It is always heartening to see a robust debate begin around public leadership of an area struggling to find it.
Standing on principle
Dickinson presses his cause -- even when it's unpopular
By Ed Fletcher - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, August 26, 2007
Long after it became clear on election night that ballot measures financing a new Sacramento sports arena would be trounced by voters, Roger Dickinson took the stage.
With a full spectrum of media on hand at a glitzy downtown restaurant that fall night, other politicians who had supported the measures sought the shadows.
Not Dickinson. In a move that the Sacramento County supervisor's supporters and political observers say was Roger being Roger, he followed his gut. Despite what the polls and ultimately voters had to say, Dickinson asserted that Sacramento still needs to find a way to build a new arena.
The two measures, Q and R, were thrashed by voters. Each fell by a more than 3-to-1 margin.
"Sometimes he doesn't care how voters will react," said Jeff Raimundo, a Sacramento political consultant. "He feels like he is doing the right thing and won't be deterred."
As the 2008 election cycle nears, Dickinson has been musing about throwing his hat into the Sacramento mayor's race -- challenging Heather Fargo, who will be seeking a third term.
