School Board Candidate Sounds Off on 'Public Safety in Banning,' Criticizes Unnamed City Council Member

Appointed incumbent Banning school board member Jim Smith, who is running for election in November, submitted the following as a letter to the editor on Friday:

Because of the divisive, and self-serving behavior of a Banning council member, Public Safety in Banning is at risk.

We have decided to make our elected officials know of our concern by "filling the chambers" for the council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 5 pm at Banning City Hall.  

We ask you to wear dark blue or black shirts in support of our Men and Women in Blue. You do NOT need to speak, just spend a few minutes to show our solidarity during the public comment period of the agenda (1st item and you may leave!)

The Banning Police Department is at the bottom of the pay scale in Riverside County and we are losing qualified and dedicated police men and women to a point of Banning being unsafe and the officers being put in jeopardy. There is little margin, as the police department is paper thin and in some instances Banning is forced to use the CHP and Beaumont PD for back up. This is unacceptable.

Please RSVP to let us know we stand united. Thank you and we hope to see you on October 22 at the Banning Council Chambers before 5 pm.

jim@writingsolutions.com/