Goin' to the 
Candidates Debate
Debate ?
Question and answer session? 
You decide, but one thing for sure, 
after listening to the six candidates running for the Sun City Anthem Board, I 
came to the conclusion that...
...for the most part, I've never seen 
so many people know "how to do it" yet have "never done it" themselves....with a few exceptions 
!
Poor Tom Nissen !  
Tom was actually "the main event" for 
most people in the audience.
How do you run for re-election to a 
board with the record they have had the past couple of 
years?
When Mr. 
Nissen opened his mouth, it was as if nothing but "trust me, I know what I'm doing...I have to finish the 
job"...
...hot air 
filled the room.
When a person from the audience asked 
about his budgeting "expertise" of originally projecting the 
transition cost at $500,000...but now will be approaching over $900,000...
...you could see that he was searching 
for some excuse...even saying that it was the "board" who made 
the decisions....
Of course, he is on that board...and 
"assisted" in making that decision as the Association Treasurer.  He didn't 
bother to mention that at all.
He tried to say that the 2015 budget 
didn't include the extra 400,000 grand !
Excuses....excuses....but the crowd 
didn't seem to buy it for a second!
Well now...that set off a lady from the 
election committee into "rescue control mode" when 
she grabbed a microphone and tried to explain that it was the future that 
mattered....not the past.
And that brought an eruption from the 
audience that made it clear that the PAST DID COUNT 
!
And...it got worse for ol' Tom from 
that point.
When asked if the association attorney, 
John Leach, should be replaced, he waffled saying the matter had been examined 
in the past, and that he would always be willing to search out someone who would 
be better qualified.
Sure, anyone believe that ?  
We've had the same attorney for 17 years and he's irreplaceable?
We've had the same attorney for 17 years and he's irreplaceable?
That one got a few groans from the 
crowd as well. 
Essentially that same answer came from 
Bob Burch, another 
candidate.
Only Barry 
Goldstein and Forrest Fetherolf made it clear 
that other legal options MUST BE 
EXPLORED. 
... Goldstein saying that he would choose an attorney who had the best interests of the 
community at heart, not one who always seemed to favor defending a board's 
decisions that often had adverse community 
affects.
Another member of the audience asked 
what particular specialty each "brought to the 
guidance table"...
Forrest 
Fetherolf was quite articulate...He was the "go to guy" for construction 
and repair matters, having 40 years of experience in that 
industry.
Barry 
Goldstein stated he was a financial consultant and had 
extensive experience in the insurance industry and in other financial matters.  
He knew how to read reports, analyze them thoroughly, and had a history of 
correctly questioning financial decisions made by the current 
board.
Steve Anderson, with a career in social work, stated 
his greatest strength was understanding the importance of communication....that 
he believed in having a great deal of contact with members in order to obtain a 
COMMON SENSE solution to a problem. 
Bob Burch 
seemed to do relatively well...as long as he had a prepared answer in front of 
him.
Tom 
NIssen...well...his "let me finish the job" 
didn't sell very well amongst a number of people in the 
audience.
Aletta 
Waterhouse...a nice lady with good speaking skills,  who in our opinion 
was just plain out of her league...
...trying to make people believe that 
a librarian with the federal government was enough 
experience to make quality financial decisions.
What bothered me most of all...was an 
observation that brought out MY EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS 
WORLD!
A long time ago I 
learned...
"watch a 
person's eyes"  
If they can't look you straight in the 
face when they say something...beware!
As the candidates spoke, Barry Goldstein, Steve Anderson, and Forrest 
Fetherolf ALWAYS LOOKED directly at the people 
as they spoke.
Tom Nissen 
and Aletta Waterhouse 
NEVER LOOKED directly at the people as they 
spoke.
Bob Burch 
RARELY LOOKED directly at the people as he 
spoke.
Finally, the last question was asked by 
myself.
I began by 
stating:
 "I've heard so many 
answers, but being a bottom line kind of guy, I have heard it said over and over 
again that this is a new business we are embarking on in 
self-management"....
..."that my 
strongest concern was"...
... "if they know the 
right questions to ask in order to guide a new 
business"...
..."if any of them had 
ever been self-employed and started a new business?"
Only two, Forrest 
Fetherolf and Barry Goldstein could make that 
claim.
Who won?
In my mind....the gold stars 
went to:
1. Barry Goldstein
2. Forrest 
Fetherolf 
3. Steve 
Anderson
The others were the "Huckabees" of the 2016 Sun City Anthem Candidates 
!
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