Everyone knows who brought this on and why. I for one will not spend a red cent at the Sub Shop because of the sore loser attitude that has pushed Bonlender to the point of becoming a cancer to our city.

Don't forget about Ensey and his wife's blog. I wouldn't put him up on a pedestal either.

the boneheader (bonlander)problem I feel wont be going away anytime soon this ia a quote from rons blog

"I think the best way to summarize this election is that we’re doomed! We’ll be kept busy demanding accountability by the electeds and their special interest supporters. (mainly the Realtors and Homebuilders). They in turn will be kept busy blowing smoke and spouting idealogical rants! Watch for Bruce Smith poker games to influence policy making. We’ve really got to be on our toes!"

look like he is setting up a game plan to contest everything and anything.

Born & Yak - you are quite right. He is becoming the epitome of the characterization of the new control-freak "Progressive" left, when they can't have their way.

I forgot to also mention: We should send the bill to him and the other two three who made this stink and filed the frivolous lawsuit. Maybe the Democratic Party will help as well.

Ron Bonlender and his cronies have proven that they really don't care about this city, as they have no problem burdening the city with legal expenses. That's $16,000 of our tax dollars wasted to feed Ron Bonlender's giant ego.

Bolender needs to pay the bill. I'm done with his Sub Shops for good.

I'm willing to bet the amount of the final bill was with held until after the election.
The comment that he didn't know the bill would be in that range is complete b.s.

Bonlender needs to pay up

iHenry,
You could just as easily question the timing of the failed recall petition, which was intended to do as much political damage as possible during the campaign season.

The Democratic Party in Yakima is dysfunctional. Just from my brief interactions with some of the leadership, it's clear that they are into Yakima game playing like everyone else around here that craves power. That is why Sonja's defeat was a bummer - she didn't seem to be as entrenched in the Party. That said, I agree that Ensey is a huge dissapointment - he attracts controversy by his behavior and is just as dysfunctional as Bonlendar. We need some of the more talented individuals with some balance to get into local politics and kick out the entrenched game players on both sides of the political spectrum.

Let none be misled to believe that the current dustup over legal fees, or the supposed ethics violation, is the result of a feud between Ensey and Bonlender. These are only the latest machinations of a mind unable to accept voter's wisdom in not returning him to office.

Every Bonlender campaign has been steeped in the tradition of Chicago's dirty politics. Persuading eighty year olds to pull legal levers against his political rival, not to mention the cost to our city was unconscienably self-serving. Most folks recall his attempt to impugn Charles Ross's character when Bonlender ran unsuccessfully for the legislature.

His "winning style" during the 2003 city council race employed multiple half-truths (in print ads, live interviews, and on his blog) to discredit Maud Scott's years of community activism.

Ron Bonlender's singular achievement is his proven dual track record as both a sore loser and a sore winner.
With this history, that Bonlender feels he is the paragon of political righteousness is unbelievable.

A rhetorical question: What is worse for the city? A petty ex-councilman with a fragile ego and thin skin or a councilman who uses dirty, clandestine tricks to get elected and secretive, out-of-the-public eye, meetings that run counter not only to commonly accepted council ethics but also to the public good?

One thing is for sure and that is that everyone seems to agree that the city lacks ethics. I'm disappointed that the laws designed to make government more transparent are being gutted, allowing the same type of behind the scene behavior to continue.
Personally I don't have the time to dig into things and I wish there was more of a political watchdog group around here.

RWBSocks, what councilman used "dirty, clandestine tricks to get elected"? What are you talking about? And there is no "secretive" meeting when there is no quorum. Didn't you understand what the judge ruled?

Like someone said earlier - I hope the current council can count during the next poker party hosted by Mr. Smith - besides Edler, who else do you think won't be invited now? And I'll bet they only talk and laugh about personal life stuff, nothing about business at those parties - you think?

