Let the Sunshine on Former T.A. Kempen
The NDN editorialized on opening up former Town Admin's parting agreement for public scrutiny. The title is "Secrecy over Kempen deal helps no one." Well, it obiously helps a few, doesn't it, or it wouldn't be secret.
Besides the threat of a Kempen lawsuit for "disparaging and untrue" comments by Council members. Hmm, now who would that be? Who made public comments: Barrows, Mello, Rodrigues. Who voted to keep it shh! Barrows, Santos, Mello, Rodrigues.
Instead of being able to move on from a relationship that was terminated before it was contractually obligated to end, the council is living under the shadow of questions: How much did the town really ay Gerald S. Kempen so that he could return to the private sector? What claims did Kempen actually have about "certain town officials" impeding his ability to do his job, leading to his resignation in December.
It continues:
No wonder people are angry. No wonder they are distrustful. But this is an election year, so they can do something about it.
It will be interesting to see if the NDN endorsements reflect this editorial statement. Which candidates have publicly stated that this whole incident needs a heckuva lot of sunshine thrown on it: Spillane (me), Silveira, Sylvia, VonVillas, Christy, Viveiros.
That be it.
2 comments:
This Kempen issue begs the question of non-partisan local elections? Let me explain, if you look back at the last election the endorsed democrats ran with, yes, along side, republican's Barrow and Santos.
Is it any surprise the four-some (Rodriguez, Mello, Barrow and Santo) voted together and protected one another?
I can't help to think, If the party system was respected the checks and balance would have most likely prevented such embarrassing, ignorant, and foolish behavior.
I don't remember any opposing parties running together in Middletown's history. Maybe the story of the Rodriguez family being republicans is true after all.
In addition to Ed Silveira, I am pleased to have the opportunity to support several good independents candidates this year. We must all work to defeat Barrow & Santos this election they have to go!
Thanks for the comment. Sorry that you had trouble posting- my computer woes continue.
Yes, it was a very strange election last time. Yes, a strange alliance was formed & exacerbated matters. But then the same thing happened recently in Newport, yes?
Non-partisan or partisan elections wouldn't stop these allegiances being formed. Whoever can obtain the most votes wins! One could mandate that the top two vote-getters are Chair & Vice-Chair, although top vote-getter is no guarantee of who ability to run a meeting, much less form coalitions.
Candidates may well pledge to play nice, but as we've seen here in Midd., they don't always mean it.
I think that the public outcry here, though, may have changed matters for awhile. Certainly, the face of our Council MUST change with at least 3 new faces.
Like I keep saying, voters need to stay informed, support candidates that they like and... VOTE! I'm certainly hearing a real mandate for local change which I haven't heard in a LONG time.
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