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.

Ultimately, with Whitehall landlocked and most of the available land already in use with no real empty expanses in which to unleash the political aspirations and fevered egos of civic leaders, the city (and no doubt, developers) are stymied by this quandary that is Whitehall. We have seen some inventiveness at City Hall as seen in the use of fallow land in Whitehall Community Park for the Heartland Bank, as well too the acquiring of the golf dome to build office space and increase (in a better way) the park’s acreage. Unfortunately, we have also seen scurrilous means they’ve used in trying to obtain land for their projects; abusing the governmental powers of eminent domain to build what they’re calling a ‘street’* into the proposed Norton Crossing, as well as their abuse of power regarding the Woodcliffe area, as detailed in this particular post, and others:

https://votedixon.com/2015/10/30/woodcliff-v-whitehall-part-two-the-pirates-of-whitehall/

To these means I have this to say: Columbus is growing and Whitehall has a natural advantage in that growth as a bedroom community within the outerbelt. And yet, the reality of Whitehall’s available land for development along with our economic realities, stymies their ability to take advantage of this good fortune, particularly in areas that are desirous for development. In their zeal to ‘compete’ and to show that they’re more than the perception the public have of ‘Whitehall’, they have been going to some exhaustive measures (reasonably and unreasonably) to circumvent and circumnavigate the many prongs of this dilemma (as noted in the two examples above). There are two problems I have with their movements:

Firstly, being that we have been a city on the skids, we are in no position to be other than either, a) beggars for business and residents, or, b) an inexpensive banquet for people and developers wanting to save money, because in a place that’s fallen down, everything is cheaper (Despite our distinct advantage in a growing city (Columbus) that our location will naturally benefit from in the coming years). However, we do have greater worth and they’re letting it go for a song.

It is no figment of my imagination to say that things (real estate, homes, etc.) are cheaper here than hotter commodities like German Village or Clintonville. This is natural and I have no judgement of it other than as an observation only. It’s the truth. However, Whitehall’s rise will happen, it is nearly impossible for it to not given its locational and economic advantages but, City Hall is unwilling to allow that to happen organically for the greatest benefit to its citizens, those who already live here. (Note now that I am championing and arguing for the citizens) They’re champing at the bit ready to make it all happen yesterday and instead of showing patience, waiting on this natural movement to happen, wherein Whitehall would be the deciders and full beneficiaries of the placement of development, they’re inorganically trying to fill up the empty spaces by offering tax incentives to companies to jump start that which will come anyway, thereby losing important full tax revenue and organic placement of development right for our community over right for developers. This is because they don’t properly value their position and/or are too nervous and impatient (and ignorant) of social/economic waves to simply relax and wait for the wave to come. They’re acting like beggars instead of bosses who know their (our) true value.

A self-aware person who knows their worth doesn’t accept or invite into their life the first person who makes advances merely because they want to go to the dance. They know their worth, they play the field and hold out for that quality ‘other’ that is worthy of them. Anything less cheapens their standing and true worth. If that person has any understanding of how things work, and is smart, they will make certain they come out the winner given the assets they have to offer and not simply hang a sign out their window saying, ‘Opportunity is here’, that which telegraphs a beggars come-on of which profiteers flock to take advantage of. So then too, it appears our Mayor doesn’t properly value the true worth of our city. Given her hunger for self-aggrandizement it is no surprise that she’ll do whatever she needs to with our city (and the higher principals of the office she holds) in order to go to the dance, that event where you get a feather in your cap, not for the full merit of your dance (both apparent and what lies beneath) but, simply, because you showed up.

Believe me, despite the movements and machinations of Mayor Maggard or anyone else in this city’s government, Whitehall will rise. It is inevitable. The question is, will Whitehall City Hall’s neediness get in the way of our own wave of success and/or will those in power make whatever success happens work for the citizens themselves, those who are Whitehall? This brings me to my second problem with their current movements.