YakRob,
What game were Paul George, Bernie Sims, Mary Place, Neil McClure, and Dave Edler playing when Ron Bonlender came on to council in 2003? Do you think they ever worried about quorems? How do you account for the thumbs-up vote without a public hearing on the elimination of two eastside swimming pools?

I think they were wrong and also playing the wrong game for the city - so, because they did it, that makes it okay to not hold current members to a higher standard? We clearly did not vote George or Place back on, but there is a bit more house cleaning to do. I think it's Ensey, some think it's Edler - maybe it's both of them. But please, would someone step forward who has the leadership skills, education, and temperment to start moving us forward on some of the bigger issues we face - too bad Rodriguez didn't fit the bill for people.

Jaybird,

When Ensey needs his wife to libel his opponent (and believe me that I am no fan of Bonlender), and she does so behind a veil of anonymity, I call that clandestine. I appreciate your partisanship, but quorum or not, the citizens of this city deserve issues important to them to be hashed out publicly, rather than done furtively. This goes for whomever occupies the seats on the council. Personally, I think Mr Cawley and Mr Lover have the education, temperament and leadership skills that YakRob describes above...beyond that we have empty suits, so to speak, that harm the practice of governance in our city. Ensey's suit is the emptiest of all.
We should not rely on courts to administer post-hoc rulings, we should do a better job ourselves by expecting more of our city leaders from the start.

Another bitter battle that ends up costing the taxpayers. What's the tally now?? $18,900?? That's a part-time salary, all gone to attorney's to protect this joker!

Ensey is as dirty as a pig in slop, he continues to prove that. Bonlender is a sore loser who needs to stick with making sandwiches. Those two both need to go away!

Maybe Sonia will run against Ensey in two years. That would give some good balance to the council and bring someone with ethics back to the council.

tk421,

As well as you know Sonia, she lives in Council District #1. Ensey is in District #3. Plus, the fund used to pay these types of legal bills cannot be used on a part time salary on anything else for that matter.

Oops, I meant "or anything else". Sorry :)

Its not about political parties. Its not about who is right and who is wrong. Its about taxpayer dollars. In light of the budget crisis we face, taxpayer dollars must be spent in the most responsible way. The council members are fiduciaries of our taxpayer dollars and must act as such.

I am sure she can move Micah.

If Sonia does run again, she would be wise to stay as far away from Ron Bonlender as possible. Even accepting campaign contributions from him, like she did this time around, would give people grounds to link her to the litigious liberal.

Budger-"Don't forget about Ensey and his wife's blog. I wouldn't put him up on a pedestal either."

Very true, but to my knowledge she never cost the city thousands of dollars.

Tk421-"Maybe Sonia will run against Ensey in two years."

I guess Sonia doesn't have the guts or patience to wait around for the catastrophic Ettl failure as she predicted so sure, I could see her trying to label Ensey as the weakest one to give her the best odds to get elected. But here again, if she doesn't win that one it must be a racial issue again right?

Micah-
I never said that I knew Sonia. I'm not sure where you got that from. It is unfortunate that she currently lives in district 1 and can't run against Ensey. It's also unfortunate that we have to spend city dollars protecting council members. They should be above that.

Bornandraised-
Your guts and patience comment seems like more political battling just like we have between Ensey and Bonlender. Do we really need more of that? I'm thinking that we improve our council instead of creating these battles that end up costing us taxpayers $20,000. Ettl and Sonia really were not far apart on issues and seem to have been respectful of each other throughout the campaign. Maybe other local politicians can learn from that.

Micah-
I never said that I knew Sonia. I'm not sure where you got that from. It is unfortunate that she currently lives in district 1 and can't run against Ensey. It's also unfortunate that we have to spend city dollars protecting council members. They should be above that.

Bornandraised-
Your guts and patience comment seems like more political battling just like we have between Ensey and Bonlender. Do we really need more of that? I'm thinking that we improve our council instead of creating these battles that end up costing us taxpayers $20,000. Ettl and Sonia really were not far apart on issues and seem to have been respectful of each other throughout the campaign. Maybe other local politicians can learn from that.

