Thanks
Take Dave Shaver. Here was a guy I thought would actually make a difference. I mean that is a positive way. He was a lone wolf on council. He took all the shots from his opposition and persevered. He was an important voice and although outvoted at every turn, made a difference. Then he became mayor. Instead of growing what he sowed on council he took a left turn somewhere and became this supposed all-important leader of the community. Wait a second Dave, you gave up your vote when you left council. You chose to pursue a position that should have indeed been a leadership role and a bridge builder role but instead you perverted it into some sort of dictatorship. You turned your back on almost every single person who invested their trust, time and support on you. How did it happen? Local public service.
Take Mitch O?’Brien. In two short years he stepped up to be one of the most effective leaders we have seen in a long time. He was able to build bridges where they had burned down. He was able to talk to the Chamber of Commerce without instigating a brawl. He interacted positively with the Olde Village Business group and the Violet Festival Board. He had a working relationship with the school board and the trustees. All this in just two years and while serving on council, two committees and a commission. Then he began his campaign for election with the premise that he could put together a slate of like-minded people. Personally, I advised him against this time and time again but he wouldn?’t listen. I told him he should forget about the others like they were forgetting about him and worry about getting himself elected. He said it was all about teamwork. His support of the team was to be put ahead of support of himself. He unquestionably supported the mayor, the council president and the majority of council. He supported the school and township and his statements, actions and votes proved that. His unfaltering commitment to teamwork and the community was his downfall. He should have been more like the very selfish and self-serving people he supported who wouldn?’t help him when their help was needed. Here?’s a guy who was present at each and every community event without fail and now I bet you couldn?’t get him at a community event if they were handing out hundred dollar bills and I don?’t blame him. Another victim of local public service.
So we are starting to get ready for another election cycle as evidenced by discussions here about who should run, who will run and who might run. Good guys, bad guys, young guys, old guys?….. Personally I would advise anyone seeking to run to take a hard look at what has happened to the ?“good guys?” that have run. It?’s like the old story that any president ever elected who didn?’t have a gray hair on his head was completely gray by the time he left office. You may think you can make a difference but look at the people I mentioned above and also at those I didn?’t mention and see what local public service did for them. Or is it better said what it did TO them?
Take Dave Shaver. Here was a guy I thought would actually make a difference. I mean that is a positive way. He was a lone wolf on council. He took all the shots from his opposition and persevered. He was an important voice and although outvoted at every turn, made a difference. Then he became mayor. Instead of growing what he sowed on council he took a left turn somewhere and became this supposed all-important leader of the community. Wait a second Dave, you gave up your vote when you left council. You chose to pursue a position that should have indeed been a leadership role and a bridge builder role but instead you perverted it into some sort of dictatorship. You turned your back on almost every single person who invested their trust, time and support on you. How did it happen? Local public service.
Take Mitch O?’Brien. In two short years he stepped up to be one of the most effective leaders we have seen in a long time. He was able to build bridges where they had burned down. He was able to talk to the Chamber of Commerce without instigating a brawl. He interacted positively with the Olde Village Business group and the Violet Festival Board. He had a working relationship with the school board and the trustees. All this in just two years and while serving on council, two committees and a commission. Then he began his campaign for election with the premise that he could put together a slate of like-minded people. Personally, I advised him against this time and time again but he wouldn?’t listen. I told him he should forget about the others like they were forgetting about him and worry about getting himself elected. He said it was all about teamwork. His support of the team was to be put ahead of support of himself. He unquestionably supported the mayor, the council president and the majority of council. He supported the school and township and his statements, actions and votes proved that. His unfaltering commitment to teamwork and the community was his downfall. He should have been more like the very selfish and self-serving people he supported who wouldn?’t help him when their help was needed. Here?’s a guy who was present at each and every community event without fail and now I bet you couldn?’t get him at a community event if they were handing out hundred dollar bills and I don?’t blame him. Another victim of local public service.
So we are starting to get ready for another election cycle as evidenced by discussions here about who should run, who will run and who might run. Good guys, bad guys, young guys, old guys?….. Personally I would advise anyone seeking to run to take a hard look at what has happened to the ?“good guys?” that have run. It?’s like the old story that any president ever elected who didn?’t have a gray hair on his head was completely gray by the time he left office. You may think you can make a difference but look at the people I mentioned above and also at those I didn?’t mention and see what local public service did for them. Or is it better said what it did TO them?
