Chamber of Commerce - 2 minute "soapbox"

(I had them play the first several seconds of James Brown's "I Feel Good" as I walk to the podium.)

It's OK to feel good this early in the morning. I feel good because I live in San Luis Obispo, the City that I love. 

I bought this soapbox this morning because I want to ask you to vote for me, Orval Osborne, for City Council.

This is not a time for false modesty.   I am the best, most highly qualified challenger in the race.

I have served on the City Planning Commission for the past four years. Last year, when I was the Chair of the Planning Commission, we overhauled the Housing Element. Many people, from diverse backgrounds, said I was a highly effective Chair, and I got broader and deeper participation than they ever expected. We strengthened affordable housing policiesand provided more certainty to builders.

I am a leader. I was recently voted President of my church's Board of Trustees.

This may be a difficult time to be in City government. Revenues are limited, and costs are increasing. What better time to have a City Council member with solid business experience? I started my own business, Creek Environmental Laboratories, 10 years ago so I could keep my family in San Luis Obispo. Now I am proud to tell you I employ twelve full time people, and my company's sales are over a Million Dollars a year.

My goal is to enhance the quality of life for all. I am for smart growth, not dumb growth and not no growth.We need to build on what makes San Luis Obispo special. I won't promise to please everyone every time. I will promise to bring my experience, my dedication and my vision to the job. You need someone who knows the system and knows the players.Someone who knows how to work with others and get things done. I do.Please vote for me, Orval Osborne, for City Council. 

Referendum needed on the Dalidio-San Luis Marketplace project

Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council,

I am writing to you today to request that you place the San Luis Marketplace project on the November ballot as a referendum.

Rather than speculate about how many people support or oppose it, with a referendum we would know the will of the voters with absolute clarity.

The County would not dare to approve it in their jurisdiction if the voters rejected it. Only a referendum could remove this huge cloud over the City's decision-making ability. I am of the view that this project developing in County jurisdiction, if that were possible, would be the worst of all possible worlds: the City would get all the costs, while the County would get the benefit. If the City voters say no, the County Supervisors would have to obey the will of the voters or commit political suicide. If the City voters approve it, then there would be no argument, and the project would be allowed to develop in the City.

The referendum should be worded to allow a different decision in the future on the same or a similar project. (One of the objections to the San Luis Marketplace is it is "too much too soon." The City's business environment will change with time. Or the project proponents may want to come back with a scaled-down or phased project.)

A referendum on the November ballot would be timely. A decision in four months is a short time compared to the many years this project has been discussed.

A campaign would be an opportunity for all the facts and arguments to be laid out. However, I must admit the project proponents would have an advantage in having much more money to spend for their side than the opponents. Hopefully a vigorous public discussion will overcome the financial imbalance.

Please do not reject the concept of a referendum. You may think that you have to decide everything yourself, but this is one of those issues that would best be decided by all citizens. The biggest advantage of a referendum is the public "buy-in" or acceptance of the decision. A referendum would settle the question with a clarity that a City Council vote never could.

Finally, if you reject the referendum and vote on the project yourselves, citizens may mount a signature drive to put it on the ballot anyway. The community would likely maintain unity better if they got a referendum without having to override a Council vote.

Please, in the interest of democracy and fairness, use your power to initiate a referendum on the San Luis Marketplace proposal.

Sincerely,
Orval Osborne

Osborne for Council - 4th of July

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release July 1, 2004
Contact: Orval Osborne oosborne@fix.net 235-8178

Orval Osborne for City Council

On the 4th of July, Orval Osborne will start his campaign for City Council of San Luis Obispo. Osborne declares: "I am choosing Independence Day to announce my candidacy because I want to honor the founding principles of our country: democratic representation and individual liberty. The people should choose their leaders, and the leaders must be accountable to the people."

Experience, Dedication and Vision are Osborne's main qualifications for Council. He has four years experience on the Planning Commission. Orval founded and manages a local business, Creek Environmental Laboratories, which currently employs twelve people. Osborne was voted President of his church Board of Trustees. He is a dedicated family man.

"Quality of Life for All" is his campaign theme. "We need to build on what is best about SLO. Our downtown is the envy of the nation. Small, locally-owned businesses provide the most benefit to the community and the economy." Osborne led the effort to increase affordable housing as Chair of the Planning Commission during the City's recent Housing Element update. He wants to improve the town-gown relationship. Osborne wants to maintain and expand the City's greenbelt and open space protection. "Much of our business relies on tourism. Maintaining our natural beauty serves our tourist trade as well as benefiting everyone who lives here."

Osborne waxes eloquent about the City he loves: "San Luis Obispo is a great place to live. I am grateful for the wisdom and courage of the City leaders who have gone before me. My goal as a Council Member is to honor their legacy by growing San Luis Obispo's quality of life as we move into the future."