I've got good news and bad news.First, the good news. Easton Undressed will be posting ten question over ten days to Easton's mayoral and city council candidates. This is a terrific public service and great blogging. The mainstream media will be the first to agree it simply lacks the space to cover local races in such detail, but people are still very hungry for precisely that kind of information .
Now, the bad news. Only half the candidates bothered to answer EU's questionnaire. Gary "West End" Bertsch is still talking at the State, and Jeff Warren is more interested in just buying this election than responding to pesky questions.
Whatever their answers may be, I'd like to commend Mayor Sal Panto (whose signs proudly sport the same colors as the Easton Rovers) and council wannabes Roger Ruggles (the LV's Engineer of the Year), Bill Timmann and Elinor Warner. They showed up. As for the others, I'd really like to know for certain why they ignored the questionnaire.
Update: EU's Terrance Hand prepared this candidate questionnaire. "We emailed them all. And I spoke to each of them about it."
10 comments:
What a disgrace on the part of the candidates that didn't respond. I can only imagine one reason for not responding -- they don't have a plan! If they were serious candidates they would have a plan NOW not "when I get in office." I am really offended by Bertsch who claims to have moved to Easton after being an absentee landlord in the West Ward, the same area he claims to have now helped --- NOT! Where's your plan Gary -- oh, it must be at Sunnyside.
For those of you who know Sal you know that he is quit witted and always has a retort. He showed that at the NAACP debate when his opponent stated twice that he was going to Palmer Township that night to fight a 3200 unit residential project. When Sal got up he said "Mr. Bertsch if you want to voice your opposition you need to go to Forks Township not Palmer township and the audience roared. Well at the State Bertsch stated twice that the city-owned swimming facility on Rt. 611 was called Sunnyside and Sal you let him slide. you were much too kind because those of us in the audience roared.
Be that as it may, Bertsch not responding to the questions shows that your campaign has been superficial at best constantly talking about the WW program you get paid to administer and the fact that you are a recruiter. Me, I want a leader, I want a Mayor not afraid to say we have problems and has a plan to address the problems. My vote is now for Sal.
Anon 1:00,
As election day draws closer, readership intensifies on the local blogs. Mine has gone up in the last two weeks becuse people really are hungry. They look for details, something that will help them make up their mind.
I commend sal for taking the time to respomnd to EU. I commend the other candidates who did so as well.
I condemn those candidates who have so little regard for the voter that they couldn't be bothered to answer ten questions in an important city race.
These are Gary Bertsch, Jeff Warren, Ken Brown and Pete Melan. Shame on them all.
Bernie,
A slight clarification. I did not come up with the questions by my lonesome. Catherine Walters, Mike Krill, and I actually had a 3 hour face-to-face session to develop the questions.
I'll email you a copy. Or would you rather take them day-by-day?
I feel strongly that ALL candidates and office holders should be as accessible as possible to the public. My phone number has been published in the book since I was a teacher in the Easton Area School District and has never been unlisted. The public has the right and more importantly the responsibility to learn as much as possible about the candidates before they vote. I will meet or respond to questions at any time.
Thank you.
They opted not to use questions from me since they all ended in "baBaBooey!"
Terrance works tirelessly to be the C-Span of our elections here.
He uses many personell time off and his own money to fund his efforts.
Today A freind contacted me over a matter I spoke of at the first council meeting in august. the clerk summerized what I spoke on. I spoke in defense of John Zeilinski in opposition of his termination questioning it. It was listed I spoke on the matter for terminating him.
A close person in Johns life saw that on the minutes today and thought I supported his terminattion. I did not. And still support him on the department.
EU's audio clearly has me speaking. And gives a better tale than council minutes.
Also Terrance is far more levelheaded and subdued than I. Hes a better watchdog.
I can become one of the Vick dogs with opponents at times.
Ken Browns now wife did request at a council meeting some time back to ban terrance recording the audio. There was a incident not related to council with the Browns someone posted on the blog.
Thats more than likely why Ken has refused to even speak in a Q&A during the primaries.
I like Ken as a Person. I don't get why he refuses to speak to EU.
Mr. Panto,
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with the remainder of your campaign. I look forward to seeing Easton move forward.
Spike, I am very impressed by the effort that Terrance has put into this, and know that he and that "Bad Apple" are tireless citizen activists.
If Mr. Brown refuses to answer these questions, he does not deserve to be re-elected. he is not insulting EU, but the many folks who read that blog at election time.
H/C, I really like the way you're doing this. it gives us detailed exposure to the candidates over a period of time. I'll take the day by day view. I just want to say again what a terrific idea this is.
Bernie,
Thanks for the good words.
Not everyone responds to us new wave journalistas in the same way. As we build our records, they will come.
I'd like to thank my good friend Spike for spelling Terrance correctly.
If any of you run into Jeff Warren please ask him how he is spending his money.
Your neighbor
ps Bernie,
We haven't forgotten about the blogger summit. Just wanna finish the elections first.
Oopsie!
Just noticed I misspelled your name in my blog. Will correct. Mea culpa.
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