Scott Haggerty Hosting Holiday Open House at the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton

Apparently Nate Miley will not be there. I called Scott Haggertys outreach coordinator, Leah Doyle Stevens, I asked if there would be a parking fee at the fairgounds for those that would drive over for the Holiday open house.  

She said she didn't think so, I could not get a firm answer to the question. I asked if Nate Miley would be there. She said not that she was aware of. I asked if this open house was costing Pleasanton tax payers, money. She said there will only be a few refreshments.

I asked why Haggerty is having the Holiday open house in Pleasanton when he does not represent Pleasanton on the Board of County Supervisors when it is Nate Miley that represents Pleasanton on the Board of County Supervisors.

When she was unable to answer my questions, I offered my email address and asked her to have someone, Haggerty or his chief of staff send me an email so that we could have a dialogue. She said okay, I provided my email address to her.

The Holiday open house Haggerty is having, is scheduled for December 18, 5:30 to 8:00 pm. it is planned as an informal social event. They ask that those attending bring a toy or canned food item.

The next day I received an unfriendly email from Shawn Wilson, OSB Dist 1. (Shawn.Wilson@acgov.org). He accused me of blogging an article that was blasting Scott Haggerty for hosting a Holiday party in Pleasanton at the fairgrounds heritage house.

Wilson quoted me as stating "Interesting that Supervisor Haggerty is throwing a party in Pleasanton which is not in his district. Raises questions. Are the tax payers paying for the party, food refreshments? If it is his campaign how can he throw a political event on County property?"

"Seems to me he is using his office for his own political benefit and the tax payers are once again paying for it. Glad he no longer represents Pleasanton we were on to him so he redistricted us out of his district."

As it turns out, that comment was posted in Pleasanton on line and it was posted by a resident of the Bordeaux Estates neighborhood on November 28, 2012 at 10:54am.

I replied to Shawn Wilson, to inform him that I did not blog an article anywhere. That he had better check his sources than issue an apology to me. I went on to explain that I write a regular blog for www.pleasanton.patch.com. That I blog with my birth name Michael Austin and post my picture with each blog.

Shawn replied with an apology which I have shared below:

"My apologies. Withdraw the "you blogged in an article" portion of the email. The words that were expressed to my kind staff were very close to what was in the Pleasanton weekly. Please accept my apologies for making that assumption."

"Continued success on the Pleasanton Patch. I am not one that reads the blogs but I am grateful that for some it provides an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue."

I am good with that apology. The incident calls to attention the sensitivity of our elected officials and their staff. A constiuent asked a reasonable question of a local elected official which offended his staff.

Keeping in mind the experience's we had with Mary Hayashi, when she was unresponsive to us. Her continuing to be a no show at events she said she would attend. Or, quickly skipping out if she did show.

Wilson's staff indicated I was rude. Quite the contrary, when Leah Doyle Stevens could not or would not answer my questions, I ended the conversation by providing my email address and asked that Haggerty or the chief of staff email me to have a dialogue.