By Doug Dye – October 19, 2026 These remarks were delivered during the public comment period of the Crescent City Council meeting held October 19, 2026 I've been a registered voter and participant in California elections since 1984…that's 42 years. I've also been involved in major political campaigns locally and nationally. Currently I'm of non-partisan or no-party registration and consider my politics to be "common sense." So I have a pretty good idea of how a political candidate and campaign should operate and behave. That's why I find the tandem campaign of Steve Shamblin and David Warren Sedgwick for city council to be troubling and disturbing for 3 specific reasons. Reason 1: I received their political flyer in the mail and the first thing I noticed was their use of a knock-off reproduction of the official Crescent City logo (same shape, same features: crescent moon, trees, ocean waves, the use of stars to separate the name of the city & state). This is misleading and false advertising…this implies that both candidates have the official endorsement of the city government and I'll likely be taking this complaint to the F.P.P.C. And if these are your campaign promises, Mr. Shamblin, they are nothing more than bullshit. For the past 7 months I've witnessed you consistently voting like a rubber stamp for the mandates and dictates of Sacramento, the city manager, the consultant class, and various other grifters who are pushing high-density housing projects and the importation of dubious populations of people to occupy them. I and many others say NO THANK YOU to that! Reason 2: In 42 years I've never seen a candidate's name appear on a ballot without the simplest and most basic description of what that candidate's occupation is or was and their political party affiliation…this is known officially as a "designation." Mr. Sedgwick deliberately left this information unknown on the ballot. What does he do or did he do for a living? Does he own property or a business in Del Norte County? What is his political party? How is a voter to make the vaguest of informed choices about his candidacy? What is David Sedgwick hiding? Reason 3: Well, I'll tell you one of the things he's hiding…Mr. Sedgwick was arrested and charged with D.U.I. on September 9, 2026 during an active political campaign.You can watch the video by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXA25kdD9bM&t=1763s So – to summarize – David Sedgwick is a political neophyte recently arrested for D.U.I., who deliberately won't identify who he is on the ballot, who employs false and misleading advertising to represent himself in a new town where he is unknown and has never held elected office. That makes your tandem campaign, Mr. Shamblin, to me not only troubling and disturbing but also amateurish and sloppy! As a "common sense" non- partisan I wouldn't vote for either of you and I'm thankful there is at least one solid option on the current ballot for city council…a seasoned political veteran who the town knows & trusts and who served on the County Board of Supervisors for 8 years. We need an independent thinker on the council, not two rubber stamps voting in tandem for the pro-growth, pro-crime agenda of Sacramento. So, Ladies & Gentlemen, for the remainder of the meeting you will be witnessing a Master Class In Damage Control featuring Mr. Shamblin, Ms. Tinkler and anyone one else who defends the indefensible. Enjoy the show and protestations and don't forget the vote between now and Tuesday, November 3.