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Straight Talk Still Has Value
Posted 7-2-1999
Well folks, I guess it is time to share with you what has happened with our web site
since our article of May 21, entitled, "Time To Build New Relationships." It was
featured in our Campaign 99 section and, despite a news story to the contrary, still
resides in that section's archives.
I wrote a straight-forward analysis of the
election and described what I thought were the factors that allowed Tom Ceraso and myself
to win. I also pointed out that he will be pulled by people who I don't believe have a
positive influence on county government. I wrote about how each candidate affected the
outcome of the election and how the two Republican nominees may have an uneasy alliance
heading into November.
Apparently, that article didn't sit too
well with a few supporters of a losing candidate. An overture was made to Mrs. Jacquelyn
Fish, President of the League of Women Voters. I guess Mrs. Fish read the article, but for
some reason, rather than calling me to discuss the matter, she wrote me a letter stating
that I violated the Candidates' Pledge. She wanted me to apologize to Ron Diehl, Tom
Ceraso, and Trudy Brigode.
If you read the article, I barely mentioned
Ron Diehl and it certainly wasn't anything offensive or inaccurate. I complimented Tom
Ceraso on the campaign he ran and simply stated a reality of county politics, that certain
folks are going to try to influence him. I did point out that I thought it was
reprehensible that Trudy would solicit votes and contributions, then claim afterwards that
she was trying to lose all along. You would think THAT type of behavior would upset the
League of Women Voters, but to my knowledge they've issued no letter to that candidate.
The Pledge asks candidates for open reporting of campaign finance sources and that facts
are the basis of campaign rhetoric. I don't think I violated the Pledge with my article
because I didn't write anything that wasn't true.
The story gets better because for some
reason, Mrs. Fish felt compelled to send a copy of her letter to me, to whomever issued
the complaint. Not surprisingly, it ended up in Trudy's hands and she delivered it to
reporters from both the Standard-Observer (who did the article) and the Tribune-Review. I
think some disgruntled supporters of a losing candidate used Mrs. Fish to create what they
thought would be negative publicity for me. Actually, by printing my web site article in
its entirety in the Standard-Observer, readers had a chance to form their own opinions as
to whether I wrote anything offensive or inaccurate. The web site is my opportunity to
tell you the way I see things in Westmoreland County politics and government. I feel
obliged to continue to do so. If you want limited coverage, diluted by editors and space
requirements, you can read the dailies. I know the reporters from the Standard-Observer
and Tribune-Review do the best job they can, but they compete with other news stories for
attention and their perspective is different than mine.
Mrs. Fish's quotes in the news article talk
about people's cynicism towards politics. I don't think the cynicism is coming from
candidates being straight-forward and open, but rather when they are misleading and
deceitful. People are cynical about government too. Nothing makes them more cynical than
the same companies getting all of the contracts and the same families getting all of the
jobs. Yet, for some reason my pointing that out makes some folks uncomfortable. There are
too many people in politics and government that would rather whisper behind someone's back
but never openly call it as they see it. That is what makes the public cynical.
Some people have unfortunately become
accustomed to politicians who tell them what they think they want to hear. That has never,
and will never be my style. I'm convinced that in order to prove all politicians ARE NOT
the same, I must continue to inform people on the real story of how we are spending $217
million of their money. Some elected officials are afraid to talk to the press, but I look
at the media as an important piece of the effort to better inform the public about their
government.
When you talk to the press as often as I
do, you won't look good 100 percent of the time. But at least you know where I stand on an
issue. Being a county commissioner is a tough, challenging job. To attempt to solve the
problems ahead will take courage to make unpopular decisions and a singular focus on
improved efficiency. I don't have all the answers but I'm willing to work hard to find
them and if I see something wrong in politics or government, you can be sure I'm
challenging it. |
