As a mayor who believes in open and transparent government, I am offering up my reflections on today's videotaped debate on Public TV between me and my opponent.
Councilman Jeff Smith went on the attack at one point basicly calling me a liar and demonstrating the strident tenor he wants to bring to the job of mayor. The back and forth was spirited with Mr. Smith taking aim at this blog.
He says the blog is bad for government. I say people have a right to know what their mayor is doing and thinking. He says secrets are revealed here...I say, discretion is always the order of the day and there are lots of things I do and talk about you don't read here. In any event I would rather err on the side of open government.
Moderator Jeff Cole...one of three Jeffs on the set....tried to pin us both down for failures that occured during our watch.
I stressed temperment and judgement, as well as an ability to make the council/manager system of government work well....And when it doesn't work well, I know how to correct a situation.
My opponent said he has the values a citizen can respect and that he is a "family man" and father of four children.
Mr. Smith also touted alternative energy and claimed he is living the dream by having solar panels at his home.
It was spirited and likely worth watching....
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18 comments:
Mayor, your blog is great! I read it every day for the "northern news" and even when we have different opinions I respect and revere your openness.....all government leaders should be more open and in touch with people.
I can't vote for you here, but the other guy talking about alternative energy....brings to mind wind boondoggles and more lines passing through our town...
Good Luck!
Shawn Doyle
Oswego County Leg.
So, speaking your mind is bad for government?What are we supposed to be afraid of,a mayor that tells it like it is and let's the chips fall where they may,or somebody who can't deal with this silly kind of open speech..open govt is why we want to be Americans fa' chrissakes..
This forum is just fine with the average Joe,if he does not like it he can always 'not' click on the button to enter in!I find the blog arena a place to keep up with current events.I pay attention to what is worth it' it's a choice to how they want to take it.He does not like it becouse it's simply to your advantage.
Why would a "family man" want to spend the time needed to be mayor?
As a fellow family man, I question the logic, reasoning, and (alterior?) motive(s) of Mr. Smith.
I agree with Juston on this one. But we have to remind ourselves that there are many who would love a return to the days where there were limited sources of information. The story could be much more easily controlled in those days. Witness one of my favorites here on this blog who hates FOX News at every turn, dreaming of the days when it was only the big three. Blogs are the same thing. People are afraid of open discussions.
Smith is just kissing the old media a$$
Graham has always kept the necessary stuff private, like hiring a new clerk or settling the suit over the cop shooting. And then he is open government for everything else. Yea, that's a good thing to make an issue of in an election...Keep up the strategy Mr. Smith.
Either of you have a plan for eliminating city property taxes, as some municipalities have done?
And then you have those people who are foolish enough to think that Fox is a legitimate news source.
Mr Graham keep it up, this blog will ultimately cost u enough votes to loose. Please smartin up and cease and desist. Then u may have a chance!!
Since i have NO dog in this hunt and live in Ogdensburg i believe i can be objective.
I feel that anyone who bases criticism on the use of social media to air differing points of view and or the same points of view is either a "Luddite" ,or has a very limited view of the transition from traditional media to social media as the emerging and SOON to driver of information.
Whether this notion be wrong or right is irrelevant - it simply is becoming the medium of choice for an increasing number and soon majority of new/political/sports junkies .
Traditional Media Bias has been TRUMPED by Blogs /FB/Twitter/ streaming video/ and all the "instantaneous news" outlets . No one waits for the "rumor Confirmers" we used to call newspapers or the 6-7 'o clock newscycle to give us "THEIR SPIN"
So it must be a pretty weak platform that leverages that as a criticism .
OK back to Ogdensburg : We need a new Mayor -- want the job ?? :>))
If the City errs at the ballot box, come south of the border Mr. Mayor, we're on our third Mayor in three weeks and elections are in March!
Shawn Doyle
Pulaski
Hee Hee...how come none of you out of city dwellers are trying to recruit Smith? He wants a mayor job BAAAAAD!
I'm with 10:45 pm on this one. I can’t imagine anyone criticizing Fox News.
And I don’t care if Roger Ailes said he “didn’t hire Sarah Palin as an on-air commentator because of her lacerating wit or insight into domestic and foreign affairs, but rather because she was hot and got good ratings…”
I don’t care if it’s just a ratings battle with the other networks -- damn it… Fox is wining and I love them for it!
1:06 is afraid. He wants to go back to the days of CBS/NBC/ABC/AP. People like him hate other sources of news. Clearly, most don't agree. FOX kicks their butts for a reason. People see the bias of the others. I understand the fear. The intellectual superiority expressed by 1:06 is what gets the MSM in trouble with regular folks.
7:52, I couldn’t agree more. People like 1:06 are fearful and afraid of the truth.
Everybody knows those other obsolete news sources are bias and have an agenda. The reason why Fox News kicks their butts is because they are fair and balanced with no particular agenda.
Ordinary people like us know this and that’s why we aren’t intellectually superior.
People see that. Thank you for pointing it out.
I always love the way 1:06 and the ilk always spouts the same old thing. Its like someone wrote it on their diapers so they have to believe it. Not a lot of independent thought.
Yawn… It’s even more amusing to watch predictable and boring simpletons like 12:09AM and his brand become so easily bothered and preoccupied by other people’s comments that supposedly lack independent thought...
So much so in fact, that he feels compelled to respond repeatedly with his hobbled and incoherent thought process.
Sadly, delusion is, and will always be… his only friend.
Oh c'mon 1:27. I said I hate Fox News. I said the Tea Party is racist. I said it was George Bush's fault. I said no blood for oil. I said make the rich pay their fair share, and that nobody leaves NY because of taxes, and schools are neat just as they are, and Obama is doing a great job. I said I hate Sarah Palin, Newtie, all Republicans forever. Wait a minute, that wasn't me, that was you who said that. Several thousand times. In fact that's all you ever say, 'cause you're incapable of thinking by yourself. And you call me predictable? Ok Bro.
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