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Where's the lemon?

Editor: Ever got egg all over your face? Well, I surely did when I wrote my letter to the editor concerning Hanford's new city attorney, Robert Dowd. It seems that although some of the facts were true, not all the facts were known and listed. After having attended the council meeting on Tuesday the other day, I was uncomfortable with the statements I had made concerning Mr. Dowd. I called my city council member, Dave Thomas, and questioned him about the differences in the amount paid to Mr. Dowd. This is what it came down to.

As you recall the city has had an ongoing dispute with the Hanford Police Department over their raises. This was supposed to have been settled by outside attorneys representing the police department. The city council decided to have Mr. Dowd handle the dispute. Also, as you will recall, the city has had an ongoing dispute going with Mr. Jan Reynolds. This was also started before Mr. Dowd was appointed as city attorney. He was also asked to represent the city in all matters pertaining to the matter with Mr. Reynolds. These two items which were assigned to Mr. Dowd were added as extras to his contract with the city and as you can imagine they did involve a lot of time. So, Mr. Dowd was justified in filing for the extra compensation over his $250,000 base.

Now here's the kicker: The council members knew that the two items, police department and the Reynolds case had been added to Mr. Dowd's agenda, yet, when the fur started flying about the extra bucks that Mr. Dowd was charging the city, no one stepped up to clarify the facts. They just allowed him to carry the brunt of the charges and remained safe in their hollow holes.

I stated that Mr. Dowd had agreed to a base pay of $250,000 for his services to the city. This was true, but Mr. Dowd was paid for far more than the original $250,000. But that was the charge for the extra work that Mr. Dowd did for the city in the two cases that they assigned as extras to him after the original contract for the $250,000.

So, as you can see, the city council members who made the deal with Mr. Dowd for the extra representation were very well aware of the true facts, but still decided to let him face the music alone. "What a bunch of pals, huh?" They could have clarified this with one single sentence. But none of them had the integrity to step forward on his behalf.

I'm very sorry for the things that I said of Mr. Dowd, and wish at this time to retract all of them. I know now that he is the man of the highest integrity and is in effect the best man to represent Hanford.

Joe Flores

Hanford

(May 28, 2009)

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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Hanford Sentinel

W.O.W. wrote on May 28, 2008 10:47 AM:

" Was there a list of items Dowd was to have done for the City when he promised $250,000 per year cap? My understanding was he would "represent the City".

Sounds like he outmanuevered the hapless Council anyway you cut it....

Apologize if you must but the hard cold facts are that we, the taxpayers are out over $500,000.00. "

Flip Flop wrote on May 28, 2008 1:40 PM:

" We're going to have to call you and your buddy Dave the Wishy-Washy, flip-flop, dynamic duo. Oh by the way, The reasons for exceeding his agreed contract are a non-issue. the city attorney did exceed his committed level of spending and our elected officials may or may not have noticed. So you are apologizing for saying that he broke his promise? You and Dave must drink from the same Koolaid cup. "

Wait a Second wrote on May 28, 2008 3:59 PM:

" Hey readers, don't forget that the Sentinel also knew what was outlined in the contract. Wonder why they didn't mention what was covered and not covered in the contract? Oh, yeah, they want to sell papers. What a bunch of pals. "

ALEJANDRO wrote on May 28, 2008 3:59 PM:

" Wow, this was a real 'reversal of fortune' so to speak. After attending one CC meeting and calling the now-silent Dave Thomas, Joe Flores suddenly pulls a 360 degree turn.

Almost sounds like a required public legal retraction of his comments to prevent a defamation law suit.

As with Mr. Thomas, why should we believe the further public comments of Joe Flores? "

Tsk tsk wrote on May 28, 2008 6:11 PM:

" Looks like the good ole' boys found a way to pull Flores back into the fold.

