Gerard Boulanger: My fellow citizens of Hercules...

The special election is over. Despite a well-financed effort to retain their seats, there was overwhelming support for the recall of both Donald Kuehne and Joanne Ward. This was truly a victory for all citizens concerned with the failure of our elected officials to properly manage the affairs of our local government.
But with the recall of Mr. Kuehne and my election to fill the remainder of his term, I find myself having to face up to the recent controversy surrounding my own candidacy.

In the process of filling out statements regarding my background, I made careless representations that I should not have made. I stated my credentials in a way that was misleading. I know that this was unacceptable.

Looking back, it is hard to explain in simple terms how this happened. I have had to think about my own motivations and reasons for behaving in this inexplicable way. I believe it is best explained by discussing truthfully the conflicting thoughts I had regarding my candidacy:

Part of it is due to simple carelessness. In the months leading up to this election I was so focused on the mess at City Hall that I paid scant attention to my own need to accurately present my credentials. I simply did not put much thought into my statements.

It was also due to my belief that what I did in France thirty years ago didn’t matter. I thought more important than any past exploits was my commitment to reform. I thought my steady attendance at Budgetary Task Force and Bay Front meetings would say more about me as a potential councilman than my prior experience in France could ever say. I thought that my proposals for solving the city’s problems and my commitment to change would be what the voters cared about most. I thought my actions would speak louder than the words on my personal statement. I assumed people would care more about who I am now than who I was in France 37 years ago.

And yet another part of me wanted so much to demonstrate to you that I was worthy of your support and your vote. I wanted the voters to have confidence that I have the “brain power” and experience to be effective. I did not want to be handicapped by any assumptions that not having an advanced degree might somehow reflect on my ability to serve the city. I was aware that some residents made an issue of the fact that several previous council members did not have a college education. Yes, I did attend a French university, but I was afraid to admit that I did not earn the equivalent of a U.S. degree.

It is true that the French education and government systems are different, but I want to put aside any “lost in translation” excuse. I carelessly equated the years of courses I studied in France to the time it would take to obtain degrees in similar programs in the United States. Then, I stated that I had those degrees, when at the French university I attended; no such equivalent degrees are awarded.  I confess that this was reckless.

I was also concerned on some level that American voters might suspect that a Frenchman may not have what it takes to navigate the American political system. Even though I've lived here for more than 15 years, I wanted to put voters at ease as to whether I, with no prior experience in the American political system, had sufficient credentials. That is why I included a description of my public service in France. I tried to equate the work I did for 12 years with my hometown to the duties of a city councilman in Hercules. Yes, some of the work is similar, working to obtain funding and attracting investment, but the bodies are not the same. I did not explain the difference because it seemed so hard to explain, given the relative differences between the two political systems, and it was so long ago I did not think anyone would care. It just seemed easier to say, “I was elected” rather than, “my party was elected and asked me to serve on the multi-city agency to represent the party that won the election.” This was misleading.

I suppose for all of the above reasons, I did not take seriously the need to convey more precisely my background. At the same time I tried to burnish my credentials and in doing so, I embellished some of my accomplishments. But the end does not justify the means, and I should have realized that what experience I do have, plus my hard work on issues important to the city, should have been sufficient.

Of course I should have known better. Trust must be earned by each and every candidate’s words and actions. How someone represents his or her credentials does matter. Especially in Hercules, with what we have gone through, trust is not a given.

I am saddened that I allowed my credentials to become the focus of this election. And I must apologize to all my friends and supporters for the questions now surrounding my seat on the council.

I recognize that I made these mistakes and should have come out and said something much sooner. I was too much a political novice to recognize how much these things matter. I blame no one but myself. Mr. Kuehne with all his negative campaigning did not do this to me, I did it to myself.

