http://www.contracostatimes.com/editorial/ci_26938107/contra-costa-times-editorial-chevron-should-apologize-excessive
Contra Costa Times editorial: Chevron should apologize for excessive, abusive campaign
Contra Costa Times editorial © 2014 Bay Area News Group
Posted:   11/14/2014 02:02:29 PM PST2 Comments
Updated:   11/14/2014 02:02:48 PM PST
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Richmond community leaders protest what they say is Chevron's attempt to buy the city council and...
Chevron not only lost its horribly misguided attempt to buy the Richmond City Council and mayoral races, it lost its credibility with the community -- again.
The oil giant had just managed last summer to negotiate a deal with the city for its refinery expansion that recognized the environmental effect of the plant. Tensions were finally beginning to ease in the aftermath of the 2012 refinery fire.
Fueled by vapor released from a ruptured pipe, that inferno nearly killed 19 workers, spewed tons of pollutant-laced black smoke into the air for hours, sent 15,000 seeking medical attention and hospitalized about 20. It led to state and federal investigations, fines, criminal charges, legislative action and public outrage.
Recognizing not only the damage to the plant and the community, but also to its image, the company last year brought in a new general manager, Kory Judd, who talked of wanting to regain public support and of showing greater sensitivity to residents' concerns.
"The only way to make (the anger from the fire) go away," Judd told reporter Robert Rogers, "is to be a responsible, quiet, out-of-sight operator for a period to earn that respect."
He also said, "The history of Chevron includes Richmond. Richmond and Chevron are intertwined. That presents great opportunities and great challenges. What I have always enjoyed about Richmond is the diversity of thought."
It seemed to signal a desire to smooth relations with the community. And then Judd and Chevron threw it all away.
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Apparently, the company wasn't really interested in diversity of thought among city leaders; it wanted only those who subscribed to its perspective. Nothing else can explain why Chevron spent more than $3 million this year trying to elect a horrible slate of candidates who would support its agenda.
To be sure, the races for mayor and four council seats generally lacked strong candidates. But Chevron seemed to go out of its way to pick some of the worst.
It wasn't just whom the company backed that offended so many; it was how it tried to demonize the others on billboards, in mailers that stuffed residents' mailboxes and through frequent television commercials.
In the end, every candidate Chevron targeted won. Its excessive campaign spending, which worked out to a staggering $72 per registered voter, drew national scorn and only served to mobilize the company's opposition. Residents were insulted, rightly so, by Chevron's attempt to undermine their city's democratic process.
It's time for Judd to issue a huge public apology. We know some billboards where he could begin. And, if those don't provide enough room, we will be happy to offer him space right here on our op-ed pages.