Following a terrible bout with the flu and another recent personal problem, candidate Carl Fritz officially backed out of his race for a seat on Loveland’s City Council representing the city’s Ward 4.
Fritz told LovelandPolitics, “It is a lousy job for only $600 per month” in connection to his complaints of being deluged with inquiries from various interest groups after declaring his candidacy. He said the Loveland-Berthoud Board of Realtors approached him hours after he filed his candidacy. Fritz also said the woman who contacted him promised her board has “funds to support candidates” who they find agreeable.
Other News -
Councilwoman Carol Johnson is working behind the scenes to support David Clark’s run for Mayor but may very quickly become a liability instead of an asset. After lashing out against city volunteers working on Loveland’s Historic Preservation Commission see story she is now trying to appeal to age discrimination to boost her choice of David Clark for the Mayor’s race according to two sources. She has complained about the age of the other candidates and how she has tired of “being around really old men” on city council.
David Clark “begs” Skowron to Quit Run For Mayor
A week ago last Sunday, Loveland Mayor Pro Tem David Clark appeared at Councilman Skowron’s doorstep to discuss the race for Mayor of Loveland. Both men are members of Loveland’s City Council and both are running for Mayor. For his part, Skowron has told supporters he stood his ground and refused to drop out of the race no matter how much Clark begged him to get out of the race.
An interesting split in the “Old Guard” cabal has been the fact three councilors (Skowron, Clark and Rousey) are all running against one another for Mayor. Clark has long demonstrated a certain lack of respect for Skowron at council meetings and would often tangle with him even on issues where they agreed as Clark thought Skowron asked many inane questions.
I’ve also noticed how in addition to Clark, others on Council, like the current mayor, routinely are rude and cutting to Skowron in their remarks and treatment. Given that obvious lack of respect, it’s not surprising that Clark would have the gall to ask Skowron to step aside. As if Clark somehow thinks he’s better. And if Clark or anyone was bothered by Skowron’s questions, I think more questions ought to be asked, not fewer.
Skowron loves to be the skunk at the garden party. Whether that makes him a good Mayor is another question.
Dave Clark begging Walt to drop out is an encounter that would be fun to watch. Dave has no respect for Skowron and if he had half a brain would have apologized years ago for his own bad behavior.
Harry I agree that Dave Clark and the rest of the cabal being rude to Skowron is an outrage that was allowed to happen too many times. The Mayor recently said, “Let’s let Walt ask a question just in case it really is a question.” Why didn’t someone call him out for such bad behavior?
Glenn is more articulate and certainly sincere than Dave Clark as well. He would clearly make a much better Mayor than the sarcastic Pielin. My only trouble with him is his capitulating the interests of the city so many times to McWhinney just like Walt and the others.
Its a tough choice but the only one with clean hands is Cecil Gutierrez. Even the other night he fought to hold McWhinney’s feet to the fire on what they promised to spend on the I-25 and 34.
I heard Rousey, Clark and Skowron all met with McWhinney AGAIN in private to agree not to opposes their request to steal money from the project.
Oh well, life goes on in modern day Pottersville except its McWhinneyville.
Sorry, but you heard wrong. I have not meet with anyone from the Mcwhinney organization for several months nor was I asked to.
The Historical Preservation Commission is a group of very dedicated volunteers who do a lot more than just sit on the commission. They volunteer their time and money to help restore historic buildings in Loveland. Everything from lumber to nails and seminars on restoring wood windows they have provided owners of historic homes and buildings in town. They do this at their expense with no credit or reimbursement most times from the city.
What I don’t understand about your story is why any member of the commission would need to resign because of Carol Johnson who by the way is no relation of mine. Loveland Historical Society is a vibrant community group that has been doing lots of work for years without enough support from the city counsel.
Every commissioner I talked to said they are not resigning because of Carol Johnson trying to intimidate them. They have done a lot more for this city than Carol and should not let her push them around or insult them publicly.
My suggestion is that the city counsel find someone who is interested in Loveland’s historic preservation efforts and works well with people to be the liaison to the committee. It is would be best if Ms. Johnson stayed away from any future meetings of the commission and the Historical Society to keep the peace.
Carol Johnson is yet another result of Loveland’s bad old days of un-contested council races. 2011 cannot come soon enough.
The large field of candidates this year is a good sign that a quality candidate will step up to rid Loveland of Carol. Too bad we’ll have to wait that long. Removing her from the HPC is just the first step.
I think the printing of Carol’s email to the Historic Preservation Commission was unfair and one-sided. Carol has been a supporter of preserving Loveland’s Histoy, has made an effort to be involved in local historical groups, and has been a supporter of preserving the Milner House, possibly Larimer County’s oldest farmhouse, so that future geenrations can enjoy seeing this part of our heritage when they visit Fairgrounds Park. Kudos to the community members and all the Councilors who supported this proejct, but Carol along with a few others in the community have been effective supporters of preserving our heritage, otherwise this house may have become a parking lot. Even in these times, the City of Loveland, the Loveland Historical Society and donors have stepped forward to match a grant so that next year this house will be restored as a landmark of our history.
