The residents of Banning have elected three new city council members, while incumbent mayor Don Robinson finished fourth with just over 17 percent of the vote.
Robinson expressed disappointment Wednesday at his failed bid to serve a second term on the Banning City Council.
"I was totally shocked by the results," said Robinson, whose term began in 2008. "I'm very disappointed that people would believe what these three guys put out there that I was involved in forcing the city to lose money when in fact I wasn't on the council yet when these things were signed. All those things they said I did happened on the council in 2006 and 2007."
Robinson hasn't yet decided if he would attempt a future run at a city council seat.
"I'm very disappointed in a lot of the people in Banning, but I do appreciate those who supported me. But they should have figured this out. Those thousand of hours I've put into this city I guess is not what people wanted."
Don Peterson, who earned 21.5 percent of the vote, was not immediately available for comment.
Legislative aid Art Welch, who currently has just two fewer votes than Peterson according to the registrar of voters, said that the past few months of campaigning has helped him gain an understanding of the wants and needs of Banning residents.
"It's always good to interact with the residents in the city of banning and an election gives you an opportunity to sit down and talk about their concerns or wishes and needs and it gives you something to keep thinking about, so it works to the benefit of the community," Welch said on Wednesday. "My plan is to join the city council and to see if we can't continue to help banning grow, especial in job opportunities for our residents, to getting business established and managing money we have in the coffers for services for the residents."
Edward Miller took time out from pulling campaign signs to layout his main goals to Patch.
"My main objective, try to lower the debt of the city, the city has an enormous debt. The only way that can efficiently be lowered is to increase the number of business and improving the income of the businesses that we have. The city needs to improve it's business friendliness."
Miller, who expressed shock over his victory, also wants to make the local Mt. San Jacinto College extension as large as possible without imposing a bond measure on the residents.
Welch, Peterson and Miller will join Bob Botts and Debbie Franklin on the council. Councilmembers Barbara Hanna and John Machisic did not seek reelection.
Click here for real-time Banning election results.
How dare you say you are disappointed in the people of Banning. Remember we were the ones that put you into office 4 years ago. Your promises from that time did not come to fruition, therefore the citizens of Banning chose new representation on "OUR" city council. As steve stated bove the next round of voting could end the tenure of your fellow members that have left this city a mess. I have lived here for the past 40 years and this by far is the worst shape we have been in in all these years. We are up to our ears in debt and services have been cut in many departments and what was once the lowest prices for utilities is now even higher than Edison. Maybe it is time to rethink our own electric service and police force and go with the cheaper alternatives , sheriff and edison. Maybe the county will take over our debt on the taj mahal, aka Police station.
Trying to blame the city's fiscal problems on previous councils rather than take responsibility for your own 4 years worth of questionable and destructive actions shows exactly what kind of character and integrity you have. It also shows just WHY you were not re-elected. Even now, you continue to treat residents as if we are idiots. Flyer and campaign literature put out by your opponents had little to do with your ouster. Rather, it was your own attitude and well documented record that worked against you. The people in this city are finally opening their eyes to the arrogance and corruption that has plagued the council for way too long. But don't worry, my guess is that you still have a number of "financial" ties to some of those closed door "deals" that will continue to enrich your bottom line for years to come, right? At least Adam Buchanan had the fortitude to congratulate the winners and wish them luck. Not so for you. No surprise, really.
First off I hope you read this. You talk of the thousands of hours you have given to the city, well I have put in many more hours than you have as an employee of this city, yet in 2010 I lost my job due to budget cuts in departments. I was a very l;oyal employee for almost 25 years only to have programs cut and people to be forced out of their jobs. Have I cried about losing my job, just for a little while and and have since moved on. But because of this cut I have dipped into my retirement savings and have nothing left. This current council was here when these cuts were made and you guys and gals did nothing to save our department. Because of these cuts more kids are on the streets causing problems and taxing our police department. Wake up, gorw some and realize you lost, don't blame the community. Remember you are a member of this community and in your four years have done nothing to make it better.
The Haven opened it's doors in Nov 2009, a year after he took office. Although the Alliance was formed in 2006, he continued to funnel taxpayer dollars ($1 million+/-) throughout his 4 year tenure, despite the FACT that his wife was a member of the Alliance's board (as was Bob Bott's wife). San Gorgonio Inn; purchased for $2 million in 2009. All-Star Dodge: purchased for $1.2 million in 2009, "given away" in 2011. The list goes on. As the President of the Redevelopment Agency, he was directly responsible for millions of dollars in questionable spending DURING HIS COUNCIL TENURE. Does he really believe what he is saying? Seriously? Perhaps he has the beginning stages of Alzheimer's?