I believe it is a disloyalty to the Whitehall that exists to introduce a development with “upscale apartments, office and retail use”  in a city that is primarily lower to middle income, middle-class, as it has always been. We know what ‘upscale’ is code for; wealthy over middle-class and poor, profits over people. A repudiation of Whitehall’s core citizenry, this ultimate disloyalty to all the people, past and present, who made Whitehall what it was and is. She who takes up the Ram cheer while underneath dismantles and destroys its very tenets and long-held traditions. (‘City of Pride’ anyone?) Allowing forces to deconstruct and reconstruct things to rid it of its profit-killing lower/middle-class ‘odor’. That ‘odor’ which doesn’t smell like money and that I and most everyone in Whitehall ‘gives off’. In an organic movement, it is we, the actual citizens of Whitehall who would benefit and bask in our community’s wave of economic good fortune, that which our Mayor would insist we (those who already live here and have done so through thick and thin) be the ultimate beneficiaries of. This inorganic push for ‘something/anything‘ brings us that which will benefit others but, I believe, will ultimately be the socio-economic arrow that pierces the true and loyal heart of Whitehall.

That which lies beneath
*  As you can see by this proposal, it looks like City Hall has simply jammed this ‘street’ into the draft so they could take the man’s property who owns the strip shopping center there on Hamilton Road. Instead of giving him what its ultimate worth is to the city (in the development they stand to gain from), they give him little more than its property value as an offer and are invoking eminent domain as a means to have it (They’re generous with our tax dollars at the front end but at the back end when they want to seize a man’s legal and rightful property, then they get chintzy). It is no more a ‘street’ than merely an entrance/exit into the development. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see this. Sooo, first him, then you, then anyone else who is in the way of their schemes and plans…this matters.
Not once, not ever.
Fighting this sort of abuse matters. (Just ask the strip shopping center’s owner)**.The link below is an excellent article on the issue of governments taking peoples property using eminent domain. Worth an extra read. This is my favorite part of the article:

“I thought I bought this place. But I guess I just leased it, until the city wants it,” says Jim Saleet. “That’s what makes me very angry. This is my dream home. And I’m gonna fight for it.”                                                                                                                                                   He fought, and he won. In separate votes, Lakewood residents rejected the proposed development, removed the “blight” label from the Saleets’ neighborhood, and voted Mayor Cain out of office.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eminent-domain-being-abused/

Something valuable to remember: Just because a person is elected does not mean they are free of corrupt or scurrilous behavior or that they’re working, truly, for you. It is the citizen’s responsibility to scrutinize those they place in positions of power to ensure they’re behaving in their name on the up and up. It is not enough to simply absorb whatever it is they want to tell you and have you believe during the election and then vote them in and walk away. A person’s character is in their actions, not their words. Its up to you to determine if their glowing word-banquet during the election translated into actions which show proof of a leader of trust, value and solid principals.

**It is not development, per say, that I have an issue with, it is the underhanded abuse of power which our city leaders are willing to undertake in order to have it. While I applaud economic development, I refuse to look the other way when my city’s elected leaders wrongfully take a man’s private property simply because I and everyone else get a bar of gold in the exchange. That’s not principled, that’s not ethical, that’s not right, even if I’m the only one who speaks it aloud. Isn’t that what we would call Ram Grit?

I was born and raised right here in Whitehall Ohio. I was raised neither particularly religious nor particularly gung-ho/rah-rah American (and yet, my family has been here and helped to build this country up before it was even America). In my travels and using my brain to figure things out, I had to come upon my own perceptions and understandings of those concepts as I stumbled upon them. Neither had been forced on me or given me by others. What and how I feel about these two topics are what I worked out on my own as an adult with independent, critical thinking skills. The results of which are my own private business. However…

