"bring fiscal sustainability and pension reform to Pleasanton". What has he done since he has been on the council starting in 2005 for this? It is easy for a politician to talk about this during campaign season but another thing to actually do something. He has been in office since 2005. If this is a priority, he should have a plan by now. I want to see/hear the plan now.

"And to the men and women in the city who have those retirement programs, I don't think we can guarantee that their pensions, the way they currently are, will be there for them." His statement, or the article quote is wrong. There will always be money for pensions. We as the taxpayers are on the hook to pay for it, no matter what it cost. They can keep reducing services to a point where the government does not actually provide any services but rather is an organization that just collects taxes to pay for government employee pensions. I hope Jerry is not that ignorant on how this pension system works.

People forget that the mayor has no more power than a council member. They mayor runs the meetings and makes recommendations for appointments to commissions but is only one vote out of five in anything. Jerry will not have any more power as mayor than as a council member.

"Most of those at the reception, which raised $20,000 towards Thorne's election campaign, were from Pleasanton." Failed to mention that the fundraiser was not held in Pleasanton. It was in Castlewood which is actually in the county. They cannot vote for Pleasanton offices.

Was this an article or the paper just printing an endorsement ahead of the election?

I don't know Thorne. Is he a conservative? If not, are there ANY conservatives running for mayor?

When will the citizens of Calif wake up to the fact that Democrat policies are destroying this once terrific State?

Am I to believe that a man who had the fire department employees holding up street signs helping him with his election campaign for city council is now going to be negotiating for the city on my behalf?

He asked the firefighters to park cars at an election campaign fund raiser.
Where is that information in his "public transparency standards"?

I dare anyone to ask him about that little fact. I suspect he will not want to be accountable for that action!

If you are not confused you are not paying attention.

I think accountability to the public and transparency is way overrated.

Mitt -- Always transparent.

I think you have Thorne confused with the other candidate running for Mayor. NO firefighters parked any cars at this fundraiser or at any fundraiser held for Thorne.

Scott Walsh, a retired firefighter waved signs once for Jerry a few campaigns ago. Its important to note that Scott is endorsing the other candidate as well as given money to her. I think that's a pretty clear sign that Jerry is serious about pension reform.

Yup, the other candidate has the firefighters parking cars and helping her out. No way she will every do any pension reform, especially since it would affect her teacher pension also (no, she is not a teacher in Pleasanton). I have been waiting for Jerry to actually suggest any specific ideas of pension reform. While I am encouraged he is saying it is a problem that needs to be addressed, I want to hear specifics. He has had since 2005 as a council member to be thinking about ideas. And why has he not mentioned them at all during the employee negotiations going on to date? You do not have to be mayor to do that.

"And to the men and women in the city who have those retirement programs, I don't think we can guarantee that their pensions, the way they currently are, will be there for them when they get ready to retire."

More attacks on the middle class in Pleasanton.

Jerry was the only elected person in Alameda County who opposed the Measure B perpetual tax that is coming to a vote in November. Our other candidate Cheryl Cook-Kallio supports the idea of a perpetual tax wholeheartedly.

It is important who is Mayor just because this person is the mouthpiece for Pleasanton to commissions like MTC and ABAG. It would help to have someone who questions what exactly is in the best interest of the taxpayers, not someone who is another "me to" rubber-stamper.

Thorne and Cook-Callio, along with the Hippy Mayor, are the incompetent Three Stooges on the City Council. The only good thing to be said about Thorne is that he is better than Cook Callio. She is a uber left wingnut, is bought and paid for by unions, and is out to vacuum out your wallet/purse. She is also a high school teacher preaching her socialist idiology to teenagers (fortunately not Pleasanton teenagers). Could someone that is not a left wing loon run for Mayor?

To Sammy G.
Please don't put Jerry Thorne in with the Three Stooges. The Stooges are the Hippy Mayor, Cook-Gallio, and Matt Sullivan. Jerry Thorne may not be as conservative as you would like, but he is not a Looney Toons liberal like the rest of this council.

I like the fact that Thorne is talking about taking responsibility for fiscal matters such as pension reforms, performance standards starting first with the City Council and then the city employees, and looking to increase job creation and businesses right here in the good old Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley.

