In a final analysis of the election just passed, I would like to say a couple things. Firstly, congratulations to Mr. Rodriguez for garnering the most votes in the election. On a personal note, I wish him well. That said, I believe the wrong person was elected. This is why I feel that way, the answer may surprise you.

Outside of the usual grouping of things you would expect; I ran a campaign to win, not to lose…I presented comprehensive investigative proof of my opponents record (which included the worst absenteeism record in 16 years)… I outspent him 3 to 1… he has been in there 16 years, despite term limits… he is part of what I’ve long identified as ‘The Family’, a group whose inter-donating and inter-endorsing keeps everyone else out who they don’t want… I filmed videos… published incisive, critical posts, etc., there is something more. That more is what I would’ve brought to the table, that which would have been warmly welcomed and that which would’ve been hated. Despite my issues with what Mayor Maggard has done wrong, I would have totally worked with her on every single thing of merit that she, Zach Woodruff or any others would’ve brought forth. Sounds perfectly good and reasonable, right? As well, I would’ve brought a deep and wide storehouse of knowledge and understanding on a variety of topics which are excellent for a city council member; sociology, city planning, psychology, an ability to stay on point, argue points successfully and elevate the topics to better than some I’ve heard at the table. So too, whether you can believe it or not, I also possess restraint. Saying what needs to be said when it needs to be said and knowing when to keep it close to the vest. (Misbehaving, disrespectful elected officials rightly don’t deserve that level of my restraint) As well, I am a hard worker, determined, thorough and who likes to get things done. I respect rules and law and always strive to do the right thing I’m tasked to do. Taped to the windowsill right next to my computer is a list of character traits I try my best to live up to.

They are the elemental things that my Mother and her parents instilled in me; a sense of right and wrong, hard work, honesty, etc. That is why it is only a foot from my desk.
The point of all this is this; all that I just listed are terrific traits any citizen would want in an elected official. With these, I don’t just believe I would’ve done a better job than Chris Rodriguez, I know I would’ve. The problem with all of this though is simple; if Mayor Maggard or anyone else would’ve tried to pass something through that skirted the law or disrespected citizens or abused their rights through the power of her office, I would’ve voted ‘no’ on it, and while that single ‘no’ vote in a sea of ‘yesses’ would have made no difference in the actions outcome, it still would’ve sent a signal to the community and the world that something wasn’t right, both in their actions and within the vaunted Maggard administration. She simply must keep up appearances and not let a scintilla of doubt or dissent muddy her vainglorious ascent to Whitehall’s Mt. Olympus. That is why she had this flier distributed only four days before election day…

The most ridiculous notion in this flier is that Chris Rodriguez will “support wise economic development”, ‘help reduce crime and increase safety’ and “reduce blight and bring new opportunity” but I wouldn’t. As if any of these positive things are something I would fight against (insert eye-roll here). Her intimation is absurd. What she doesn’t mention (but is vital) is that Councilman Rodriguez will either look the other way, willingly participate or not even investigate legislation/actions that harm and trod on people’s rights, as he has shown in the public record of his yes-man behavior when things have happened that were troubling to citizens and their rights. When the law is in the way of Mayor Kim Maggard’s ‘vision’, we can’t have any do-gooder Boy Scouts mucking up her ultimate glory. Councilman Rodriguez will accord her the victories she so craves. Not some “ill-tempered” rights-defending idealist with integrity, or to put it another way, we can’t have a guard dog hanging around when the foxes are in the hen house.

“Chris Rodriguez is focused on YOU!” (Worst absentee record of any council member in 16 years resulting in over $4200 of taxpayer money being paid to him for being absent)

Adding to this Democratic Mayor endorsing a Republican candidate over this Democrat; Gerald Dixon, there is also the ‘letter’ from the Mayor’s husband, which was distributed to doors in Ward One at the same time. In the flier, Councilman Rodriguez was practically deified while I was raked across the coals for having not considering the feelings more of Mayor Maggard’s family when I exercised my 1st Amendment rights to protest her actions. Those actions my public servant Mayor Maggard took which undermined and trod on citizen’s civil rights, those same civil rights Americans throughout this country’s history have fought and died to protect and keep from harm from the very likes of designing bureaucrats and officials like her. I have posted the flier below.

