Candidate unfairly attacked

When will the slings and arrows of outrageous claims aimed at Todd August cease? Does Rishoff (Nov. 24) and the rest of the “Agoura Machine” enjoy rubbing salt in a man’s wounds and kicking a guy when he is down?

No matter how many times the polls show that people want a clean race, too often the results show that slinging mud wins, but Todd can sleep at night knowing that he did not stoop to their level. His opponents, on the other hand, had waged a campaign that was both deceptive and dishonest. They had tried to paint Todd as a one-issue candidate to deflect the fact that there are so many issues to be dealt with in this city. They were actually right about him being a one issue candidate: he was for Agoura Hills. They had tried to intimidate homeowners, business owners and other supporters to withdraw their support.

I received a few of their emails. From the Old Agoura HOA: “We’re not keen on running down a candidate (August), but we feel this doesn’t pass the smell test.”

They continuously harp on how much support, as gauged by donation addresses, came from outside of Agoura. Well, count me as one of those from outside Agoura. I live in Agoura, but my checks have my business address on them from Woodland Hills.

One local resident wrote: “Don’t let this Todd August guy bamboozle you! I saw him walking the neighborhood last night and was disgusted. . .creep!” It is so sad to see such vulgarity slung against a person whom she does not even know, nor has she ever talked to. “His whole candidacy is a slap in the face to Agoura.”

Quite the contrary, it is exciting to see that someone is taking on the “Agoura Machine.”

Todd August garnered enough votes (2,348) to have been a landslide win in past elections. The issues have not gone away. Maybe the business owners should register to vote in Agoura so their vote can count next time around?

The issues remain; the council remains the same. Let’s see if the council will offer an olive branch to Todd and invite him to sit on the planning commission. Let this not be the end, but the beginning. Ian H. Taras Agoura Hills