More on Sanders

Reaction from WMAT in response to Jim Sanders' recent activity:

When a sitting City Council member takes tens of thousands of dollars
in donations from wealthy developer interests, things can get pretty
messy! I'm sure there's more dots to connect; see attached for
Sanders' campaign filings if you want to find some yourself. Here are
two examples.

Doug Fluetsch and EDAC
1. Doug Fluetsch's group, the Citizens for the Betterment of Merced
County, donated at least $3,500 to Sanders' campaign for Supervisor.

2. Fluetsch was one of three people to apply for an open seat on the
city's Economic Development Advisory Committee (attached). Fluetsch
writes under "community-related activities" that he is "involved in
supporting the Wal-Mart D.C." and acts as chair of something called
the Merced County Jobs Coalition, which, according to the County
Chamber's newsletter, is a "committee.. .supporting such projects as
the Wal-Mart Distribution Center."

3. Sanders nominates Fluetsch for EDAC and is the only Councilmember
to vote for Fluetsch in the final 6-1 vote for Paul Lundberg of
Atwater Baptist Church.

Brookfield Castle
In Sanders' campaign filings, you'll see a $500 donation from
Brookfield Castle, LLC.

Brookfield Castle, LLC wants to develop Castle Farms into a giant
residential development between Merced and Atwater (Brookfield is part
of an international real estate conglomerate based partly in Roseville
and Del Mar). Brookfield previously donated tens of thousands of
dollars to Measures A and G, which would have raised taxpayer money to
pay for the Atwater-Merced Expressway, which would service Castle
Farms at build-out. Brookfield also gave a $1.5 million loan to MCAG
to pay for Expressway expenses, which MCAG paid back in April '07
after paying interest at the rate of $10,000/month.

As part of its General Plan update, the City is considering whether to
include Castle Farms in the City's sphere of influence, and eventually
negotiate things like sewer and water hook-ups. When the City
discusses its updated General Plan and finalizes its Sphere of
Influence, will Sanders disclose the donation from Brookfield he
received in his campaign for Supervisor?