When I read Carol’s email, I feel like this email expressed a frustration with conflicts and ineffective meetings, and while hastily expressed (when it comes to email, the best advice is think before you hit ’send’!), I feel it was in poor taste to print this in a public forum.
While this forum and others in the community may disagree with Councilor Johnson and others on Council, this ‘issue’ seems a bit of a red herring.
To All,
As a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, I want to go on
record as affirming that I have not told anyone I would consider resigning
due to the inexcusable e-mail from Councillor Carol Johnson. The e-mail
insults and berates volunteer citizens who are giving their time and
effort to provide a service to the community.
However, I will consider resigning if a majority of the Commission does
not make a meaningful response to this abhorrent insult. By this I mean
that City Council should immediately assign another council member to be
liaison to the HPC if only for the October, and perhaps, November
meetings. If this does not happen, the Commission should cancel monthly
meetings until a new liaison has been assigned.
Don Cook, Commissioner
Mr. Watson,
The only thing “one-sided” about publishing Carol Johnson’s letter is that it represents exclusively her point of view and not anyone else. How is that unfair to her?
You claim her letter was “hastily” prepared – we disagree. The letter is long, covers many topics and appears to be a premeditated attack on the credibility of the members of the commission.
Her statement that, “…you lost a lot of credibility with me
and with council.” indicates she is not only speaking for herself in the letter but the entire Loveland City Council.
The rest of the Loveland City Council will now need to show the courage of their convictions and either rebuke the letter as not representing them and remove Carol from her liaison role or say nothing thus siding with Johnson by letting her claim to speak for the entire council stand.
Above everything else the letter disclosed an ARROGANCE by Johnson who appears to look down on hard working long-term community volunteers.
We were wondering if the Loveland Chamber of Commerce or Mayor Pro Tem David Clark (both responsible for recruiting her to run for council) have anything to say about her latest attack on well meaning citizens of this community.
Regarding Carol Johnson, the following 5 items should be duly noted:
1. I could be wrong, but I believe Carol was either recalled from the Golden City Council, or was soon to be. I am not sure she got beat at the ballot box, mano y mano, but she certainly left town in a hurry.
2. Carol has forged an obvious and awkward political alliance with none other than the original Queen of Mean herself, Jan Brown (yes, funny as it may be, THAT Jan Brown). This alliance, as clumsy as it operates, is notorious to city staff, other elected officials, and many constituents who have had the misfortune of seeing these overly ambitious ladies work the room. For those members of the viewing audience too young to remember Jan Brown, please ask one of the many voters who threw her out of office just two years ago.
3. Carol is universally regarded by non-Centerra business leaders throughout Loveland as a bitter, unemployed attorney who constantly condescends and scolds anyone she fears is undermining her plans for municipal domination. Even the city staff generally agrees with this sentiment (watch their eyes say “yes”, even when their words say “no”)
4. After talking with folks on the Council who know her better than most, it is clear that Carol is the type of self-serving elected official we normally only find in NJ, CA, or DC. They city councilors who are paying attention are visibly uncomfortable with Carol’s style (or lack thereof), and borderline ethical dilemmas. Careless influence peddling by her is becoming notorious, and it is probably just a matter of time until someone strategically releases the unabridged collection of Carol’s Greatest Hits.
5. Carol is obsessed with being known as the “voice of downtown” (or some other similar cheap self-promotion), though the only comment I have ever heard from downtown folks I have known for 20 years is this: “Who is this Carol person, and what downtown is she talking about?”
The HPC has nothing to worry about; Carol is all bark and no bite. Hopefully, she will be a FORMER Loveland resident soon. If you get a call for a job reference on her behalf, please do Loveland a favor, and tell the caller that Carol would make a great addition to their organization.
“We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.”
- Gen. George S. Patton
I will not be resigning from the Loveland Historic Preservation Commission.
Although it is clear from Councilwoman Johnson’s email that the HPC has faced some communication challenges in the past several months, there have also been an enormous number of accomplishments by the current commission in the past year. I think that it is clearly more important at this point that the group focus on where we are going and the future contributions we can make to this community. It is also critical that the Commission remain united and develop new proactive processes to meet the goals of this group.
We are all volunteers with jobs, families and other commitments; we give of our spare time not because we have to but because we can make a difference. We have made a difference.
Robin Ericson, HPC
I LOVE THIS WEBSITE! I read about it in the Reporter-Herald RH Line last Sunday and now I am addicted! – real stuff about what is really going on in town.
