Letter to the Editor: Kuehne Mailers Are Misleading

—By Lori Chinn

In Kuehne’s recent mailers, Kuehne has accused the Hercules Recall supporters of making “Misleading Statements” about him and that he was not on the Hercules City Council. Kuehne has served as a Hercules Council Member since November 2008 to present.

Let us really look closer at Kuehne’s voting records:

Recall Statement – Kuehne supported the 3 million dollars no-bid contracts for NEO Consulting, Inc.

• In June 2009 and June 2010, Kuehne as member of City Council voted to pass the fiscal year budget on the consent calendar which included the contracts for NEO Consulting, Inc.

Recall Statement – Kuehne voted for the 12 million dollars Red Barn/Market Hall project with no public hearing.

• The Market Hall project was voted on February 10, 2009. The Planning Commission approved it in January 2009 Permit #09-37. Sherry McCoy was the Planning Director for the Commission. No one spoke up against the project. Kuehne voted “yes” with Ward.

Recall Statement – Kuehne supported Big League Dreams.

• City Council voted on the project on November 28, 2008.
• Kuehne voted for the consultants on March 2009, October 2009, March 2010, and July 2010.

Kuehne did not raise any questions or concerns.  There were 5-0 votes to pass the consent calendar.  No council members took any items  off the consent calendar for discussion.

Recall Statement – Kuehne should have known that Sycamore North was not properly funded.

• Kuehne claims that the staff report showed the project was funded.  However, in the same report, it stated that if funds were unattainable, the city had the option of using the 27 million dollars bond monies to cover the project. 
• City Council voted on January 9, 2009 to release 4 million dollars to the construction company. This resolution also mentioned that the 27 million dollars is part of the 56.5 million dollars that were needed for this project.
• On June 9, 2009, this resolution was discussed.  Kuehne had two opportunities to read the resolutions and materials. If he read them and understood them, he would have known the project was underfunded.
• On January 9, 2009 and June 9, 2009, the votes for the consent calendar were passed on a 5-0 vote.  No council member removed any items for discussion.

Therefore, let it be known and be recorded that the Hercules Recall Statements are accurate and the misleading statements are statements made by Kuehne. Kuehne is trying to confuse the intelligent citizens of Hercules. He is trying to hide his two and a half years of failure on the Hercules City Council.