen to stand guard on the wall to protect our freedoms!
Apparently my refusal to acquiesce infuriated Mr. Webb as he began shouting at me stating, “Lady, You don’t know the truth, “Do your research,” and “You never called my office.” Ironically, I have done the research and cited the ordinances, I had spoke to Mr. Webb on several occasions at South Mandarin Republican Club meetings over the past two years, and as the Abigail Adams Project representative I contacted Mr. Webb to participate in our candidate survey last December. So, Mr. Webb had no recollection of ever speaking to me as his constituent and chose not to respond to a survey request from his constituents.
Next, Mr. Webb, Mr. Kelley, and Mr. Hemmerly stood directly in front and behind me as to obscure my signs. Since I was the ONLY Matt Schellenberg sign waver out there, I found it troubling that they would go to such aggressive extremes to silence my free speech. In addition, I would ask of these men, I will not call them gentlemen, how would they react to their wives or daughters being treated as such?
For this reason, I chose to move about 20 feet or so south of the men. Seconds after I placed my sign in the ground, the three men were once again on either side of me aggressively trying to obscure my signs; no freedom of speech on this corner it seems. This Chicago style politics had me concerned so I used my cell to call a friend and stated loud enough for the men to hear, “Jack Webb’s group is not acting graciously, I need help.” Subsequently, as quickly as these men had appeared, they disappeared and once again I was standing alone on the street.
Without a doubt, the abhorrent behavior of my “city council representative” and his cohorts demonstrated a level of deviance, I thought, did not exist at the local level. My friends, our freedoms are under attack on every front and we must make a choice to stand firmly on that wall to guard them or acquiesce to the intimidation and thuggish behavior of those void of integrity, morals, and honor.
Last night I filed a police report, as my duty, to report this unacceptable behavior; Report #215874.
MR. WEBB I, DEBORAH GONZALEZ, WILL NOT ACQUIESCE NOR BE INTIMIDATED BY YOUR REPULSIVE ACTIONS
Views: 69
Comment
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Comment by JL Gawlik on April 2, 2011 at 11:15am
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Debbie, My husband just told me that we have a young girl in her 20s stop by this morning campaigning for Matt Schellenberg in Jack Webb's district, we voted for Matt Schellenberg in the primary. He said she was very well spoken and very informed, he told me that i would love her.
My husband told her that Schellenberg had a our full support and to get us a sign for our yard, she said they had over 1200 signs stolen in our area!!! I think we are going to set our video cam on the front lawn and advise the neighbors to so we can record who is doing this.
She told him that she was verbally cussed out and threatened when standing on a corner in Mandarin waving her Schellenberg sign by herself, before the election, several times by Webb supporters. It got so bad at one point she had to call the police. Jack Webb must be from Chicago!
This type of campaigning is wrong. Somehow we need to get someone to film it and send it to the news. Jack Webb apparently is unethical. Perhaps someone should send him a email and tell him that besides himself, his campaigners are practicing the same thuggery?
Just thought you would want to know.
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Comment by Tom Wright on March 24, 2011 at 9:46am
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Debbie,
I guess Mr. Webb did not like my sign " Jack Webb opposes Free Speech". Even if I did not speak to him directly, I know he saw it when were out in front of Wal Mart in Mandarin.
Please let me know, it will be my pleasure to "sign wave" for Mike Hogan, and Matt Schellenber, also for my favorite Dick Kravitz anytime you are ready. Just let me know time and place, you can count on me for back up.
You say you are only one voice, but I know many people that 100% agree with you on the issues.
You Pal,
Tom Wright
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Comment by Debbie G on March 24, 2011 at 4:53am
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I am only one voice, but truth does not need a megaphone to travel far.
From the Times Union:
By Jeff Brumley
City Council President Jack Webb received at least 45 percent of the unofficial vote in a three-way
race for the council District 6 seat he's held for one term, leading to the May 17 runoff against
challenger Matt Schellenberg.
The upcoming race promises to be heated, with both Republicans already trading jabs about
campaigning.
Webb, 48, said the results were “wonderful” considering there were three Republicans and that
Schellenberg supporters often were confrontational. “We're pumped and ready to go,” he said.
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Comment by Kerry Kelley on March 22, 2011 at 12:10am
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Debbie,
Write on!
k
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Debbie, that woman that you encountered yesterday, brings up a mental picture of when you tried to tell a sibling or a friend the truth about something and they would stick their fingers in their ears and start singing, or saying something repetitive over and over. These people are what i have tagged Delusional Sheep.
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Comment by Joanna B McDermott on March 21, 2011 at 9:39am
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Great idea....you are awesome.
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I posted supporting information, obtained from City Council meeting minutes and agendas, under the blog "SUPPORTING MATERIAL ON TAX AND FEE INCREASES."
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Comment by James Kring on March 21, 2011 at 8:44am
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Debbie, you are a good example of a good example, keep rowing!
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Yesterday I was holding my sign at the South Mandarin Library and a woman supporting Mr. Webb stated that the men came at me because my sign was displaying untruths. I had anticipated such so on the back of my sign I had the documents from city council minutes and agendas printed as supporting reference. This woman did not want to look at these documents as "they" were not true. How, then, is it possible to have a discussion and present facts?
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Comment by Martha Carlson on March 20, 2011 at 11:59pm
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hi Deborah...I want to thank you for your strong commitment to principle and willingness to stand up and not be intimidated. I stand with you! You are a true American and showed what the American spirit is all about. I say shame on them...they are ignorant self serving and should not be in public service in any office.
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