As I had to tend to life's (sometimes overwhelming) responsibilities, I've noticed the e-mail from New Albanian himself trying to knock me down for not taking care of "my" business.
At first, it made me chuckle as I thought about the article in the Courier where Rich-O's taps weren't working when the food critics for the Courier-Journal showed up and the place only getting 2 1/2 stars...then, I played Devil's Advocate and said "self, update that blog a little bit". Here goes...
The Democrat Picnic for the City of New Albany was held yesterday at the Knights of Columbus instead of the Amphitheater because of rain.
Steve Price and a mixture of musicians from around the area provided the entertainment, and it was great.
The Chairman of the Democrat Party introduced the candidates (some of which were absent) and only allowed the Mayoral candidate Doug England to speak. Mayoral candidate Doug England was brief in his comments, stating he believed people were tired of Bush and this would cause New Albany to vote straight ticket.
Other candidates, (and I'm sure I'll leave someone out, so please don't be offended, because it isn't on purpose), were Jimmy Hollis (Democrat Council-at-Large candidate), John Gonder (Democrat Council-at-Large candidate), Steve Price (Democrat 3rd District Candidate), Marcey Wisman (Democrat for City Clerk), Jeff Gahan (Democrat candidate for (let's see) 6th District (?), Pat McLaughlin (Democrat candidate for (let's see) 5th District (?)...and I'm a thinking here. As I do not know Bobby Ceasar, Democrat candidate for another District, I don't know if he was there or not. These would be the candidates who stayed for the ENTIRE event. Jack Messer (Democrat Council-at-Large candidate) only stayed for a little while (in, out).
County officials represented were Linda Mueller, Floyd County Clerk; Barbara Sillings, Floyd County Township Assessor; Connie Sipes, Indiana State Senator; Judge Terrence Cody, Democrat Superior Court Judge; Patty Walker, Democrat Township Board member; Greg Balmer (Democrat County Coroner);Susan Orth, Democrat Judge made a late appearance; Baron Hill, Democrat Congressman, was represented by his staff and they stayed throughout the event. A lot of Georgetown and other townships were also represented.
Noticeably absent were some which always attend...but they had the "school" event some attended.
To IAMHOOSIER, I checked out the Republican page and if you click on Randy Hubbard's picture, everything you would or could want to know about the man is there, including his platform.
As a person who served in the community with him when he was a City police officer and I was a Block Watch Captain; as an individual who worked with him when I sat on the Board of Directors of the New Albany Block Watch; and...when I sat as President pro tem on the New Albany Block Watch, Inc., all I can say is this man is about nothing but the correct running of things and ENFORCEMENT. This is why he has integrity and people believe in his word...he's a danger to Democrats this season, trust me.
After reading the blogs all these times, seems to me the biggest thing bugging everyone is the "LACK OF ENFORCEMENT". Candidate Mayor England has not spoken about these issues with me yet, so I am unclear as to where he may stand.
As I am not making an endorsement of any kind here -- hopefully simply making points of where readers may go and gather their own information; interpret it as you may; and make an "educated" decision at the ballot box (what more could anyone ask for). As I've spent years doing it manually and physically -- these days, let your fingers do the walking.
All of these are strictly my "little 'ole opinions" and not an endorsement of any kind -- except to say go Marcey and Steve!
Peace, NA. And now for New Albanian to weigh in. MYOB (mind your own blog).... :)
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24 comments:
Yvonne,
Welcome back.
As for Mr. Hubbard's website, I was there before and just went back. I see nothing different.
I don't care what church he goes to. I don't care how long he has been married or how many children he has.
A nice job was done with his educational and professional background. Good to know towards making a decision about a candidate. Get's a check mark from me.
However, the platform information stinks.
"We must not view the river as an obstacle but as an asset." How is he going to do this?
"New Albany must encourage its residents to take a more active role in the beautification of the city as a whole." How?
Without the "HOW" what is he, or anyone else, really telling us?
You state, that in your view, he stands for enforcement. Great. I am all for that. BUT how is he going to enforce? Using rental property as an example, will he use a rental inspection program? Will he add a city court? Will he pump up funding for the city attorney? I am not advocating any of these "HOWS". Which or what "HOW" is he going to use?
His site is basically useless in telling anyone what they need to know to make an informed choice.
His entire life has been dedicated to "enforcement" of all laws. He ran the jail without a peep of mis-doings. Something tells me he knows exactly what to do to enforce ALL OF THE LAWS of our fair City.
