This morning's Standard-Examiner Weber Plus section has a splendid array of articles focusing on all contested municipal races in next Tuesday's 2007 General election:
First, we highlight today's headline articles, presenting biographical information for each of the mayoral candidates:
Susan Van Hooser
Matthew Godfrey
Next, we link two more articles, in question and answer form, setting forth the main platforms of each mayoral candidate:
Susan Van Hooser
Matthew Godfrey
Finally, the Std-Ex provides brief articles pertaining to each of the three contested council seats:
Ogden Council Ward 4
Ogden Council At-large "A"
Ogden Council At-large "C"
All-in-all, we consider this a decent piece of work by the Std-Ex contributing staff, taking into account the space limitations of paper and ink. We accordingly congratulate the Standard-Examiner for providing this additional candidate information.
In the interest of brevity, we'll dispense with our usual micro-analysis, and directly turn the floor over to our gentle readers to complete that task.
What say you, gentle readers?
What did the Std-Ex get right; and what (if anything) did they get wrong?
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20 comments:
On Godfrey's Re-election:
There's a letter somewhere in the blizzard of letters in the SE this morning that says in essence that a Van Hooser mayoral term will not mean an end to Ogden's growth, but it will mean a difference in how that end is pursued. That struck me as exactly right, and as raising an issue that goes beyond all of the specifics about how many policemen were or were not hired, when a gun shot counts as a gun shot and when it doesn't, what the real size of Ogden's debt is and who is to be believed about that --- the state auditing agency or a Mayor in trouble for re-election --- and so on.
That overarching issue is this: can Ogden be well governed, can it continue its growth, under a Mayor to whom honor is too often a stranger and ethical conduct too often a mystery too deep for him to solve, under a Mayor who has surrounded himself with others who also seem unable to grasp the simplest concepts of decency as they relate to public men. People like Mr. Patterson who sought to use a Council member's child's drug problem against the Council member; who has just recently tried to get a state employee's supervisor to take action against him because the employee endorsed Van Hooser [though Mr. Patterson and Mr. Godfrey had no problem with that state employ taking public stands on public issues when he was on the Council and voting, more often than not, to support the Mayor's plans for the Junction]. Other close associates of the Mayor have tried to intervene with the management of private businesses to get their employees removed or at least silenced for opposing the Mayor's plans in public. Decent people do not do things like that, not even during campaigns, yet the mayor has surrounded himself with people who do.
A mayor with a working sense of honor would not use the public community TV channel to oppose a school bond issue, and then deny supporters the chance to reply on that channel. Mayor Godfrey did. A public man with a working sense of ethical conduct would not use city water bill inserts and the city website and taxpayer financed newspaper "informational" pages as his personal campaign vehicles. Mayor Godfrey did. A mayor with a sound grasp of ethical principles would not arrange insider deals for his cronies and supporters. Mayor Godfrey has. A public man with a good grasp of what honesty in office means would not continue to insist, on the city's website, that his pet project for a gondola would connect downtown Ogden with Snow Basin when Snow Basin management said repeatedly it would not, to the point that Snow Basin management had to contact the Standard Examiner to let the public know that the mayor was not being truthful. Mr. Godfrey did. [Mr. Trentelman wrote the story.]
When I was growing up in the fifties, one of the commonplaces of the day was that one of the things that set America off from the Soviet Union was that the latter's communist government believed that "the ends justify the means," and that Americans did not. Sadly, Ogden now has at its head a Mayor, seeking a third term, who does believe that the ends justify the means, that he has on all public matters, the Light, the Truth and the Way, so that any means are justified to secure those ends.
I doubt he was raised to behave that way. I am not LDS, but one of the things I like about its teaching is the challenge it poses for children to "Choose the Right." Not a bad standard at all since it introduces the idea that idea no matter who is watching or not, no matter whether you are sure you will be not be caught or not, no matter how badly you want to do something or not, you know you are doing wrong when you do it, and that alone should be enough to stop you from it. More than enough. The standard is, in adults, called "honor."
Sadly, the Mayor seems not to have a sense of honorable conduct and what it requires. It matters to him whether someone is looking or not, hence his almost pathological emphasis on secrecy in office. Based on his actions, his penchant for cronyism, his dissembling, and more, he seems unable to "choose the right," to behave ethically when he sees, or thinks he does, a faster surer way to achieve his ends by doing otherwise.
Such arrogant contempt for principled conduct almost always leads those who practice it to over-reach themselves, at great cost in the end not only to themselves and their families but to the people they claim to serve. Ask Jack Abrahamov about that. Or ex-Congressman now prisoner Duke Cunningham. Or ex-Congressman now prisoner Ney. Or Congressman Jefferson. Or Senator Vitter. Or Alberto Gonzalez. Or any of the public men [or women] who stay in office so long that they become convinced the rules do not apply to them, that whatever they do is acceptable conduct simply because they do it.
