Lattimore, Dempsey need to explain their actions

Monday, October 8, 2007 9:52 AM EDT

A recent internet poll conducted by The Citizen newspaper asked the following question: “Is the ”Brawl at City Hall“ between councilor David Dempsey and Mayor Tim Lattimore an important issue to discuss in this year's Auburn mayoral campaign?”
My vote in this poll was yes, and I am writing to explain why.

Elections present the voters with an opportunity to hold elected officials accountable.

This November's election presents the people of Auburn with their first chance to hold Dempsey and Lattimore accountable since their infamous “brawl,” which made Auburn the laughing stock of upstate New York.

While their “brawl” was the feature event, their last three years on the city council have also been tainted by constant bickering, between the two of them.

The opportunity to hold them accountable is to demand from the both of them an explanation for why they have behaved in such a manner.

Their fight, however, isn't the only issue they need to explain to the people of Auburn.

The people should be looking for an explanation from both Dempsey and Lattimore on other matters, including:

Why did they both agree to pay a $3,000 severance package to the mayor's former secretary, in exchange for her promising not to sue the city?

Where are the 1,500 jobs that Mayor Lattimore promised as the hallmark of his campaign four years ago?

Why did Councilor Dempsey quit as the chairman of the Auburn Industrial Development Authority in August of 2006?

This campaign is certainly the appropriate time for the people of Auburn to get an explanation from both Dempsey and Lattimore.

It will be interesting to see if they are both willing to offer the public an explanation for their behavior which surely has impacted the taxpayers and tainted the business of City Hall.

Chuck Mason

Auburn

The Citizens' Say

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There are 7 comment(s)

omg wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:55 AM:

" I want to know about the fight between Lacey & Dempsey. Let's talk about the taxpayers Mr. Mason & keep to the issues...not the small time gossip you like to promote. "

cyreenus wrote on Oct 8, 2007 9:44 PM:

" Mr Morgan: Please tell us once and for all who you are backing for Mayor. Please don't give us an answer like "anyone but Quill". Who are you backing, Lattimore or Dempsey???? The time to sit the fence and see who wins is over. It is time to commit to ONE candidate, so who will it be? You can answer this right? It really doesn't matter who wins to you, right? You are just backing ONE candidate? Mistakes ARE mistakes, and we all make them. Was it Dempsey's mistake to vote in the FD contract? Was it Lattimore's mistake to abstain (thus voting yes)? Was it Lattimore's mistake to institute a "hiring freeze", thus ballooning the FD overtime? Let the blame fall on those who had the power to change things. The Mayor and Council, not Quill. Have you ever been to Union negotiations for the Auburn FD? Which side of the table was Quill on? Did Quill have a chance to vote on the contract? NO? Why are you leading people to believe that he did? So now, with the overtime starting to sky-rocket again, do we still blame Quill? When he said "unforseen circumstances" have created an overtime situation, you and those of your ilk wanted to blame him for mismanagement. Unforseen Circumstances have again happened...but it is still Quill's fault, right? For those of you who wish to follow Jerry morgan, I am sorry. You are like lambs to a slaughter. The voters of the City of Auburn have proven time and again what the think of Morgan. Yet I digress... So Jerry, it is time to commit. WHO IS YOUR CHOSEN CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR? "

gman wrote on Oct 8, 2007 8:17 PM:

" Chuck: there is no need to bring this dirt up. It is over an done with. We all know what happened and why. The Dempsey family and Lattimore's have suffered enough. This has nothing to do with the capaign. They do not need to go public with what happened. You will do what ever you can to make your boy Quill look good. As far as Tim bringing 1500 jobs to Auburn we all know this is a pipe dream. He should have said he will try to minimize the jobs lost in Auburn to 1500. This is all typical hype at campaign time. That's why I don't vote and I don't complain about who wins either because they are all the same! Art Wenzel for Mayor. "Time for a Change" "

jumpykatt wrote on Oct 8, 2007 5:08 PM:

" If Lattimore is so concerned with Auburn why doesn’t hive give back his salary and health insurance benefits to help balance the budget. Why doesn’t he look for realistic solutions to the city’s problems instead of spouting off about pipedreams. Why doesn’t Tim address the fact that his mismanagement is the reason why the city has lost so many of its top leaders and department heads during his tenure. And most importantly why didn’t he think of Auburn first before he struck another elected official in the face and left all of the citizens of his “beloved city” EMBARRESED to have Tim Lattimore as their leader?? TIM LATTIMORE GAVE US ALL A BLACK EYE! "

jlmorgansr wrote on Oct 8, 2007 3:12 PM:

" Ladies and gentlemen, Chuck Mason would like nothing better than to divert your attention away from Mike Quill and the damage that man has done to the City of Auburn. Mayor Lattimore did make a campaign promise to bring our city 1,500 jobs. However, circumstances out of his control like Alco and other companies moving out of the city, county, and country, and the national economy could not be helped. I can tell you this, we have a Mayor that is 100% dedicated to this city. He lives and breaths Auburn. Mayor Lattimore, Councilor Dempsey, Councilor Graney, and Councilor Smith, have transformed a city government from one that took care of the good old boy net work to a government that is responsive and accountable to the people that elected them. Chuck Mason would like you to forget that it was people like him, and Melina Carnicelli, and the Hunters, who took the political plumbs and gave us nothing in return. These individuals are out for themselves, and they couldn't care less about you or me. Mike Quill is also part of this organization. He quit on us twice, he is totally responsible for the 15 man minimum, he is totally responsible for the massive amounts of overtime, he is totally responsible for the budget deficits, and the only reason he is running is because he hates Mayor lattimore. Mayor Lattimore and Councilor Dempsey both have made personal mistakes while in office, but they have always placed the city of Auburn and her residents above any personal gain. Unlike Chuck Mason, and the Carnicelli family. Tim Lattimore is above reproach, he is totally dedicated to the City of Auburn. He may be a part time Mayor, but he is dedicated 24 hours of the day. Councilor Dempsey may have made some personal mistakes in his personal life, but whom amongst us has never made a mistake? Whom amongst us has never said I wish I did this or that differently? One thing I know for sure is that Mike Quill and Chuck Mason and the good ole boy net work want back in. They want Mayor lattimore out so they can put a puppet in his chair. Chuck Mason and the good ole boy net work have done everything they could do to destroy Councilor Dempsey, now they want to destroy our mayor with him. This cannot be allowed to happen. "

anonymous wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:59 PM:

" Does the waiter even own property in Auburn? Of course he isnt concerned with Mr. Quill's plan to raise taxes sky high. He has nothing to be taxed. Maybe if he were so truly interested in the City, he would show it by investing in some land here with some of his tips he makes WORKING in Skaneateles! "

anonymous wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:56 PM:

" Mr. Maso nseems a little Short sited. What we the people really need to know is why he and Katie have ruined the local Democratic party by bringing in a Carpetbagger who will be willing to raise taxes even further so he can take care of his fellow firefighters. Where is his explanation as to why overtime costs are so high, and what did he do to prevent it? Oh that's right, nothing, Mr. Quill just ran away like the coward he is!!! Isn't it time to quit, Mr. Quill? The pressure is starting to build up. "

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