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