Tom Has to Buy Love ......
Holden buys cover of Filipino newspaper for acceptance.
Holden has problems in the Oxnard Filipino Community.
Holden is associated most in the Fil-Am community for his ill-treatment of Ben Wong, who was fired by Holden when Tom was a City Councilman and Ben Wong stood up for what was right when the City was obviously wrong.
Why would any Filipino support such a guy as Tom to "come back to the Council?"
But.........Oxnard Mayoral candidate Tom Holden wants to get back "so bad" into the hallowed halls of the City Council Chambers that he will do almost anything.
His most recent stunt was to purchase the front page of a local Oxnard Asian Market tabloid. Here's the skinny....
The Filipino Political Action Committee of Ventura County (FAPACVC) met outside of their normal meeting schedule to conclave over who would get the group's endorsement. It was a slam dunk because somebody paid. Mayoral candidate Bill Winter was scheduled to present his qualifications to the FAPACVC on September 28th at their regular 6:30.p.m. meeting held at Marie Callendars @ Statham and South Oxnard Blvd.
Holden, working behind the scenes, paid the Kapitbahay newspaper to run his large mug on the front page of their next issue before the date of Winter's appearance with the Filipino Political Action Committee. Holden then pushed the Kapitbahay to run their newspaper printing as early as possible so the paper would be on the streets the morning of September 28th. Holden's large $700.oo "donation'" made this possible.
The Kapitbahay is a free community newspaper that is published bi-monthly and distributed to Asian food stores and Filipino businesses, mostly along Saviers Road.
The FAPACVC endorsed Holden for Mayor before their September 28th meeting, for which Winter was scheduled to attend and speak. FAPACV simultaneously endorsed Council candidates Al Duff & J.C. Zaragoza.
The Kapitbahay editorial staff met on Thursday, September 23, to do review of galley proofs and proof-reading of the articles and photos before the paper's publication. It was at this meeting that Maya and Ruth raised the first questions when they reviewed the front-page galley proof. This is when the debate ensued. Maya and Ruth, long-time staffers, inquired of Kapitbahay editor Rudy Liporada why the newspaper "SOLD" the front page, especially for a political candidate. The Kapitbahay usually is impartial in politics because it does not want to offend any readers who may favor other candidates. A question of ethics popped up. Tony Grey - FAPACVC member and voter for Holden said that it was "OK" for the Picture to be on the Front - even if it is paid for.
More Kapitbahay staff members added to the discussion of whether it was a good idea to
have such a large picture of Tom Holden covering the entire front page when
Holden paid for this prime parcel of paper real estate.
In essence, it made
the Kapitbahay look like it was fully endorsing Holden, when this was not the
case.
How the front page will appear is still a matter for the final edit.....
The fact that Tom Holden HAD TO PAY for love should mean something to the voters.
Does Money Buy Everything ....... How about the hearts of the People -- How about the Ben Wong Family?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-Conversation from Bill Winter to Tony Grey regarding Grey's Political Group's Endorsement of Holden.