If Flores' original letter was as poorly researched as he claims (which I think is just a pathetic excuse for not wanting to draw any ire from the establishment) then all of his opinions are worthless. "

The Bird wrote on May 28, 2008 6:12 PM:

" How much did Bob Dowd pay you to flip flop? The same as Bob Dowd's wife paid the Mayor while Bob Dowd was being considered for the City Attorney's position. "

owholmes wrote on May 28, 2008 8:36 PM:

" n.y.times v. sullivan would have protected you. "

owholmes wrote on May 28, 2008 8:42 PM:

" what's this about dowd buying back yard" "

Pitiful wrote on May 28, 2008 11:46 PM:

" FACT: Joe Flores is a close personal friend of Dave Thomas. Mr. Flores says he called his Council Member as if to appear distant. This is the same person Dave Thomas asked to open the "infamous" envelope regarding the vote on the Ethanol vote. This is the same person who accompanied Dave Thomas to the Pacific Ethanol plant in Madera and came back and presented a slide show (which was poorly done) at the next City Council meeting. Mr. Flores is merely a puppet of Dave Thomas and he is being used to say the things that Dave Thomas is afraid to say himself. Mr. Flores, do yourself a favor and stop while your ahead (or not) before you lose what little dignity you may have left. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 29, 2008 1:56 AM:

" Well I am still waiting to hear from Mr. Dowd himself, he hasn't stepped forward he hasn't changed a thing other than maybe raised he wages again, they did have another City Council Meeting anything could have happened there. Part of the story could ring true Dan Chin and other members of the council have thrown even their cohearts under the bus when they felt they were under a watchful eye. If Mr. Bob Dowd is this all emcompassing ethical man with integrity why not step forward and clear his name once and for all.

I would assume that any unfinished business of the City Council would have been Dowd's obligation to complete, afterall he was replacing some one, he had to understand there was ongoing business.

But here is the interesting part remember how I have said the Jan Reynolds case has been a witch hunt from the very beginning, then why is the City Council and City Attorney having anything to do with the prosecution when they said it was all Ron Calhoun's idea. Does anyone remember those comments the DA was pursuing it, not the City Council. Somebody just got caught. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 29, 2008 2:03 AM:

" Continued - So who is the fibber is it the entire City Council or Mr. Dowd or C all the above? If the DA is the one prosecuting Jan Reynolds then why is the City Attorney even involved in the matter. Who is he representing, that the Council wants him on the case? Please explain this to me?
Secondly, the problems that are supposedly between Ron Calhoun and Jan Reynolds are from negotiations for the Hanford Police Department Employees. So wouldn't that indicate that the negotiations would fall under Misenheimer, not Dowd? So now we are overpaying a City Attorney, who is having to do the City Manager's Job, who is also being overpaid for a position the man doesn't even qualify to hold.
Then in today's paper the city has lost a $15M law suit in which Mr. Misenheimer played an integral part in losing by refusing to have a crosswalk installed. Is that who we want running our city?
I have brought questions about this man before and no one spoke up, do you need more proof or are you beginning to see what I am talking about? "

ATTN DOWD wrote on May 29, 2008 9:58 AM:

" I know you've had many opportunities to change careers in your lifetime. I aspire to do that too and make the most of myself as you did and do. I mentioned before that we needed a fair and balanced newspaper in this town. What a new and great adventure. We have the gym, and catering how about Dowd's newspaper?

Drop the City Council, open the paper!

:) "

Memory serves wrote on May 29, 2008 10:01 AM:

" Joe Flores, member of the Hanford Concerned Citizens Committee, Appointee to the Parking and Traffic Commission in July, 2007, is the same person that wrote both letters. He IS a friend of Dave Thomas. Gosh, what is going on here? Does he speak for himself or Dave Thomas? How will we know what this Op-Ed piece is really about? Mr. Flores stated he's a retired police officer when he applied for the Parking commission. He should not be blindly led by the Council into believing the story about negotiating a Dowd overcharging the city for legal fees. A well experienced City Manager with the required Masters Degree would not require an attorney to negotiate a labor contract. Mary Lindsay, Dep. City Manger is a Human Resource expert, why doesn't she negotiate the contract while working under her salary wage is Gary can't do the job? Why should we have to pay an attorney do city manager jobs? Why don't we just hire Griswold LaSalle et al. as our City Manager? Or have we already done that and just paying the freight now? Hmmm... "

Girl Friday wrote on May 29, 2008 11:27 AM:

" I wish one of the other Law Firms would set up and protest the bids, regardless of Mr. Flores new revalation on his friend Mr. D it is still a wrong what was done to the bidding process for the other firms and of course us the tax payers "

READER wrote on May 29, 2008 3:20 PM:

" When I read Mr. Flores comments, it so sounded like something Mr. Thomas might've written and Mr. Flores signed................