My appreciation and love for this country and in particular, those who serve, have been assailed by the Mayor’s husband, Alex ‘Rusty’ Maggard in a venomous letter dropped off at citizens homes in Ward 1, done so to entreat them to vote for their pal, the four-term- worst-absentee-record-16-year-seat-filler-council-rep, Chris Rodriguez. He used his time in the letter to suggest my critical viewpoints and assessments of my elected public servant, Mayor Kim Maggard, were actually attacks on his family, and went further with that line of reasoning to suggest that if I attacked his family, well, then yours will be next (Your non-elected, non-public official/private citizen family!). I take great exception to his insinuation and line of reasoning because it fails to consider 1) my own family’s sacrifice and 2) one of America’s strongest and most crucial rights; the 1st Amendment, that which gives us our right and freedom to criticize our elected officials, something we couldn’t do with King George III. Mr. Maggard concludes then that any attack on his wife (the Mayor of Whitehall) is actually an attack on his family, but, here’s the thing; I didn’t criticize his wife or any of her family members who have served, I criticized my mayor. Who she’s married to, what her family situation was or is, is none of my affair, something Mr. Maggard failed to include (for his and her benefit) in his blindered endorsement of Mr. Rodriguez. So, I respond.

The photo to the left is myself and my Grandniece Caitlyn at the Daughters of the American Revolution museum just a stone’s throw from the White House in D.C. where my 9th Great-Grandparents, Ludwig and Berta Haricourt Keim’s wedding box is kept. That which their Great-Grandson, Johannes Keim, brought to America in the early 1700’s when he helped found the Oley Valley in Berks County PA. My family has been in this country at least 300 years, if not longer. We have built up and worked hard to make this country great as it is today. My Great, Great, Great Grandfather, James Solley, was a part of the GAR, Grand Army of the Republic in the Civil War.

Ph. Mate 2nd class Kenneth L. Dixon US NAVY

This is my Father and Uncle, his brother, Johnny. Both served this country with honor in World War II. My Father was lucky to be one of the survivors. His little brother was not so lucky. After his battalion (the 28th) helped liberate Paris, he went on to penetrate the Siegfried Line, entering Germany near Aachen. He was blown up in a foxhole near Harspelt Germany on Sept. 14, 1944. His remains were buried in the Burgermeister’s yard and were later disinterred by U.S. troops claiming the dead. He is doubtless interred in a mass grave in Luxemborg (no one is certain), but that is where his name is inscribed on a column at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium. He never made it home, dead at 20, his remains never visited in Europe, his family unable to afford such a                                                                                        luxury.

PFC John W. Dixon US Army

The plinth at Henri-Chapelle where his name is inscribed

My Uncle John’s only memorial

While living in Los Angeles, I contacted the Defense Dept. and inquired about the circumstances of my Uncle’s death. Not only did I find out what the details were but I also learned he had a memorial and that he had been posthumously awarded several medals his Mother or brother knew nothing about, outside of the flag and Purple Heart they’d received. As it turned out, he’d also been awarded the Bronze Star and the World War II Victory medal. I found out there was a concern where you could order these for families that had either lost or never received them. I ordered them and in 2010 or so I assembled everything in a memorial box and presented them to my nephew Kyle, the only new generation male Dixon. I took great pride and care to keep Johnny’s flag that my father entrusted to me and made sure everything regarding John’s earthly artifacts be safely and soundly ordered and passed on.

My brother Tim and I holding John’s flag aloft before folding it into the memorial box.

The presentation with my nephew Kyle and Johnny’s cousin Bob who knew Johnny as a kid. I had Bob present it to Kyle as a living continuum from John to Kyle.

Proudly protesting tyranny at John Bishop Park with a friend and a Whitehall Vietnam vet

Then there is this post where I called out Whitehall officials and defended a Vietnam veteran who was, essentially, harassed out of his home by the city’s code enforcement department. I spent hours and hours trying to help Dave Deluca against the city’s onslaught but they’re too big to fight with so few people engaged in the battle.

https://votedixon.com/2015/11/01/the-petty-tyranny-of-whitehall-code-enforcement-part-four/

Then there was the harassment of Navy veteran Tom Mentzer, a Whitehall native of 60-some years who was, again, the target and focus of Whitehall Code Enforcement. That is recounted in this blog post:

https://votedixon.com/2015/09/21/the-petty-tyranny-of-whitehall-code-enforcement-part-one/

At the end of the post I tie it all up (with new additions here) into the very essence of the problem with code enforcement and exactly how it dishonors veteran’s service to our country, no matter whose family you’re in.