A few months back I’d spoken with Councilman Rodriguez to verify his new address in Parklawn Apartments. At that time he told me, due to the hurricanes in Texas and Florida, that he was going to be busy with his job and so “I’d pretty much have the Ward to myself campaigning”. It seemed to look that way as I put signs out and distributed literature. I finally saw some people I didn’t recognize distributing his ‘literature’, a simple matte postcard with a badly sized old photo of him and his campaign sign slogan; ‘Our City Councilman’. I never saw him nor felt his presence, even when signs were put out. I felt they were distributed by others. It is my belief that because I was outspending him and making quite an effort to win over what his output was, the Mayor was afraid his lacks efforts weren’t going to help him win. Thus, the fliers at the last minute where I wouldn’t have the funds or time to rebut them. Its classic politics but questionable ethically. These, I believe, along with her making election day appearances at polling stations helped him, last minute, to win. Why? Again, because we can’t have a do-gooder Boy Scout in there pointing out misdeeds. This is precisely why the ones who lost (specifically Leslie LaCorte, Lee Stahley and myself) were the stand alone, outspoken individuals who weren’t afraid to do their job and if necessary, say ‘no’ to Kim Maggard if it was the right thing to do. Outside of the Werther/Morrison race, she backed the candidates she felt would be most receptive and pliable with her. Sadly, despite my clarion calls all these years and all the evidence I’ve compiled, the majority of the few voters that actually voted, could only see the gold bricks Kim Maggard was piling up at City Hall and not the misdeeds hidden in the shadowy corners of it’s basement.

In the final numbers of the election, it is clear that very few registered voters voted. I said this in a blogpost previously and I certainly entreated citizens to get out and vote, but, they didn’t listen. It is a lament that both sides of this issue agree on. Out of 2,657 registered voters in Ward One, only 426 voted or, 16%. Mr. Rodriguez garnered only 8.43% of registered voters for the opportunity to lead an entire Ward. It is not a mandate and never really is. When people say my approach, post-election, is bitterness, they’re wrong, it is disappointment and anger. These numbers and everything I wrote on the subjects spell it out so well. They won out in terms of tangible things citizens see or want but the community lost out on deeper issues of respect and rights and culpability and trust and ethical morality. Whitehall has ‘won’ in terms of buildings and businesses but we have lost in terms of our character and spirit. That which a small minority of voters decided wasn’t important.

As far as my blogpost on Councilman Rodriguez’ time in office, there were some who questioned its validity. To them I offer up my notes which I compiled the evidence of his 15 1/2 years in office. The vastness and order of them show how I spent those 20 lovely Spring days last June.

Ultimately, I accept and understand that Chris Rodriguez was elected to what amounts to a fifth term. I do not dispute that nor the numbers which got him there. My entire issue is that a man undeserving of the seat, helped by a mayor who abuses citizens rights and the power of her office, have won again. He has largely not introduced nor crafted legislation that has made this city become better, that is others work which he merely nodded his head to. He cared more about himself than the citizens he represents when he missed more meetings than any other councilperson and didn’t think twice about taking their money that he didn’t earn. He cared more about keeping a seat and extra income than he did the honor in doing the right thing by the citizens, as did his fellow councilpersons who allowed this ultimate wrong.

They say, ‘fight where you stand’, as I did in Los Angeles and in NYC. Right now, I am here in my hometown of Whitehall, I have seen that which touches my fighting spirit and that is the damage by some in office who would harm its ethical soul, and with it our democratic processes and the U.S. Constitution itself. If I ever leave in the future, I will take my fighter’s spirit with me and do what I can to make the next place I land better. That’s how it goes with me. You either care or you don’t, half measures avail us of nothing.