Birds of a feather, flock together........... "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 29, 2008 7:42 PM:

" You all are being too hard on Mr. Thomas isn't he the cursing man who professed to represent his district and to do a bettwe job than anyone ever did, perhaps his district might want to comment on the outstanding performance of Mr. Thomas.

From what I've been told all he has represented is that he is a hot head and evidently owns Mr Flores for some unknown reason. Otherwise was there really sufficient evidence offered in this rebuttal letter to indicate a 360* turn of events for Mr. Flores.

However, he and Mr. Thomas did admit the City Council is responsible for all of this. Did Mr. Thomas just pull a Dan Chin move and attempt to throw all his colleagues under the bus to save Mr. Dowd? Makes you wonder what Dowd has on Mr. Thomas, doesn't it?

Stayed tuned more from the Hanford Cartoon Called City Council, City Attorney, City Manager, Deputry City Manager, DA's Office, Hanford Superior Court, to come same paper same blog. If this wasn't so costly, undermining, and detrimental to the City of Hanford it could be classified one big joke. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 29, 2008 7:54 PM:

" I can tell ya the problem with our city government in a nutshell. What they are doing is having one big ongoing class reunion.

Did you know for instance Roh Calhoun and Steve Barnes went to school together? Didn't Dowd make a contribution to Barnes' run for judge?

Did you know that Chan, Bufford and Ayers went to school together? I think Bob Dowd was very close to the same time frame as well?

Just some more history that might explain some of the termoil we as citizens are experiencing at the hands of our local government. So when we talk about the good ol' boy network there does exist a network of belonging and knowing each other.

Proof of this can be found in the local Janus for the years they graduated.

There is some more history for you Alejandro. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 29, 2008 8:30 PM:

" I just wonder what the Lemon Attorney would have done about the Lemon Semi load that crashed into the Amtrak train? What if the quiet zone was in place already would it be the Hanford citizens paying for those 20 to 30 injuries plus God knows what else that would have been filed against us?
Didn't I not long ago make a remark that you never know when an accident might happen, just be glad that train wasn't derailed and more injuries developed as a result of it.
Go ahead let the Lemon Attorney silence the trains and see what happens to the city coffers. It just became $15M lighter today as a result of a lawsuit that could have been prevented with the instllation of speek limit, stop sign or crosswalk or all the above. Those wonderful people in City Offices who make the wrong decisions cost us on a daily basis. There again because an accident in that area just couldn't happen. So let's do nothing to prevent one from happening. What logic from a future City Manager, making those remarks. The lemon/s are on track. "

To Watchdog Fred wrote on May 29, 2008 9:30 PM:

" Did you bump your head??? Danny Chin and Marcie Buford.......school together???? Ha ha ha ha....Do you even know these people? Marcie is old enough to be Danny's mother! Another case of anyone being able to write anything they want without the facts! Hee hee...school together...thats just toooo funny! "

To Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 12:51 AM:

" You're right! Calhoun is behind all of the judges currently presiding over Kings County - which is why I always vote against every single one of them. And if no one runs against them, I'll write in someone else! "

To Attention Dowd wrote on May 30, 2008 9:28 AM:

" It's funny that you mention Dowd starting a newspaper because thats one of the items he and the "Dream Team" discussed. And you think a newspaper run by this bunch would be fair and balanced? If you answered yes then you must think the city council and staff are fair and balanced. And if you answer yes to that, you must be part of the few families that have been taking advantage of this town for generations...and getting away with it...until now. "

To Attention Dowd wrote on May 30, 2008 10:25 AM:

" I am not one of the long time families here. I'm a person who moved to this area with my eyes open. I would buy his paper if he wrote one because I am a fair person who is open to change not like the isolated group of people who attempt to thwart Hanford's growth and have the Sentinel in their own back pocket.