Code Enforcement is, in part, used as a weapon against:
The fearful and timid
The poor
Those ignorant of law

This is done to:
“Make the city look nice”
Exert authoritarian control
Chase out ‘undesirables’
Maintain property values
Standardize the populace for business and corporate approval (as opposed to the other way around)

It is hostile to:
Freedom and Liberty…
…which disrespects veterans and dishonors their service and sacrifice.

This is why I called my mayor out. Her policies in certain areas ultimately dishonor and disrespect that service of all who have served; in my family, in your family and astoundingly, hers as well. SMH

She said this in a Council Committee meeting

There are things I would like to say to Mr. Maggard, on behalf of my Uncle John and others, but I won’t say them here. I would merely suggest to the First Gentleman of Whitehall that he do some homework and understand what exactly the 1st amendment entails and what great and time-honored value open criticism of elected public officials has in our Democracy, that which all of our loved ones who have served did so to protect. It is Mayor Maggard’s efforts to harm those freedoms fought so valiantly for which deserve the full and proper gaze of Whitehall voters, not my having criticized her for it.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

This is the literature for Ward 1 Councilman Chris Rodriguez. I’ve included it here to illustrate my concern with people who seek elected office who proffer little information to the voters, giving little to no insight into the personal makeup of the person who will exert power over their lives for the next several years. While Mr. Rodriguez claims feel-good buzz phrases like, “strengthening neighborhoods”, “improving safety” and “supporting economic development”, the fact is, these tell us nothing of the man underneath who will drive any of those things. For a clearer understanding of what has or hasn’t driven Mr. Rodriguez, I steer you to this blogpost:

https://votedixon.com/2017/10/06/whitehall-ward-1-councilman-chris-rodriguez-official-record.

Most anyone, including me, is pro-strong neighborhoods, pro-safety and pro-economic development but the character of the person driving these things is essential for the public to know, those most impacted by their decisions (Again, I refer you back to the above-referenced blogpost). What do we know about Mr. Rodriguez that he’s offered the public he wants to represent? Where is his bio? What specifically are his positions on economic development, the means to strengthening neighborhoods and improving safety? Are they heavy-handed, progressive or utilize innovation to succeed? Are the ethics of his decisions and plans considered or ignored? Where is his website dedicated to extolling his personal feelings on a myriad of topics so that citizens/voters can be more fully equipped to understand his positions? After all, those inform his decisions beyond the simplistic buzz-phrases, that which you have a right to know and he has an obligation to offer. It truly is the mark of a forthright and honest person, without having to be asked or told, to offer these things up voluntarily and gladly for the maximum benefit of those who are ‘shopping’ for a person to represent them in their government, bottom line, plain and simply.

We have seen the results of information omission all around us. We keep asking why things are getting worse. This is certainly one of the aspects at the frontlines of the solution to the worsening of things in our country. What is at the core of a person’s character that drives them? In an honest fashion we must demand to know that of people who will have impact over our lives. Buzz words and phrases and the selling of someone else’s work as your own is NOT good enough. For others in government to jump aboard the self-serving train and simplistically sell you on candidates with feel-good sentences is NOT good enough. To simply expect that the citizenry will accept the sweet pablum you mindlessly feed them is NOT good enough. To swallow that pablum and think it good enough to vote for them is NOT good enough. Not for Whitehall, not for America and not for the ideals that we’re sold generation after generation but that too many don’t actually live up to. It’s duplicitous, contemptuous and harmful to citizens and, quite frankly, I’m fed up with it. As voters I would hope you would be too.

I have told you the utter truth about myself and that of our elected officials, whom I’ve observed with critical thinking and judgement skills now for several years (Those skills which the Whitehall school system itself impressed upon me!). I respect you enough to trust in your capabilities to process information given and with it, make the fairest and best decisions for you and Whitehall itself, regardless of the outcome for myself. I was raised to believe that good and honorable people will rise and that honesty, and truth, are the best policy. I was taught it at the knee of my Mother and her parents, as well as the best ideals society inspires us to (which includes the director Frank Capra). As such, giving the public all the information they need to make such an informed and valuable decision as to whom will represent their interests in office, has been underneath all these writings and exposure of my life and character to you…because I owe you that much. It is done so out of the highest degree of respect for you, those I ask to trust me to represent them and all the democratic processes which have made this country so great and which continue to inspire all of us towards what better possibilities there are for each of us.

