Monday, May 23, 2016

Keep Hemet Safe vs. Hemet Taxpayers Association. Or is it?


We all know that the Stone agenda has been trying to contract out our public safety services for years.   If Measure E passes, it pretty much prohibits that possibility for a decade.  Remember, this measure needs a super majority, so in reality, swaying this only needs to be a strategic effort for those against Measure E.  The ‘No on E’ campaign is the same group behind Stone and Milne, The Hemet Taxpayers Association. 

When I started looking at the Keep Hemet Safe Campaign, I noticed a lot of flaws.   I have been involved in the campaign world for about 17 years.  So let’s just say, I have a pretty good idea as to what a campaign should look like.  Measure E has no real volunteer recruitment, no call-outs, no real canvassing and poor messaging.  The ads, until about 2 weeks ago, were a visual mess.  The website still leaves a lot to be desired.  What on Earth does ‘Keep Hemet Safe’ mean if you want to 'Make Hemet Safe'.  I didn’t know Hemet was already safe or that any of us really felt safe. I started to look at how the campaign was set-up and then started to look at who was running the campaign. 

This is what I found:

The people in-charge of ‘Keep Hemet Safe’ are Howard Rosenthal and Gisela and Eric Gosch of the Gosch Auto Group.  The consultant for the campaign is Tom Shepard, a political consultant out of San Diego. 

On December 7, 2015, Eric Gosch donated $2000 to Jeff Stone’s 2014 State Senate Campaign.  The contribution was posted Feb 1, 2016.  The ‘Keep Hemet Safe’ campaign started in March of 2016.  Gosch has been donating to Stone’s campaigns for years.  Eric’s dad, Jack Gosch, was a partner of the Valley Chronicle Newspaper. 

Tom Shepard was paid $12,000 to consult on Jeff Stone’s 2010 State Senate campaign.  When I asked in writing for confirmation of the consultant, I was asked to keep the name quiet. The ‘Keep Hemet Safe’ campaign submitted their 460 (Campaign Statement and lists campaign contributions and expenditures) on May, 14th, 2016 per written communication.  As of now, the information has not posted to the Secretary of State’s website.  I have included the link below.  The ‘Keep Hemet Safe’ campaign has spent $200,000.  This amount is per the campaign itself.


http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/695345/Gosch-Jack.php


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