I would highly doubt that Dowd would give a written response to people who have already made their minds up and aren't open to listening to both sides. Flores outlined what happened and people on this blog are still refusing to read and absorb his point.

On with the Dowd Chonicles! Dowd Times or whatever you want to call it. "

N Byrd wrote on May 30, 2008 1:32 PM:

" Do you truly bekuve Mr Dowd was not aware of these two cases? Both had been run through the normal Sentinal bashing for a very long time. It's curious the DA's office chooses to try people in the press as well a the Court System when most major things are routinely "Plea Bargained" !
The Calhouns have been through alot -- who hasn't - and pick on somr for absolute begin trivial matters. The City as well as the DA's office needs some serious house cleaning!!!! "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 1:58 PM:

" To Watchdog Fred - No I simply confused another Bufford with Marcie, I am sure it was a relative. But Bufford Oil (Texaco) which is now Roe Oil has been here forever, hence Bufford Mini Marts so it still stands to reason there exists a good ol' boy network. Are you still laughing. Now go get a Janus from Hanford High School and tell me I am mistaken about any of the others, wiseacre?

Steve Barnes graduated I believe in 1968 and Ron Calhoun in 1970. Ayers, Chin and Dowd in the earlier 60's. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 1:59 PM:

" Where does Strickland weigh into all this is he part of the Dowd for power campaign, or not? "

To Watchdog Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 4:58 PM:

" OK.... I have pulled out my Janus. I now know for a fact that Danny Chin DID NOT graduate with Mr. Dowd, or even close! Danny graduated with me in 1979. THAT IS A FACT, not information dreamed up to blog this article....wiseacre! "

To Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 5:34 PM:

" Dowd has never supported Strickland. Not to mention the fact that Dowd hosted a fundraiser for LaPorte (Strickland's opponent) and Steve Barnes is listed in LaPorte's endorsements. I think we can safely say that Strickland keeps better company. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 7:50 PM:

" Well then there must be two Dan Chins because another graduated with my oldest brother about the same time Dowd and Ayers did.

Look up Ron Calhoun and Steve Barnes were still not done here, discredit is o.k. but how about some credit, Steve Barnes graduated in 1968, I graduated in 1969 along with Jess Calhoun and Ron graduated I believe the next year which would have been 1970.

It I am off by two or three years they still went to school together, now you want the other tie in and this didn't come from me, Ron Calhoun use to work for Bob Dowd. Steve Barnes was an attorney and familar with Bob Dowd I am sure, so don't tell me their isn't a connection and the good ol' boy network at work in this city. Boss Hogg was a lot older than Sheriff Coal Train too wiseacre, but they were still in cahoots. Out of all the statements I have made and this is all you can bring back, not a bad average I would say.

For Bufford Oil check business licenses. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 8:20 PM:

" Has anyone but me noticed a lag in the posting of the City Council Minutes and the blerb that has been added? The posting is a convenience they are not required by law to post the information. I think the American with Disabilities Act just might make an exception to that opinion, I'll be sure and give them a call on Monday and see if we can't cure the problem. What's another lawsuit against the city of Hanford? It would be such a shame to have to reconstruct the entire Civic Aduitorium to make it entirely handicap accessible? When the problem could be resolved by making the minutes more readily available. I guess the City Clerk is just too buys helping the City and Deputy City Manager do their new jobs to be bothered with it, she probably knows their jobs better than they do? "

Bob Dowd supports LaPorte wrote on May 30, 2008 8:55 PM:

" Bob Dowd gave $500 to the Mayor and got a $250,000 minimun contract with an open end to bill up to $750,000 to a million a year. Bob Dowd sponsored a $100 a plate fund raiser for La Porte and raised $1000s of dollars for La Porte, I wonder what Bob Dowd will get for several thousand dollars given to La Porte? "

