New Times / Letter To The Editor

Lay off Debbie

Santa Margarita

I was appalled to see cartoons of such poor taste from Russell Hodin and Jerry James in New Times May 8. Both of their depictions of Debbie Arnold were dirty politics at its worst.

They should take the time to meet Debbie before printing such false images.

In the paper, if you donate to Patterson you are called a builder, if you donate to Debbie you are called a developer. For the record, one of Debbie’s larger contributors is a builder, who also happens to be a long-time family friend. His father worked for the Arnold family for over 30 years, and he has known Debbie his whole life. I would certainly hope Mr. Patterson’s life-long friends are proud enough of him to support him.

Debbie has strong ties to agriculture, so strong that in order to keep the family ranch intact, she owned and operated a preschool in Atascadero. Debbie put in 12-hour days for 17 years serving the needs of over 1000 working families in the 5th district. Why did she do this? To keep the fifth-generation family ranch in agriculture for future generations. That—Mr. Hodin and Mr. James—is not paving over agricultural land as you would so much like to have people believe, according to your cartoons!

I urge 5th district voters to meet the real Debbie Arnold and not always believe what you see or read in the New Times.