LETTERS: WEBB GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT, GETS LIFE BACK.The hoopla hoop·la n. Informal 1. a. Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement. b. Extravagant publicity: The new sedan was introduced to the public with much hoopla. 2. is over, the signs are coming down, and the votes are in for the contest for Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. City Council. It's never easy to lose an election, particularly when the final result is so close. I've been on both sides of nail-biting squeakers, and I guarantee you that winning is more fun. But that's the risk that everyone takes who enters the political arena. I'd like to publicly thank all the people who worked on my campaign, who volunteered long hours and contributed money toward the effort, and who believed in what I was trying to accomplish. I'd like to thank all the residents of Simi Valley who gave me their confidence and their votes. And I'd like to thank all the people who individually contacted me throughout the campaign, by telephone and e-mail and regular mail and in person. I know you're disappointed in the outcome, but your support made this campaign very special for me. I deeply appreciate it. The last eight years on the City Council have been very rewarding for me but also very consuming. I enjoyed it, but it left little room for anything else. That's why I kept telling people ahead of time that I'd win no matter what happened: Either I'd win the election, or I'd get my personal life back. I also feel the same as our outgoing mayor, Greg Stratton: If you're going to leave the City Council, this is not a bad time to do so. While new challenges always lie ahead, our city is in pretty good shape right now. The police station that I've pushed for the last six years is finally built. Our city finances are under control. The wave of crime and gangs and graffiti graffiti Form of visual communication, usually illegal, involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an individual or group. Technically the term applies to designs scratched through a layer of paint or plaster, but its meaning has been extended to other markings. from Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. that was threatening to engulf en·gulf tr.v. en·gulfed, en·gulf·ing, en·gulfs To swallow up or overwhelm by or as if by overflowing and enclosing: The spring tide engulfed the beach houses. us when I was first elected eight years ago has been turned away. We survived an earthquake, and our economy is now prospering. All in all, Simi Valley has a lot to be proud of. One other thing that Simi Valley can be proud of is that we pretty much avoided the dirt-throwing and smear campaigns smear campaign n → campaña de calumnias smear campaign n → campagne f de dénigrement smear campaign smear n that are all too common in other cities. Even though I lost, it was almost flattering flat·ter 1 v. flat·tered, flat·ter·ing, flat·ters v.tr. 1. To compliment excessively and often insincerely, especially in order to win favor. 2. that it took the combined efforts of the governor of California The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced. , a U.S. senator, and at least $50,000 or $60,000 to beat me (and then only barely). But none of the candidates for City Council resorted to negative campaigning Negative campaigning is trying to win an advantage by referring to negative aspects of an opponent or of a policy rather than emphasizing one's own positive attributes or preferred policies. , and I congratulate them for that. I promised early on in the campaign that I would hold my own spending within the ``voluntary'' limit as long as there were no attacks, and I kept my promise. Simi Valley is my home, and I'll still be around. Among other things I'll remain an individual member of the Ventura County Association of Water Agencies, and I'll continue to promote the Samaritan Center and the Domestic Violence Recovery Center. I'll also continue to send out monthly e-mail updates on events at the Cultural Arts Center (if you want to be on that list, e-mail me at sandisandiwebb.com). Once again, my thanks to everyone. - Sandi Webb Simi Valley |
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