To Watchdog Fred wrote on May 30, 2008 10:07 PM:

" It's almost a shame to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person, which is what I am doing. The entire Civic Auditorium is already FULLY handicap accesible. If you would go to a Council meeting, you would already know that. As for not posting the minutes, what does that have to do with the Civic anyway. The minutes are readily available at the City Clerks office at City Hall across the street, which by the way is FULLY handicap accesible also. And since you went to school with the good ole boys, why shouldn't we assume you are one too? "

Watchdog Fred wrote on May 31, 2008 6:45 AM:

" Bob Dowd supports La Porte, good I voted for Strickland. I thought there was a connection between Dowd and La Porte. Guess we'll have to see how Dow systematically puts his puppets in place in city government.
No wonder there is no personal response from Dowd? "

History Buff wrote on May 31, 2008 2:15 PM:

" HYSTERICAL..............Dan Chin, age 49 could be Buford's grandson, Ayers step son and Dowd's long lost love child and the list goes on. BIG age gaps there. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 1, 2008 7:00 AM:

" Does anyone notice a myriad of names appearing that never appeared before. Wonder why that could be? Perhaps it is Dowd and his crowd trying to make statements incognito.
Regardless, the original accusations stand and the network is busy at work and I beg to differ with the response about the civic being entirely handicapped equipped the bathrooms are not handicap accessible many of the entrances such as the Veterans Building (is that not part of the civic) do not have a ramp for access and the doorways are way too small for wheel chair access. Don't act like I've never been inside wiseacre! I'm not in a wheel chair but several disabled people in town are, so don't act like you are see all know all when it comes to handicap accessible. Did you forget my brother is an Architect yeahoo! He knows the laws a little better than evidently you do when it comes to construction and handicap accessibility. Even People's Funeral Home had the sense to install a lift for wheel chairs. Something the city may be required to do. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 1, 2008 7:09 AM:

" To the Watchdog answer - secondly have you ever walked the ramp going to the civic, a handicapped person in a wheel chair couldn't negotiate that grade by him/herself very easily and it is all about accessability not just the fact the ramp is there. It is required to be on a specific slope and grade and I'd be willing to bet that ramp does not comply. Because YOU say a building is earthquake proof you still have to meet all the requirements it can't be superficial.
Not everyone has a motorized scooter or wheel chair nor can they afford to pay someone to push them around. You want to talk about cost prohibitive. Besides that isn't what handicapped accessible is all about. Do you not get the ACCESSIBLE meaning in the term? As for me being part of the ol boy network you must be kidding. Oh and for your connections again wasn't Steve Barnes and Ron Calhoun on the Police Department together, seems I heard that somewhere. So here we are back at the meat of my argument, detract, accuse do whatever you like it doesn't change what we see. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 1, 2008 10:58 PM:

" To History Buff - you may be living in a community of red necks but sometimes a redneck plays dumb just to see what is said about them. Often times a redneck may represent he doesn't know something when in actuality he does, so don't go selling the people in this community short. Don't make the mistake of thinking you are surrounded by dummies because you are in for a rude awakening if you do?
You don't even attempt to point to good things these wonderful city officials have accomplished in there defense. Perhaps it is because those items are few and far between. For instance is there going to be any cuts in the Senior Center in Hanford, if there is I haven't seen anything on it. If there is, will the city step up and offer to help keep an active Senior Center in Hanford? What does the city of Hanford do that they don't turn a buck on in the process? I can think of 15 million reasons not to support our City Officials, everytime something comes up that we can't afford, I will point to that brilliant decision. "

Now you know why... wrote on Jun 1, 2008 11:07 PM:

" nobody pays attention to these blogs.... Half truths and the other half is made up... These rants are just entertainment for people to laugh out loud at this community. The good news is most of the blogs at other small town papers are not any better so you are in good company at least.... "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 1, 2008 11:10 PM:

" To History Buff - gee maybe we could make the drinking water safer and not smell and be able to drink it without the fear of arsenic poisoning, only if we hadn't lost that law suit.

