I am a small-business owner and the mother of two little kids, and I still want to be like my dad when I “grow up.” As many Fort
Bragg locals know, my dad is my mentor in business. He has run his own
business successfully for 36 years, and I aspire to do the same. At the
same time, he somehow managed to balance his marriage and to raise his
four kids—never missing a swim meet or a basketball game—and I aspire to
do the same. My father raised us all in Fort Bragg, where he was born. I
came home to raise my own kids in Fort Bragg too. I now manage my own
business in downtown Fort Bragg—just like my dad. Fort Bragg is the
perfect home for my business and family.
But my
father also does something I could never do: my dad is the mayor of Fort
Bragg. He has been elected to our city council four times, and been
elected mayor four times. For 15 years he has worked hard to help the
people of our community. When cities all around the country were going
bankrupt in the last economic downturn, my dad’s vision and leadership
kept Fort Bragg not only afloat, but also growing. He has helped with
many projects we use and enjoy every day: the trestle, the new coastal
trail, the beautification of downtown, the C.V. Starr Center. He played a
large part in keeping the community college on the coast, and he always
considers the needs of the less fortunate members of our community.
However,
the last few months have been an emotional struggle for me. I have
watched my dad’s character being attacked, seen his actions and motives
being questioned. It has been horrible to witness my dad being treated
so badly. And yet many locals do not even realize this is going on. Many
people voted for my dad, put their faith in him, and moved on with
their daily lives, knowing that they have a good person in office who
will use his good judgment to help our community.
Here’s what’s going on:
This past election was the first time in 12 years that a Fort Bragg
city council election has been dirty and disgusting—and the attacks
haven’t stopped. A very loud group of people tried very hard to campaign
against my dad in this election, because he did not support the attacks
on the city manager. They are upset that he is still on council and
once again Mayor. They have continued to attack him, his integrity, his
livelihood, and his family. And now, only three months after the
election, they are talking about a recall.
For months my dad has asked
me to not get involved and to just be his silent supporter. And I know
he asked this so that I would not be caught in any crossfire. And
while I appreciate the thought, I can no longer stand by silently while
one group of negative people threatens to tear him down. Especially now
that a recall is being threatened. This is my town and my community. I
care about it, and it is my livelihood. I think we need my dad, Dave
Turner, on this city council to keep steering our town in the right
direction. The direction of healthy growth, positive change, and
helping one another.
I will no longer stand by and let fear tactics and slander hurt our town.
If you support my father, Dave Turner, if you love what he has done for
our town, stand by him now, show your support, let the people who are
on city council know they have your support and show the naysayers that
you have Dave Turner's back.
The next City Council meeting is March 9th. It will be
at the newly renovated Town hall. Please come see the beautiful
renovations and show your support for Dave Turner. There will be a
reception at 5:30 and the city council meeting will start at 6pm.
Please, come to the city council meetings
every now and then—the first 30 minutes are Public Comment. Let's not
let the negative people dominate every meeting as they have been doing
since August.