For those who prefer audio over the written word, I provide you with this important post.

In the mayor’s messaging (and that of some of her picks running for council), we have seen the message ‘Moving Whitehall Forward’ (as if the rest of us want to move it backward!). While that is a statement anyone with reason could get behind, it naturally doesn’t tell you the whole story. (By ‘Naturally’ I mean the parts Mayor Maggard never discloses or mentions publicly but which one can find with investigation, like I have.) That rest of the story which has been documented here which includes underhanded behavior within the movement of this progressive statement.

I created this version of my yard sign you’ve seen across Ward 1 as a tongue-in-cheek jab at their feel-good messaging. Its one thing to move Whitehall forward but in what spirit and with what actions are you doing so? I maintain Mayor Maggard has, on occasion, abused the power of her office to ‘move Whitehall forward’ and so, it is not enough to simply trust that is the only thing she or others will do within that. As such, I will remind her and everyone else, that one must do so in an ethical fashion. After all, they are representing us, not just themselves.

http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/phil%20115/Four_Basic_principles.htm

The ethical principles I speak of and which should inform every elected officials actions are these then:

Four fundamental ethical principles (a very simple introduction)
• The Principle of Respect for autonomy
Autonomy is Latin for “self-rule” We have an obligation to respect the autonomy of other persons, which is to respect the decisions made by other people concerning their own lives. This is also called the principle of human dignity. It gives us a negative duty not to interfere with the decisions of competent adults, and a positive duty to empower others for whom we’re responsible.

Corollary principles: honesty in our dealings with others & obligation to keep promises.
• The Principle of Beneficence

We have an obligation to bring about good in all our actions.

Corollary principle? We must take positive steps to prevent harm. However, adopting this corollary principle frequently places us in direct conflict with respecting the autonomy of other persons.
• The Principle of nonmaleficence

(It is not “non-malfeasance,” which is a technical legal term, & it is not “nonmalevolence,” which means that one did not intend to harm.)

We have an obligation not to harm others: “First, do no harm.”

Corollary principle: Where harm cannot be avoided, we are obligated to minimize the harm we do.

Corollary principle: Don’t increase the risk of harm to others.

Corollary principle: It is wrong to waste resources that could be used for good.

Combining beneficence and nonaleficence: Each action must produce more good than harm.
• The Principle of justice
We have an obligation to provide others with whatever they are owed or deserve. In public life, we have an obligation to treat all people equally, fairly, and impartially.
Corollary principle: Impose no unfair burdens.

Combining beneficence and justice: We are obligated to work for the benefit of those who are unfairly treated.

Finally, I find it ultimately sad having to even remind elected leaders of these most basic tenets of self-governing; the movements of ourselves which direct our behavior and actions in life and society.

Below is, I believe, the most important paragraph in my blogpost ‘Whitehall Ohio: The City of No’. It ultimately begs the question; ‘Who exactly is it ‘we the people’ are “complying” for?’ Is it ourselves, the citizens, or elected leaders working in concert with corporate entities? Are they here for us or are we now here for them? I believe it is them for us and not the other way around but if some of those in power continue to have their way, unfettered, it will increasingly be us that is here for them. Mark my words.
**This is why they resist my people-centric/ethics-centric election to office.**

The quote:

“I believe this is what drives Whitehall’s leaders. They want to inorganically change and shape Whitehall into something they want it to be, not raise up, promote and better what actually is. They do this with heavy-handed code enforcement which either chases out those that don’t fit into their ‘vision’ or standardizes them through harassment and fines until they bend to their will and become, as the code office says, “compliant”. A bland, standardized, sanitized, uninteresting, corporatized sameness through compliance, one that they’re comfortable with but which offers up a community with little to no character and little to no interest, either to the citizen or visitor. This is City Hall’s ultimate vision and I think it is causing irreparable harm to our future. It has put Whitehall into a difficult position; trying to find its identity and future while in the upheaval of change, within the stifling, hemmed-in climate of ‘No!’“