Gee maybe we could clean the air up if we hadn't brought that Ethanol Plant to town?

Gee if only we made the City Attorney stick to his original agreement and charge 250k we could afford that road work and fill those pot holes.

Gee if the movie business is really that good in Hanford, how come I never see any film crews set up or their equipment parked around town. Why isn't the usual talk about town regarding celebs being here being generated? Could it be because there are no star quality actors being used in these films. Maybe they are all documentaries on City Government?

Gee we could have developed that area but we lost the 15M we had earmarked for it.

Well we have to cut 15 million from the new Public Safety Managers budget, over the next 15 years. No new crosswalks now. Only if? "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 2, 2008 9:29 AM:

" To History Buff; while your laughing here is something to really laugh at

City Attorney $750,000.00 Lied about charges
City Manager ????????? Unqualified
Law suit $15,000,000.00 Preventable
Ethanol Plant
Cleanup ???????????? Preventable
5th Street ???????????? For Cheese Plant
Give Away Deffinately Preventable "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 2, 2008 10:20 PM:

" Now you know why - never seen your moniker before where you been hiding in the Law Office? "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 3, 2008 8:39 PM:

" To now you know why? Sounds to me like you know absolutely nothing. There are some stimulating conversations evoked from a lot of these remarks hense almost two hundred comments sometimes.

Could it be that you are part of the City Officials here who don't want the good citizens of Hanford to have a free voice about their sentiments regarding City Hall?

You mock our entries but do not offer any intelligent, articulate, alternatives to our own opinions. You act as if our vote in matters don't count. Thank Goodness for freedom of the press and the rest of the 1st ammendment.

You however probably take pride in a much different versed fifth ammendment, don't you?

Good luck in trying to discourage honesty on the blogs but I think you are temendously out numbered here on the free press of the Hanford Sentinel.

Perhaps you should try Hitler's Gazette? "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:35 AM:

" To History Buff, are you still laughing my friend? I don't make this stuff up it actually happens compliments of our City Officials. It's like they are all playing parts of a script written to show the way not to run a city and not to make decisions, the sad part of it is the $750k comes out of taxpayers pockets and so do all the other charges including the $15 million dollars that I listed. That's where funny turns into a nightmare on Irwin and Douty Streets in the city of Hanford.
It's like there is a big money magnet pointed directly at city hall and the officials are just dealing our taxpayers dollars out like a Saturday Night Poker Game. To bad and So Sad is their inability to put a lid on this escaping money.
Stay tuned for more of the same until they are all out of office. "

concerned wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:39 AM:

" More of us should attend the council meetings. Most of you would be shocked by the business and comments made by our council. Recently one council member questioned why the Hanford Fire Department Captains are joining the union. The obvious reasons are unfair treatment by the city forced them th organize, but the council memeber questioned the motives on the captains in public. Had he done any homework, asked the union why before this.m This change did not happen overnight. Our council needs to be held responsible for there actions. Remove them if they are not running the city the way we elect them to, not the wat they want it. This goes on week after week in the council chambers. Personally I am tired of it. "

Watchdog Fred wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:09 AM:

" To Concerned - did you ever stop to think that the reason this public questioning took place to begin with was an intimidation factor? Bring it to the publics attention that the Captain's are joining the union to somehow reflect poorly on the Fire Captain's?

The City doesn't know how to bargain or negotiate with anyone, that is why the unions are in place in the city. Hiring unqualified City Managers is not the answer. Hiring an attorney who wants to charge extra everytime he pulls a paperclip off a group of papers, isn't the answer either. HR Department isn't capable of negotiating so hence the labor unions.

From what I've heard about their negotiations with the Police, I can understand why the Fire Captains feel representation is necessary. In fact from what I've seen recently everything between a city employee and the city should be in writing and everyone including God should be cc'd. Things seem to change and verbal deffinately cannot be accepted. I remember when a contract was a handshake Not anymore, not with our fair city. "

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