Qualified enough for me. How has Mayor England explained how he is going to "enforce" our laws -- which seemed to be the biggest gripe I have read on most any blog in this town? The "rental inspection" issue would probably be a Republican issue, not a Democrat.
I still say you need to ask him these questions yourself. You certainly don't need me and he doesn't need me as his spokesperson.
As a Democrat, I will not be attending his fundraiser (free -- the ticket was in the Tribune), but you can attend and ask him. You can also send him an e-mail and ask him your pertinent and important questions. He's very approachable, and laid back.
Why no one at the Democrat picnic espousing their platforms? I dunno. Later.
Why doesn't he say "it"? Should not the office seeker spell out what they hope to accomplish and HOW they plan to do it?
I certainly don't excuse any other candidate from this. We are writing about Mr. Hubbard because you said that I could go to his website and find out everything that I needed to know. I maintain that this not the case.
As for Mr. England, I know you read the other blogs. I have not been restrained in my views about him either.
Again, why do I(we) have to chase the candidate(s)? If they are too lazy to articulate a plan, I don't want them in office. If they don't have a plan, I don't want them office. If they don't have the courage to offer their plan, I don't want them in office. Why would you?
If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything. Isn’t that the real reason it is so quiet right now? Why don’t you put out there the whole truth about England? Some people weren’t around over 7 years ago and really need to know all the facts, when they go to vote. New Albany doesn’t need to make that mistake again! Let’s get it all out there! Tell them about the MILLION DOLLAR attorneys the citizens had to pay for to keep him out of jail. You know – the ones he hired to fight EPA and Justice Department over the work on the sewers.
I just looked at Marcy Wisman's site. Click on platform and you will see what I am talking about. What she wants to do and how she is planning to go about it.
IAMHOOSIER, you may be right -- haven't had time to check Marcey's out; just plan to vote for her because I know her and her opponent and have had dealings with both. Thankfully, I am well schooled in both of their platforms.
As I do not run Candidate Hubbard's campaign nor his website, I really don't know what to tell you. There is a Democrat, retired County Council (I believe, could be Commissioner) and he is running Candidate Hubbard's campaign. Not sure if he is in the book but surely they both must be accessible in order to answer your questions. At the IUS debate, they let people from the audience submit or ask questions from the public; that might be a good forum and attendance is usually high.
To Anonymous, if I didn't feel like I know you I would have to bust out laughing. You'll have to give me awhile to answer those questions; got my 4 year old grandson each day this week...I'll stew on answer that one later this eve. Peace. (And just when you thought it was safe to get out of the water...)
The problem with the IUS debate is, Mr. Hubbard is not going to attend.
So, I am left to conclude that Mr. Hubbard is:
A. Stupid, or
B. A coward, or
C. Lazy
Or some combination.
IAMHOOSIER, You are certainly entitled to your opinions. Thanks.
IAMHOOSIER: It's true, there will be no debate at IUS this year.
There will be town forums where Mr. Hubbard will make himself available to all.
Maybe the CJ will announce all the information soon -- that's my source on this information.
Peace.
so only England was allowed to speak? What arrogance, now I ask you fellow Democrats is that the way you want the head of the ticket to be?
Hubbard has my vote and so do any candidates who support Hubbard. Every party needs a cleansing and This bunch needs to go and Mr. England needs to finally be politically retired.
I'll keep an eye out. Perhaps the GOP can put on their website where we can go and ask questions of Mr. Hubbard. I guess we will see.
I have taken your suggestion and am attempting to get some answers. Just found out Mr. Hubbard does not have email.
It should not be this hard to get info. Demo's are no better. Went to the local Demo site and there is no link for an England site at all!! Fired an email off to Mr. Stumler about this and my email came back as undeliverable. Sent it to Marcey just a couple of minutes ago still using the contact address on the Demo site. Will see if it went through.
Well, I waited few minute before publishing this comment and guess what. The email to Marcey Wisman just bounced back as undeliverable:
"marcey@floyddems.org:
child status 100...The e-mail message could not be delivered because there are no users here by that name."
While there could be other reasons, it appears that attempting to contact the Floyd County Democrat leaders through their own website is impossible. Out of date addresses? I had one reply from Mr. Matthews(Chairman Floyd GOP) within minutes of an inquiry. Good job Mr. Matthews.
Dear Anon: I don't know that I would construe it so much as arrogance, or the leadership of the Party. In no way did I insinuate the Mayoral candidate did not let other candidates speak.
As far as I could tell, it was the Party Chair's decision (and I might add, his to make).
Thanks for your opinion, though.
Peace.
