Dear Torrance City Council:
I have looked over the first list of letters written into the city council, the vast majority of which are obsessed with attacking candidate Arthur Schaper.
I am really disappointed and disgusted by the attacks, regardless of how one many feel about his views.
Many of the attacks claim that Schaper is partisan, a racist, a bigot, etc. I have known Arthur, and none of those attacks are true. These statements are outright defamation, and would justify a lawsuit if Schaper wished to pursue one.
Furthermore, one of the letter writers, John Denman, doesn’t even live in the city of Torrance, and another one is a minor who was likely coerced to write a letter.
Another letter was written not just to the city council but to Congressman Lieu, as well. Why would anyone feel compelled to contact the Congressman if they are complaining about a city council seat becoming partisan?
Most of the people who have written to the city council complaining about Schaper are registered Democrats themselves, and they are activists in their own right:
Patti Crane: Democrat, member of the Indivisibles, Progressive Organization
Gary Hart: Democrat, activist with the Pacific Unitarian Church
https://pacificunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/vfp-newsletter-20130516.pdf
(The newsletter includes a reference to the left-wing activist organization Occupy Torrance)
Paula De Manuel: Democrat
Clear Democrat activist: https://www.facebook.com/paula.demanuel
Maria Garrido Vallera: Democrat
Another member of the Indivisibles:
Amber Wheat: Not in the voter rolls! Does she even bother to vote?
Alissa Materman: Democrat, endorsed liberal challenger Jean Adelsman
https://www.jeanadelsman.com/endorsements
Sue Siani: Democrat
https://www.facebook.com/sue.siani
Richard Katz: Democrat
https://www.facebook.com/richard.katz.5011
John Denman: Does not live in Torrance, NPP
Zach Denman: Not even a listed voter
Maia Materman: Dem
Recent graduate, younger SJW
Tim Tsukamoto: Democrat
Jane Tsukamoto: NPP
Juan Duenas: Democrat
He contacted Congressman Lieu, one of the most partisan Democrats in the House of Representatives. He walked out of a moment of silence for victims of gun violence, and he yelled at a black college administrator. He also lied about his wife, claiming that she was receiving death threats during her tenure on the Torrance School Board.
Hilary Denman: Democrat
Dan Materman: Democrat
Darin: Not registered, child (coerced to write a letter?!)
Susan Laskoff: Democrat
https://www.portlandjewishfuneralhome.org/sally-lorraine-laskoff/ Mother died in Maine
Robert Stahl: Democrat
https://www.gardenaeyes.com/our-staff.html
https://www.facebook.com/robert.stahl.79
Jeanne Yeo: NPP
Former PTA Mom: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs120/1102681703780/archive/1115331148612.html
Clearly, this is a partisan, organized attack rather than a set of individuals voicing an opinion.
I hope that the city council is able to look past the noise and the rancor, and just make a good decision based on the candidate’s qualifications.
Thank you.
Sincerely,