Report Card for Councilor Sonny Espinoza [Ward: III]

[Raider]

As someone who's interested in local politics, I'd like to know what it is the Councilman Espinoza is doing poorly. Instead of blindly and anonymously clicking "poor", please someone explain to me what he's doing so poorly.

[Daisy]

I don't know about anyone else, but I never 'blindly' click on anything. I don't know anything about Sonny Espinoza, so I clicked on no opinion.

Anyone else??

[Daisy]

I will say that what I would like to see in a city councilor is someone who has enough guts to stand up to Judy Stubbs. I would vote very favorably for that person, but he/she doesn't seem to exist.

[mfish]

There have been times (so I'm told) that Sonny just doesn't seem to have time to perform the duties he's been elected to perform.

One example: He was supposed to "stand - in" for the Mayor at a 10K runner's race a few months back - because LaGroan was out of town - there was some kind of presentation going on at this race - media presence, lots of folks milling about - the whole routine. Sonny seemed to have either spaced it, or ignored it - whichever, he just didn't bother to show up - or even phone it in.
Now, those types of appearances may not be part of the actual job description, but they do attract a goodly number of out-of-town as well as local folks. And, Sonny was asked specifically to be the Mayor's stand-in (he was the " mayor pro tem" or something?) - a duty he just didn't seem to be up to, evidently.

Another: He's missed many committee meetings (and those ARE part of the job description), and has voted "with the pack" even when he wasn't sure about the particulars of an ordinance. But that's Sonny ... "the pack" can always count on him to hang on and run blindly with them, just so he can get those "invites" to those special parties ... Sonny strikes me as a "wannabe" and a social climber - and has acted very much like both over the years.

Sorry - Sonny Espinoza has never impressed me as an elected "official."

[TerryCat]

Raider, what do you think Espinoza is doing right? He just doesn't impress me very much, hasn't had any original ideas or solutions....and didn't he weasel out on one of those liquor license votes?
It seems to me that he lives under the shadow of his wife's political career. And why in the world that woman was ever elected to be our State Rep??? Sorry, I KNOW, that should be a separate thread but seriously....

[mfish]

Espinoza's waffling on the liquor licenses was going to be my third example, had it been necessary to bring it up - so thanks for covering that, TerryCat.

Even at the city council level, a person can exhibit leadership qualities if indeed that person possesses those qualities.

Can anyone think of ANY Roswell City Councilor that has exhibited leadership qualities? Completion of Rick Kraft's class doesn't count ... nor does spending vast amounts of city funds on junkets to receive a feel-good "All American City" plaque. That plaque and $3.50 will get you a Grande Latte Mocha at Starbuck's.

Roswell's city government is in a leadership crisis mode right now.

[transplant]

I know Sonny personally and have a very high regard for him, however I was a little disappointed with his decision to give an exception to an existing ordinance.

[1rs]

Sonny has a good talk but I have known him to set aside what he has said he stands for. I know nobody is perfect. I do expect people to at least stand firm in what they say they stand for, even if it is not what I agree with. Thankfully, I only know of one occasion when he did not stand firm.