Thanks for you comment Active, but PERCEPTION is where it's at. A public official cannot divorce their government position from their own persona. They are perceived to be that same official. Holly Hart was terribly wrong to say what she did in a public forum. She had the ability to speak with Mr. Beckham in a private and personal setting on a one-on-one basis but she deliberately CHOSE to do this publicly. Now, she must suffer the consequences...and I sure hope she does!

This would be a lesson and wake up call for others who might entertain such ill conceived ideas. In my opinion, Mr. Beckham has a good case for Slander, Defamation of Character and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. But, it's up to him to file them and if I were in his shoes, I would file those charges against both Hart AND the School Board. (And maybe even the City of Tehachapi!)

Calvin

Things have really heated up lately in Tehachapi on a number of issues. The opinions about the inadequacy of the local government, the crime rate, the way the city chooses to manage its city code enforcement, etc. I guess this type of activity has occured from time to time as long as I have lived in Tehachapi (since 1970). I have taken more of an interest in it lately so it gets my attention quicker.

I remember when wind turbines first started going up in the mountains around Tehachapi and a notable group of people were very opposed to them. There was an effort to get a moratorium to stop their progress. As anyone can see this did not work and wind turbines are now accepted as part of the landscape. 

I remember when a man was shot outside of his home by the local law enforcement of that time in a "stand-off" situation, and he didn't have the type of weapon law enforcement thought he did though they were quick to react the way they did. This was one instance of many that have involved violence and death in Tehachapi over the years. Tehachapi is not "becoming" a violent place, it has always had a certain amount.

There has also been a long history of drug use in Tehachapi, this is nothing new. It stands to reason that with the increase in population there will be an increase in crime and violence, this is a statistical certainty. It may not be realistic to believe that this will somehow improve.

One thing that has changed is that we now have the ability to freely communicate online in forums such as this and share our thoughts and information. Instead of writing a letter to the editor and hoping that it might get published we can share our thoughts with each other almost instantly. People have been going to city council meetings and saying things that they may or may not regret for a long time now, but I really appreciate the fact that we can also express our views.

As long as we have a voice like this, it takes away some of the power of people who hold public offices because we are able to add information to the record that didn't exist before. Public officials can still rant, write citations, or do whatever, but we do not have to feel powerless because we have more of a voice than before. We can reach a lot of people.

I don't have a lot to say but I like being able to say something if I feel like it, and it seems like some of those in office would like everyone to sit back and just be quiet and let them handle things the way they would like to.

Business as usual I guess.

I couldn't agree more, teresr!!

I remember when there were a lot of rational and insightful people who blogged here, even if our views were opposing, I always learned something. Especially patience and learning to not react with venomous words behind the anonymity of my computer screen.  That's all I have to say about that.

Keep posting Blendonw!

In peace,

Annette

Does it strike anyone as 'odd' that Hart stated, "Her friends had received the phone calls...", yet she wouldn't name them.  How would Beckham have known just to call Hart's friends?  Does he have a list of 'her friends' that he used?

Seems 'odd' to me that not one other person has backed up Hart and said they have received such a phone call.  Hart didn't say she received one.  Just her 'friends' received them.  This still smells like a fishy-bear tale to me.

Sparks I find it funny when you say Stan has deleted some of his blogs.  I printed everyone of them at the time and when I look under his profile all of his comments and posts are there.  When I review these, the fact of the matter is, when he was bashing the City Council and Jason Caudle he was right on point.  From what I have seen develop since that time, I have noted that he was rather circumspect in his bashing.

I will stand by my observations.  No one other than Holly Hart has made any statement that they have received such phone calls and until I see proof otherwise, I will take Stan's word over hers.  As for his not saying anything in his defense, he did ask Ms. Hart repeatedly, "...who her 'friends' were that were making the allegations?", and "Why weren't they at the meeting making the complaints?"  Stan kept his dignity and did not stoop to the level of Holly Hart.

If you are really interested, call the city clerk and ask for a copy of the CD's of the meeting.  There is no charge and they will have those ready for you.  But I think all you are really interested in is stirring the pot (no pun intended) and trying to discredit a good man who has done everything he can to serve the will of the majority of the citizens of Tehachapi since he has been elected.

OK, just to set the record straight here.....What are we trying to "prove" Stan did? Are you saying he's lying about Hand smoking illegal drugs or are we saying he's not fessing up about making some calls? What is it? So far I see people that only seem upset about his "supposed" phone calls, and not about the fact that these phone calls were supposedly made because an elected official was partaking in illegal activities.

Let's just say for arguments sake that this whole thing did happen. Who would be at fault? In my opinion someone partaking in illegal activities tops someone making a childish phone call.  Just my two cents.

*** FOR THE RECORD I'M NOT SAYING ANY OF THIS DID OR DID NOT TAKE PLACE!!! JUST DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY.***

Medicone - I realize that you must have an impossible schedule, but have you considered running for office?  And countygirl, you make a great point.  Which is the lesser of the two evils?  Making stupid, prankish phone calls or a Public Representative using illegal drugs? 

I don't think we have any evidence that Deborah Hand is a drug user.  And, equally we don't have any evidence that Stan Beckham made the alleged phone calls.  That just leaves us with Holly Hart ranting like a lunatic and those actions beg the questions:

1.  Who else was involved?  Perhaps only Hand, or Hand and Smith, or Hand, Smith & Caudle; and, 2.  Was this a deliberate attempt by those involved to discredit Stan Beckham and thus tank the Capital Hills location for the new City Hall?

We all need to remain focused on the big picture and not let Holly Hart and friends derail the real topic here.