There was never any malice in my actions.  But it caused the focus of the campaign to shift from “what is wrong with the city” to whether I was a legitimate candidate. This unfortunately created undeserved strife, pressure and possibly lost votes for the other reform candidates because of their association with me. I especially apologize to William Wilkins, who graciously agreed to share a slate with me, and who trusted me 100 percent. For this I deeply apologize to Mr. Wilkins and to his family. I am so thankful that all the reform candidates associated with the recall won their seats.

It was my hope that with the recall election, Dan Romero, William Wilkins and myself could join the recently elected reformers, John Delgado and Myrna de Vera, to provide the city with a full complement of reform-minded elected officials, dedicated to advancing the city’s interests, without the corruption and greed that marked the last few years here in Hercules. To further this cause, I invested most of my energy and focus into the recall and, as explained above, gave very little thought to drafting a clear and honest statement of my qualifications.

Today I am humble and wiser. And I stand at a crossroads. I have the option of stepping aside, as some have suggested. Or I can accept the council position in hopes that those who doubt me will give me the chance to prove my commitment to this city. For those many who continue to support me, I am grateful for your forgiveness and am eager to prove my worthiness to serve you and this city that I love. 

If given the chance, I assure you that I will work harder during the 18 months left in the term than anyone has ever worked before. I will work with honor and integrity, and will always make time to hear your opinions and concerns. I will never go along with a bad decision and will never rubber-stamp a bad project. I will always do my homework; challenge questionable issues brought up before council and zealously defend your city and your treasure. I will work with the council, staff and the citizens to find solutions to the Big Problems, and work to chart a path forward for the city. I know that even then, it may not be enough to satisfy those who believe I cannot effectively serve. But I can promise that, if by then I have not completely earned your trust, I would simply not run for re-election in 2012.

I have worked hard behind the scenes to bring change to Hercules, including supporting the election of Mr. Delgado and Ms. De Vera, and the retention and re-hiring of Charlie Long. I have worked tirelessly to get the recall on the ballot. I hope that you will come to conclude that my transgressions are outweighed by my contributions. I hope you can recognize that, while I am not perfect, I am willing to admit, and more important, learn from, my mistakes.

This is what separates me from the “old guard.” Mr. Oliva, Mr. Sakamoto, Mr. Balico, Ms. Ward and Mr. Kuehne – not one of them has admitted making any mistakes, while bringing this city to its knees.  I am here to say that yes, I’ve made serious mistakes that have hurt my family, my supporters and me.

But I would never take one dollar of the city’s money for personal gain. I would never vote to approve a contract that benefited a member of my family. I would never vote on any matter if I had a conflict of interest. 

Going forward, whether I serve the remainder of Mr. Kuehne’s term or instead choose to step down, I pledge to continue to work tirelessly for the people’s interests – not special interests, and not my interests – to make Hercules a better place for all of us. I will make a decision soon, but I would like your help.

At the end of June, my daughter is getting married and I will be in Europe for two weeks to experience this happy occasion. This has been planned for more than a year. In light of this event, I intend to take that time to make a decision about my council position. In the end, I will do what I believe is in the best interests of the city. I hope you will agree to allow me this time to reflect, and to make my decision based on a thoughtful understanding of my obligations to you, the city that I love, and my family. 

I invite your comments and opinions. I ask you also to think about whether my sins are such that I should not serve my term. Candidly, I am concerned that leaving the council seat unfilled might result in even more turmoil for the city. I am very concerned that a vacancy could hamper the council’s ability to address the very serious issues facing the city. A special election would cost a considerable amount of money, and an appointment could cause fractures and division on a council that badly needs to unify in the best interests of the city. These are the concerns I am weighing. I know in my heart that, as flawed a person as I have demonstrated myself to be, I have a lot to offer, and can contribute the time and energy to making this a better city. You could not elect a harder working person than me. 

I will certainly make a decision soon, based on all these factors. Please let me know what your opinion is. Even while out of the country, I will take the time to read each of your opinions and suggestions, and I will answer your concerns. You can contact me at: gerardboulanger4hercules@comcast.net.

 Gerard Boulanger