The problem with any upcoming contest is that Bolander will be in it and the dirty pool will be played. Until Bolander and his type of Chicago politics is gone, it will be a mess. I'd hate to see a good person racked by these tactics.

I think that is what Bolander is trying to do here. Intimidate the good from running and that leaves the field open for him.

Tk421-"Your guts and patience comment seems like more political battling just like we have between Ensey and Bonlender."

First of all considering both of them are or were politicians and I am not there is a significant difference. What I am doing on the blogs is sharing my opinion about local politics, I couldn't start a political battle if I wanted to.

Secondly I by far more respect someone who really believes in the things they say, such as who is better for the job. Rodriguez lost, so what, if she thinks she is the better person for the job like she had been campaigning then why wouldn't she immediately say she will try again against the same person? Especially since the votes aren't even finalized yet and there is all this chatter about racism that must have been her downfall and now people and now different opponents she could run against.

That is what I am referring to, not trying to make some Ensey/Bonlender tug of war. Anyways I think YHR/Ettle is taking that place.


Tk421-“I never said that I knew Sonia.”

True, but note your post didn’t deny it, I doubt that was a mistake.

Anyone eating at any of Boneleneders sub shops are nuts. Thsi man is a detriment to the good town of Yakima ?????????

Both parties are responsible for the stupid and wasteful back biting and game playing - the result, a City imobolized and divided moving at a slugs pace into the 21st century. Micah - please stay as far away from the game playing as you possibly can - don't be deceived by Rick and Bruce - they represent their own interests and those of only one faction of your constituency. I have followed your time on the council, have met you personally, and believe you are balanced, moderate, and understand you represent ALL of the community. I voted for you because I trust your approach to the issues and that you will conduct business ethically.

Bornandraised-
I never meant to say that you were starting a political battle, I meant that we don't need another Ensey/Bonlender situation with Ettl/Rodriguez, and I do agree that Ettl/YHR are doing that themselves. YHR seems to have won the first battle in calling him thin skinned and getting a full on-air rant. I hadn't even read the editorial, but once I heard the on-air response it was the first thing I went to read. Free advertising I guess.

I too respect someone who believes what they say, but I also support the strongest city council possible. Ettl v. Rodriguez was the toughest vote for me to cast because I felt that they both had their merits. Neither stood out to me as better than the other, as they both would serve a good role on the council. I still think that Rodriguez would do great on the council even though the voters decided otherwise. But look at the other two council races, they ended up at approx. 65%/35%, where this race looks to end around 52%/48%. That shows me that we had two very viable candidates with a vote that close, where the other races had such a spread that the community seems to never have supported the challengers. So my comments don't reflect a Rep. vs. Dem., white vs. hispanic, or any other battle line. I just support a strong council that can get past ethical flaps and continue with a forward motion for this city.

And to clear the air, as you pointed out, I didn't deny that I knew Sonia. I didn't think that a reader/poster would need to deny who they do and don't know. But for your information, I don't know Sonia or any other politician personally. I see them on the street corners and in their print advertisements like any other voter.

ok now you got your right wind council, so lets see what you're gonna do with it? let me guess, help the middle/upper class and pretend the lower class doesnt exist and they are a product of their own laziness? hey it worked for Reagan, he brought us the crack cocaine era.

I don't know why some people were not outraged by the smear campaign waged by the Ensey's ? Though I am a middle of the road , common sense conservative I have voted for both Dem's and Rep's so don't label me as partisan . What they did during the election absolutely sickened me . Talk about Chicago style politics! How could anyone condone that kind of behavior . As far as Bonlender is concerned , I do not care for his politics but I believe he has more morals than Ensey. Just looking at Ensey gives me the creeps . He needs to be ousted . As far as Ettl goes why don't you give the guy a chance before you berate him ? If he is a failure go after him but geez , give the guy a break , he did win after all . Also , his position on moving the controversial artwork to the convention center was a good call in my opinion . The Colonel is the no brainer choice for the historic district ..