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There has been much criticism, on this web site and elsewhere, of certain elected officials for resorting to personal insults and name-calling in dealing with their political opponents.
Let's not resort to the same thing ourselves. I'm seeing all too much of that in recent postings. What truly disturbs me, however, is the suggestion of one recent poster that we try to dig up dirt, not just on office-holders and candidates themselves, but on their spouses and even their children.
I consider that suggestion absolutely reprehensible. Where is our common human decency, if we choose to resort to such despicable conduct? And what decent person would choose to run for office at the risk of exposing his or her spouse or children to the likes of that?
There are plenty of issues dividing current office-holders and potential candidates for office. Moreover, people seem to be taking fairly clear positions on those issues. Let's focus on those. Let's not become what we hate. I, personally, will have nothing to do with any office-holder or candidate who resorts, or whose handlers resort, to such conduct.
By Yosemite Pam
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See no evil hear no Evil
Yosemite PAM,
What ROCK have you been living under for the last decade assuming you have lived in the Pickerington area that long?
Just to remind you of a former Mayor named Lee Gray. In July of 1998 he was involved in a scandal with the Police Department. The scandal was a Police Officer (who was recently honored for his work in the Dare program) had pulled over a suspected drunk driver. The driver was pulled over because the registration on his pickup truck was for a Ford Mustang. When the officer approached the vehicle he could smell the odor of alcohol on the driver. With further investigation the officer gave the driver a field sobriety test and he failed. In addition, to being drunk and having an improper vehicle registration he had an open bottle of Jack Daniels on the front floor board of his truck. He also had no insurance.
His female passenger was also visibly drunk and she became abusive to the officer and she called her friend Mayor Lee Gray. The mayor came out at 2AM and took the drunk driver out of the police car. The drunk driver was never charged and got off free. This was on the news including the dash board camera footage of the incident. I hope your view from your ivory tower is a good one because that mayor at that point became unfit to serve as Mayor again. In fact, many in the township wrote letters stating just that.
Clearly former Mayor Lee Gray abused his power as Mayor to help a ?“FRIEND?” and business partner. Especially when that drunk driver could have killed you or one of your family members.
The fact is that these incidents are very relevant here in judging ones ability and fitness to serve.
Let me remind you that earlier this year it was reported that Mayor Shaver was suicidal. That was confirmed in the public record and by his own admission in the paper that he was suffering from depression. He also made threats to end his life in public city emails.
Last spring there was a 911 call placed from the Mayor?’s home. Then another. The police tried to make contact with the home but no one would answer. Pam, police officers have a sworn duty to investigate 911 calls and especially when the caller hangs up. When they arrived at the Mayor?’s home he was verbally abusive and was using very belligerent language toward the officers. Language so graphic that I will not post it here. He would not allow the officers to do their job and investigate the situation inside the home. In my view, this is far more serious than taking a drunk out of a police cruiser and that?’s not saying Lee Gary?’s actions were honorable and responsible. The Mayor should have been arrested that night for obstruction of Justice. Anybody else would have been. Pam you are requesting that our police cover up incidents by the Mayor no matter how serious.
Now let?’s also look at the possibility that elected officials in the City would use their power and influence to get their children out of trouble because their kids had committed crimes. Is threatening to fire the police chief because he refused to fix a ticket (or other charges) for someone?’s kid worth making public so citizens can judge the character of those that serve them?
I believe the answer is YES.
By Evil
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Don't forget...
Vandalism - egging someone's house. What if it was your house?
Shoplifting - What values have you taught YOUR children? Apparently civic leaders' apples haven't fallen too far from the tree.
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Let's focus on what works
Pam,
Thank you for another insightful posting. Let?’s rewind the clock back to the 2005 elections. On many of the candidate?’s parts, it was a constant onslaught of personal attacks. Attacks over political affiliations, attacks over experience, attacks over voting records and on an on. Guess what? The mudslingers won and now we are reaping what was sown with our votes.
In your latest Rodney King posting, who are you defending? Are you trying to defend people or sides or political affiliations or ?…what? Haven?’t you noticed how well the voters in this city responded to the pathetic campaign strategies of 2005? Haven?’t you noticed that the voters in Pickerington got what they deserved?
No Pam, if the local elections of 05 and the state campaigns of 06 haven?’t taught you that he who throws the most mud wins, then, in the words of another poster, look back under your rock for solace.
There is one and only one issue at hand. Who owns the city of Pickerington?
We are in the process of turning it over to the three stooges on Rustic Drive once and for all. Since you are a township resident, I am sure you will appreciate your new windfall. Since you will have nothing to do with those you disparage, I guess this is the last we will hear from you because THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.
Even a ?“good guy?” candidate will have to get his hands plenty dirty to stand a chance in Vio-rington.
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