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Take a break
Perhaps it's time to speak to your friend about stepping down and getting his priorities in life in order. Certainly his own health and family are more important than ''cutting ribbons and kissing babies'' as another poster put it.
Life is too short to continue his pursuit of vengence.
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Is it time?
Dear Sympathetic Reader,
I am a little confused here with your eloquent and compassionate comments above Mayor Dave Shaver. You state that, ?“uncontrollable and irrational anger is, in my experience, one of the distinctive symptoms of these conditions?”. I should point out that the beloved and late OSU football coach Woody Hayes suffered from diabetes in his later years and didn?’t always take his medications to control the condition. Those that know diabetics also know they can have uncontrollable and irrational anger and outrage. On national TV Woody Hayes slugged an opposing player in the 1978 Gator Bowl. Woody was fired on the spot. Although I admired Woody Hayes as a coach and as a humanitarian this incident was the last straw and I painfully accepted the firing.
I also understand that to control diabetes you must simplify your life and develop a routine. One of the major obstacles in doing this is to reduce your levels of stress. S.R. you think the stress of the Mayor?’s divorce may be creating this unacceptable behavior by the Mayor. Could we also say that just being Mayor and under the public lime light that this could cause stress in a marriage that results in a divorce?
As we all saw in the Woody Hayes incident the University continued to produce good football. I guess the question now is should Dave Shaver remain as Mayor. Can he do his job effectively? He is the person under the lime light for the city. Is uncontrollable and irrational anger, good for the city?’s image? Granted Woody was seen on National TV and everyone saw his bad behavior. Rarely will any of us see Dave Shaver?’s bad behavior in private meetings and ribbon cuttings. Clearly there appears to be a split in the coalition the Mayor lead in 2003 and that also seems to be related to the Mayor?’s behavior.
I suspect the last one to fully know the affects of this behavior will be Dave Shaver. I also would guess that Dave doesn?’t realize just how bad he is actions are sometimes.
Sometimes you got to know when to say when.
I believe one?’s legacy can be judged by what you accomplished despite whether you feel you have fully completed the tasks that you set out to complete.
I think Dave can feel proud that he kicked the door down at City Hall and removed a group of leaders that could be described kindly as corrupt. I think Dave can feel proud to have inspired others to get involved in politics and serve on the city council. No one can accomplish anything with a minority of council.
Dave no one can do it all including you. Maybe it is time for Pickerington to give Dave Shaver back to his family and to his private life so he can deal with the demons that in one way or another haunt us all.
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It assuredly IS time
When and where? Can a leader be considered effective with uncontrollable fits of rage? Is the answer that it depends on when and where these fits of rage occur? If it occurs at city hall and is directed at city employees but not during a public meeting, is this acceptable? If it occurs at his law office during a campaign in front of campaign volunteers, is this acceptable? If it occurs the very next day at a campaign rally at a barn in the township, is this acceptable? Is rage a matter of degrees, locations and audience?
Let?’s look at public meetings and events. Is it acceptable for the mayor to not show up after he has committed to attend a function? We all have things come up. But if ?“forgetting?” becomes more the rule than the exception, is that acceptable? If the mayor becomes adversarial with someone else who did attend, either as the mayor?’s substitute or just because they wanted to, is it acceptable?
I am sorry, but it is time for the mayor to return to private life. A very private life. This gets beyond his personal and professional behavior in that if he is the ambassador of this city, what message are we sending to those that have to endure the rage? Are we saying that we tolerate this because someone is ?“ill?”?
You have made a very valid point. If the mayor acted responsibly now, he would be leaving behind a positive legacy, except for his behavior since the election. Those short few months can be easily forgotten but if this radical behavior continues, that is all he?’ll be remembered for. Rage and vengeance.
Other has-beens from the city government will always be remembered in certain ways. When you hear Gray?’s name, what do you remember? A drunk driver being saved by the mayor? When you hear Hughes?’ name what do you remember? A guy so drunk that he fell off his chair at the beer tent at the violet festival? How does Shaver want to be remembered? As the guy who helped wrestle the city government back from those that would have murdered the city or as the guy who ......?
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and....
And I'm sure you'd be right there to take his place. How wonderful of all of you to be only thinking of the city's best interest. I have a friend who is on a short leave from his job right now because of depression. He is mid-management. No one would consider asking him to resign. As far as anger goes, what top level business leader or CEO does not reach a breaking point at times? Are they considered weak and asked to step down. No. You can distort facts all you like, but the public has the final say about this. And your actions will be noted by them.
Would you be doing all of this if O'Brien had been appointed...hmm...don't think so.
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