As for retirement pensions for public employees, join the hard reality of the private sector workers. No one likes it, but job security, high wages and secured pension at 55 years old is not acceptable any more. I see a majority of city salaries to be a minimum of $70,000.00, mostly around $90 - $100,000.00 and above with full paid benefits.

Sammy G, I think your mouth is running when your mind is not in gear. Jerry ThornE has served us well, and gained valuable learning experiences during his terms in office. He has such valuable financial experience we so desperately need. Jerry is a very good guy, so maybe you're the fringe. SMART people would be working to make sure he is elected Mayor ! ! He's right for Pleasanton. It's Jerry T. and Jerry P. for me...
BILL, YOU are SO right. ABAG is the very scary, over-the-top group that came up with and is pushing the insanely cruel TAX PER MILE idea. Jerry would be there to protect us from such things. Political Cook-Kalio would be right with ABAG, EPA, and PUBLIC unions. She'd still has 2 years on council, but we don't need to make her mayor ! ! ! !

To Comments from Bill and Thorne Supporter regarding ABAG, the 2012 ABAG rooster states Councilmember Thorne currently represents Pleasanton on ABAG. I guess that makes Mr. Thorne responsible for the "insanely cruel tax per mile idea", put forth by ABAG. I agree that the tax per mile tax is ridiculous and I don't understand how he could allow it to move forward.

Thorne represents Pleasanton in the ABAG General Assembly which is made up of 1 representative from each city in the bay area (all 9 bay area counties). He is not on a decision making board or committee for ABAG. Check the record--he has never voted for/on any such tax as "tax per mile".

ABAG recommendation for tax per mile is bad idea. Enough Big Brother in our lives. Don't drive that much, so not affected. Worried about assault on freedom and making some people resort to public transportation. Wonder how much more government imposition can be placed upon us. Mandated seatbelts, motorcycles helmets, child safety seats in automobiles. All an imposition on Constitutionally delegated rights to make individual free choice. Looking for link on this. Will get back later.

Seeing the financial and social achievements, looks like it won't be that easy for Him to win the elections. He is contacting some outsiders to fund the campaigns as well I heard.
http://www.positivepest.com

Curious, Thorne is a steady hand, he does not do stupid, extreme, radically crazy things, like tax per mile. Don't spout off with lies when you don't know of what you speak. HALF a truth (attending meetings), is worse than saying nothing. He is not a voting member.

Like Walmart, but over the years have tended to shop mostly at Gene's. Still pretty good. Two employees disclosed that Thorne supports unions and wants to put GPS tracking devices in cars. One employee said he supports mandatory helmets for skateboarding minors. Very Big Brother. Such a stand overlooks how onerous this is for parents of skateboarders who can't afford helmets.

Thorne Supporter, you wrote "ABAG is the very scary, over-the-top group that came up with and is pushing the insanely cruel TAX PER MILE idea. Jerry would be there to protect us from such things."

I was simply pointing out the fact that Mr. Thorne currently does represent Pleasanton on ABAG, and was either unable or incapable of doing anything to protect residents from the proposed tax per mile proposal that should have been shot down as soon as it was proposed.

In regard to ABAG, nothing would change if Mr. Thorne were to be elected Mayor in November.

I'll make this really simple....IT is NOT ABOUT ABAG, only to illustrate, Jerry's character is the very solid, experienced, common sense person, owning nothing to ANY GROUPS, only THE PEOPLE of Pleasanton,which is what we want in a mayor. This TOPIC is about electing our MAYOR. It's a mayoral discussion. That position involves sitting in on various boards and commitees, some for information, but 'part of the job'.He would not be part of a crazy idea, no matter who pushes it....usually majority rules.

Thorne is a a good person. He is not a leader. Sitting on the council, a committee or multiple committees and saying nothing is not leadership.

Thorne is a quiet leader--look at what he's accomplished with his involvment on the Parks & Rec Commission and now the council. His opponent used the firefighters to park cars during her fundraiser while the City is in the middle of contract negotiations with them--poor judgement at best. That's not the kind of leadership Pleasanton needs in this economic times.

I too think Jerry Thorne is a fiscal conservative that has seperated himself from the special interest groups that are consuming the general fund tax dollars. He will get my vote.