A good friend of mine who was going to run for council but dropped out told me she got a strange phone call from Carol Johnson. Carol told her she was using the Lodging Tax on the ballot to raise money and the owner of Loveland’s Best Western would give money to candidates Carol recommends. Of course, my friend would have to agree to funnel ALL lodging tax proceeds back to promoting the hotels through the chamber or some such scheme.
My friend politely said no way because that wasn’t why she was running for council. Also, Carol complained about not getting a job with McWhinney after supporting them so much.
This stuff is crazy. How does she manage to avoid any real (sorry if that is offensive) media attention for her unorthodox approach to local people?
I don’t know a nice way to say this but we were horrified to see Carol Johnson found her way back into public office after all the mess she left behind in Golden.
She was not recalled but certainly had no chance to be re-elected and was soundly defeated when she tried to run again. I don’t remember seeing even one yard sign supporting her when she tried to get re-elected.
All I can say is I don’t want to be involved in any historic preservation projects if this woman is even near the project. She is a walking disaster and has some issues she really needs to work out about how to deal with people.
I cannot speak for Loveland HPC but when this caught my attention I just couldn’t believe she found a way back into a public office. If it was the Chamber of Commerce that endorsed her than they didn’t do their homework. The Loveland Chamber would be well advised to pick candidates in the future based on their community history, work accomplishments and do at least the screening necessary to work in a daycare center.
Simply running people for office who say they are “pro-business” is a frighteningly careless approach to community outreach on the local level by any group. I would steer clear of any candidate running like Carol by saying they are “pro-business” just because those are the simple talking points from the Loveland Chamber.
If this is what people in loveland want I could unload any nut house or convalescent home onto your city council be telling them just to say these four words to get elected. I just thought people in loveland were smarter.
Good luck you guys with Carol for the next 2 years! I hope your city isn’t self-insured for your sake.
Hilarious: You read about this site in the Reporter-Herald? Did you also read the comment in the RH Line, which is infamous for making up stuff, accusing this site of making up stuff?
Kettle. Meet Pot.
The front page of the RH paper this morning must be sweet justification for this site, though to the rest of us it’s another bitter reminder that poor governance costs Loveland dearly. I believe it was this site that first made public the stupid idea of shoveling money at Colorado V-net to create jobs. Within 6 months of receiving $900,000 from the city, it laid off about 20 people. Now we are 18 months out, and they have shut down, losing all the remaining employees. The promise? 250 jobs. Jobs actually created?: 0 Jobs lost? 90.
I wonder who voted how on THAT council vote, and whether they’re running for anything now?????
The Colorado vNET incentieve vote was 7 for and 2 against. This followed the defeat of an amendment offered by Kent Solt to hold vNET accountable for the entire $900,000 (a clawback), also on a 7 to 2 vote. The “two” were Solt and Cecil Gutierrez.
Of the seven who slid this through four are on this year’s ballot:
- Dave Clark
- Glenn Rousey
- Walt Skowron
- Daryl Klassen
It’s hard to have an open, forthright political debate when the main media in town — the Reporter-Herald — controls the information.
The R-H did three stories on vNet’s closing. In the process reporting only that the City Council approved $1 million for the company. Without noting that the vote was not unanimous — that Cecil Gutierrez and Kent Solt voted against the deal. Put another way, three of the other mayoral candidates — Dave Clark, Walt Skowron and Glenn Rousey — voted for it.
Nowhere in those reports did we hear from the council members involved.
No one wants to see a business fail. It touches many lives and livelihoods.
No small thing, although that’s not the point from a broader perspective.
How it came to pass that a so-called conservative Republican council pumped a million bucks of public money into a private enterprise is, in my opinion, most newsworthy. There are all sorts of issues involved.
The way economic development really works (and who benefits), the idea of a free market economy, good governance, the jeopardy of public funding, fairness — the list goes on.
Of course this is political; like it or not politics is how in America we decide how to divvy up our resources.
In Patrick Henry’s words, I smell a rat. And it revolves around how a controlling group, party, Old Boy network ends up running a city. Abetted by a newspaper.
There’s nothing new about this. But it doesn’t make it stink any less.
By way of full disclosure, again, I support Cecil’s candidacy for mayor.
Voters really do have a choice this time around.
It comes down to whether we are happy with business as usual, or want fresh ideas and viewpoints at City Hall. An administration that doesn’t play to special interests.
The status quo resents even the discussion. That’s obvious. We shall see if the people are savvy enough to cut through all of this nonsense.
Tony Benjamin,
Loveland
Get something understood, Mr. Tony Benjamin – there is a difference between the Republican and the Conservative. They are not the same thing. Nor is the Loveland City Council Republican, as you assert. The Loveland City Council and The Reporter-Herald are whatever they have to be to make money at the expense of others. None of them have morals or ethics. Which is why all them should go. Now.
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