IAMHOOSIER: Glad you're getting some info. Peace.
The only info so far is, Mr. Hubbard does not have email. Waiting on response to follow up questions, but to be fair, I expected it take a day or two for answers, should I receive any.
So, you cannot contact one of the Mayoral candidates by email and you cannot contact the Floyd Democrat party by email. That is what I have learned. Is it really 1950 here in NA?
Do your questions pertain to both parties? Are both candidates accessible through e-mail? Or, are staff answering questions and not the Candidate?
Some people think it's 1950. More to come, though...hold on -- I still have to respond to Anonymous's questions/statements.
MeeMaw is watching her "Angel" lately, trying to help her daughter out and certain things need consice information and facts, based upon my knowledge, experience and information (as Anon speaks to).
Gee, it seems I have been there and I have done that! :)
I know my writing style is often not very clear. This time, though, I think it is pretty clear that I am giving both parties hell.
Mr. Matthews promptly answered my email, through the GOP site, that Mr. Hubbard did not have email. Mr. Matthews offered to answer and/or foward any questions that I may have. I have not heard back since sending said questions to him.(Fairness--it has only been a little over 1 day)
I went to the Democrat site to access Mr. England's site. Found no link, hence no email access for Mr. England. Tried to contact two leaders of the Party and my emails to them bounced back as undeliverable. I don't know if Mr. England has a site and/or email.
Here is the short and sweet of my attempts to get information over the last 2 days:
GOP--Got 1 answer(no email for Hubbard) and no other answers(yet).
Demo--Difficult to get answers(candidate or staff) when you can't contact them.
So if anything, the GOP wins(so far)as I was able to make contact with their Chairman.
I did read in the paper where Mr. Hubbard wishes it was 1950 or so.
Doug England is the best reason to vote Republican in November. Sorry Doug but the rank and File Democrats or those who lean Democrat wont back you or your council candidates, also say bye bye Marcy
IAMHOOSIER, Through your frustration I feel some humour... Thank you for that!
To Anon:
You are entitled to your opinion, and I still stand by Price and Marcy, as is my right.
Thanks for reading. Peace.
Dear New Albanian,
There was a lot of code inside of your comment which made me leery of it; didn't even give me the option to publish, delete or moderate -- weird.
I do not know why Anon doesn't like Marcy -- figure it is coming out of a Hornung fan.
There are so many tapes we made of Council and Sewer Board meetings and on most of them you can hear me asking Susan to ask Ronnie to close her mouth and take the durn minutes. We have never seen anyone just sitting there with their mouth open in "shock and awe" I guess, at what they are hearing, but still does not excuse them from doing their job which is taking minutes of OUR meetings.
But, as Keith Henderson use to say, if it's not in the "minutes, it did not happen...".
Peace.
Floyd Dem,
I too know Randy, My father was his Sergeant for many years, and on the PD with him for over 20, I worked with him on his shifts from time to time on the PD reserves, and I must agree with your statement regarding enforcement.
HOWEVER, his silence to this point is extremely damaging to his campaign, unless a person has worked for him, or a family member had, or unless a person had been arrested by him, people simply do not know him. They know OF him, but that is a bug difference.
I was glad to see he spoke with a neighborhood group, that helps, but with just over a month and half away from elections, it simply does not look good, not much at all.
I invited him a few months ago via the republicans chairman to please answer some basic questions regarding his campaign platform to be published through this very type of media, on my blog, or arrange to have it on a more popular one, no answer, ever, not a single no thank you, we'll think about it, nada.
This term for mayor is a critical one. We are at a juncture where we can continue to grow and see positive change, or we can sit here and stagnate, we need action as a community, swift, deliberate, decisive action, and such silence, and unwillingness to participate in the debate at IUS is not indicative of that. And you have no idea how much it pains me to say that in such a public way.
csd619, Yes, but I understand from Dick Kaukus (C-J) there are several town forums planned for debates and questions from the public will be handled. I'm trying to get the dates now, and places, and times, etc.
Will let you know when I hear something. Thanks.
Update.
Received a another reply from Mr. Matthews, Floyd Republican Chairman. Being private emails, I am not going into details about his reponse, but he has promised to keep me informed of when and where Mr. Hubbard will speak and be available for questions.
GOP--2
DEMO--0
Do the local Democrats really not want to be contacted? Perhaps nationally I will remain bascically a Democrat but locally...
IAMHOOSIER, Local politics are local politics, end of story. Thanks for keeping me updated. Truly appreciate it.
IAH
Write it up, and we'll publish (GOP 2, Demos 0)
RAB
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