Published by
Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor
Date: 9/29/2010
Post: 813
In a Letter to the Editor received this morning,
A. E. Newman of Bland calls for COUNTY UNITY.
Newman's letter is reproduced hereinbelow:
Dear Editor,
I have observed with great interest all the calls for "county unity". It seems to be the thing to do by politicians of all stripes.
But do they actually understand what they are asking for? I wonder!
IF they are calling for Northern District Associate Commissioner
Penning to cease and desist from pointing out improper and illegal actions of other Gasconade County officials, then count me out of that kind of "county unity". I think improper and illegal actions of county officials should be confronted!
IF they are calling for Northern District Associate Commissioner
Penning to cease and desist from pointing out wasteful and inefficient spending by departments of Gasconade County, then count me out of that kind of "county unity". I think wasteful and inefficient spending should ALWAYS be confronted!
IF they are calling for the Mayor of Hermann
Larry Miskel to shut up and remain silent when he is not properly notified that the Governor of Missouri will be visiting the city which he has been elected to represent, then count me out of that kind of "county unity". I agree with Mayor
Miskel that it IS proper protocol and just common courtesy to notify the mayor of any city in the county when a high ranking government official will be visiting that city. The Mayor was justified in voicing his objections for not being notified of the recent visit of Governor
Jay Nixon to Hermann. Those who seek to categorize his recent objections as improper are idiots!
IF they are calling for citizens of the county to cease and desist from filing a formal complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission if and when they believe a county official has done something unethical in the conduct of their official duties, then count me out of that kind of "county unity". The Missouri Ethics Commission is tasked with investigating legitimate ethics complaints. Anyone who seeks to intimidate a citizen of this county and dissuade them from filing a formal complaint against a government official who has potentially acted unethically is not a person I can respect.
Yes, we do need COUNTY UNITY, but not the type of unity that some having been advocating! We need to unite together as citizens of Gasconade County in our common demands for:
- transparency in government,
- accountability in government,
- honesty in government,
- professionalism in government, and
- efficiency in government.
Please feel free to publish my letter on your website.
Sincerely,
A. E. Newman
Bland, MO
Candidate for Southern District Associate Commissioner of Gasconade County
