Building Industry Association
of San Diego

Oceanside Councilman, Jerry Kern is the target of a union backed recall campaign

Oceanside voters head to the polls in just 18 days to determine the political fate of one of its councilmembers, Jerry Kern.  The freshman councilman is under attack by the municipal  employee unions who seek his removal from office on the eve of new contract negotiations.  Why? Because they need a third vote on the council to gain a more favorable contract.  This demonstrates to what extent the unions will go to gain the upper hand.  The BIA opposes the recall. If it succeeds, Oceanside will be decidedly set on a path of economic self destruction.

Recalls are supposed to be a tool available to the voters to oust officials from office for malfeasance or some nefarious action. What is Kern’s crime?  He’s not in the union’s pocket and advocates for sound fiscal policy and balanced budgets.   Such treachery.

Never mind the fact that bloated union pensions and benefits have driven the state and cities like San Diego to near fiscal ruin. Never mind the fact that as a consequence, the state legislature passed the largest tax increase in California history. Never mind that the recall will cost Oceanside taxpayers a half million dollars. Never mind that Jerry Kern is up for re-election in 2010.

This recall is smash-mouth politics and muscle flexing by organized labor. At a time when local governments struggle to meet basic services because of diminished tax dollars caused by the recession, the union’s want more. And if they win on December 8th, they’ll get it.

On December 8, vote NO on the Recall and stop the union power grab.

Radio talk show host, Roger Hedgecock (right) speaks to 2010 BIASD President, Bob Cummings and James Padovano of JPC Restoration at the BIA Monthly Breakfast

Radio talk show host, Roger Hedgecock pulled few punches in his critique of  growing government controls during an address at the Monthly BIA Breakfast in Del Mar today.  The nationally syndicated host said that the San Diego City Council is under the control of local unions and that their actions in the midst of a recession were  ‘swift, decisive, and stupid.’  He chided them for raising fees while the housing market is suffering massive losses and went  on to say that the biggest threat facing every level of government is union pension plans.  He said the current government pension payouts were unsustainable and that reforms were needed.

Hedgecock said  that “for the first time ever, [the people] have elected a government that believes government knows best,” and that the old world we knew was going away.  Referring to the nation as being at a crossroads, Hedgecock said it was “time for a hard look at where we want this county to go.”

Nearly 200 BIA members were on hand to hear Hedgecock’s annual industry address and spent several minutes afterwards in a Q and A on issues ranging from the 2010 Governors race to climate change.

Hedgecock’s national program is heard on more than 100 stations and locally on KOGO radio.

The U.S. House of Representatives has just passed an extension of the Housing tax credit and NOL fix language. It was an amendment that was added to the unemployment insurance bill. The vote was 403-12.

The bill heads to the White House and is expected to be signed tomorrow.

More information to follow.