Gigi Hanna for San Bernardino City Clerk, Letter to Voters
October 17, 2011 Leave a comment
By Michael Reiter, Attorney at Law
Other than the Amelia Sanchez-Lopez portion of City Attorney James F. Penman’s fliers, Gigi Hanna is the only candidate I am aware of that has sent direct mail to candidates. I discussed the first piece that I obtained here. I have now obtained a second letter from San Bernardino City Clerk candidate Gigi Hanna. It is in the form of a letter to San Bernardino voters, with a resume on the reverse side.
The letter reads:
October 12, 2011
Dear San Bernardino voter:
The City Clerk’s office demands a tested communications leader with experience in public
records, open government and a demonstrated commitment to neutrality to ensure you get the
best customer service possible from City Hall. I’m running for City Clerk in the November 8
election because I am the clear choice for this most important position.
I’m not interested in being a politician; I want to be City Clerk: The person who takes minutes at
council meetings; keeps the city’s records and runs local elections fairly. And that’s why I’m
treating this as a job interview, not a political campaign. As the person who will choose San
Bernardino’s next City Clerk, you need to make the most informed decision possible about the
person who will be your main link to City Hall. Please see my resume enclosed.
City Clerk is a natural fit for me; I have the experience, education, passion, skills and personality
to lead the department, maintain records, and uphold state and federal statutes determining open
meetings and public records. My commitment to open and transparent government did not begin
when I decided to run for office, nor will it end November 8. I have spent 25 years working to
make sure people know what their government is doing, and holding elected officials accountable
to those they serve. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in political science and
my graduate work in Communications focused on public records and open meeting law, key
components of the City Clerk’s job.
I have effectively managed complex and long-term administrative and communications projects
from the state-wide Alluvial Fan Task Force to the regional City Makeover project to the local
Lytle is Vital (water quality) campaign, working with elected officials, federal, state and local
regulators, and non-governmental agencies. Additionally, when I first considered running for City
Clerk, I took City Clerk training from the City Clerk’s Association of California and have earned
three units toward full certification. That pro-active move will save the city time and money in
training me and shows a clear commitment to approaching this as a professional.
In order to keep that distinction, I have not sought nor accepted endorsement from any elected
local officials; it is ethically indefensible to claim neutrality from people you are receiving
support. It is doubly troublesome when one considers that the City Clerk can be called on to hold
other elected officials accountable, or to release documents that they might not want made
public. Any perception of bias based on political alliances built during a campaign will ultimately
have a chilling effect on the public’s comfort level with the service they receive at City Hall. This
is about posting agendas, not pushing one.
Therefore, if you’d like to keep the City Clerk’s office professional, neutral and responsive to all,
I am the clear choice. If you want a City Clerk with a demonstrated commitment to public
information and ethical communications, I am the clear choice. And if you are ready to choose a
person whose interest in this job is to build on the level of service you receive from your City
Clerk, I am the clear choice. If you have any questions, please feel free to check out my web site:
http://www.gigihanna4sbcityclerk.com, email me at ghanna4sbcityclerk@gmail.com or call me
at (909) 440-9358. Thank you for your consideration; I’m asking for and would be honored to
receive your vote.
At your service,/s/
Gigi Hanna
The reverse of the mailer is in the form of a two-column resume, for people interested in Gigi Hanna’s qualifications to be San Bernardino City Clerk. The theme of the letter, and of Gigi Hanna’s campaign, since it has appeared on her earlier mailer, is that she is the “clear choice” for the job. The reader knows this theme because it is underlined four times on the letter.
This letter also reiterates another theme of Gigi Hanna’s campaign, that she is independent of the ruling factions in City Hall. She reiterates what she said at the debate: “I have not sought nor accepted endorsement from any elected local officials.” This is meant as a contrast with the other candidates for City Clerk, to give a reason to vote for Gigi Hanna over the other four candidates.
The information you obtain at this blog is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by reading or commenting on this blog. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.
About Michael Reiter, Attorney at Law