Mayor Godfrey has been wielding power now for eight years. That is long enough. The corrupting nature of power has clearly begun to erode whatever ethical standards he brought with him when he first took office. He has done some good things in that office, but now, I'm afraid, the best way to protect Matthew Godfrey's legacy as mayor is to break the hold of power upon him, and put the reins in new hands, in the hands of someone who seems to have a much sounder grasp, based on a life-time of hard-won experience, and based on a respect for the principles of open government and separation of powers, of what ethical and honorable conduct requires of a public person.
All the specific criticisms of the Godfrey administration that have been discussed here, many of which [though not all] I agree with aside, the Mayor's inability to know what honor requires of public men and to act on that, and his penchant for surrounding himself with men who have no objection to behaving shamefully for political ends, would be enough to convince me to vote for Van Hooser.
Which, come Tusday morning, I will do. It is time for a change. It is time for the cronyism to end.
Well done, Curm, and all without a single double-negative. (I kid.)
Two not-so-insightful observations:
One, I hope when the Lord Mayor is ousted, many of his transgressions perpetrated against the citizens of Ogden will come to light. City employees in the know will be free to speak, and his books will be opened (assuming he doesn't have a big bonfire for the holidays.) Perhaps, the fear of indictment is what's so fiercely driving him and his inner circle.
Two, if O-Town elects a new leader, we'll forever have to endure Matty and his cult continuing to spin and dissemble: If the city enjoys success, it will be due to his establishing the foundation. If we crumble and fall (like junior promised we would without a gondola), it will be because we didn't anoint the visionary another four years to rescue us from ourselves.
Let’s hope to raise a pint in celebration Tuesday night. Curm's buying.
Three posts in one day? I better slink back to the shadows with the rest of the riff.
I liked Valerie Bentley's letter today. It talks about honesty.
I got two fliers from Kent Peterson today. Right up top it was talking about preserving trails and open space. This, from a man who last year was working to sell all of it to Chris Peterson.
It seems clear all candidates know what Ogden residents want. The male candidates have chosen to lie about their views to get elected.
This shows they are not only wrong on the issues but wrong on integrity.
The female candidates are right on the political positions, and they are honestly so.
What a clear choice.
Boss Godfreys' crime reduction unit. The unit he is organizinf to take effect november 2nd.
Fact: There is one squad of OPD officer that is supposed to have 8 members, it has seven.
Fact: There is another squad od OPD officer that has 7 members.
Fact He is robbing 3 members from the squad with 7 members, and robbing 2 from the other squad, leaving 4 and 5 members on the 2 patrol sqauds.
Fact: the 5 members he is robbing Paul to pay Peter is his answer to the gang crime unit, leaving fewr officers to patrol on two sqauds.
Fact: he has not hired the replacemnts to fill the positions he is robbing.
Fact: I feel a lot less safer now than I did 8 years ago.
Anybody hear anything about Neil Hansen's press conference?
Both Neil and Jesse endorsed Susie for Mayor. KSL and Fox News (along with Schwebke) were there.
Neil explained that he started with an open mind about which candidate would be best for Ogden. However, from what I remember, what made the decision for him was that in 8 years, Godfrey has never invited him to City Hall to discuss how they could work together for Ogden. As opposed to that attitude, Susie has made it clear that she wants to work with all four of Ogden's State Representatives for the betterment of Ogden.
Both KSL and Fox TV were there. So was Schwebke, who was furiously taking notes.
BTW, good job on the candidate profiles today, Scott.
Hansen endorsed Van Hooser. No shock there, but it was delivered quite well. He gave a brief run-up to how he came to this point of view, and then handed podium to Mrs. Van Hooser. Then, by and by, Jesse Garcia also came to the podium and endorsed Mrs. Van Hooser. (Again, no shock). There were some questions, and by then I had to leave. It all went quite well.
Thanks for your hard work and dedication, Neil. Many of us feel that you were the best candidate, however, I think most of us agree that Mrs. Van Hooser is clearly the second-best choice in this matter (speaking on behalf of your supporters). Keep up the hard work.
Susie did an excellent job of answering questions. She looked competent, in charge, and was thoroughly professional. She's come a long way since that first WSU debate.
I'd been impressed at how she joined the City Council and got up to speed (and more) so quickly. Looks like she's done it again. Let's hope the TV news stations capture that.
Cookie-
At this afternoon's press conference Neil Hansen endorsed Susan VanHooser for Mayor. Schwebke, KSL and Fox cameras, as well as approximately 40 citizens- including Bob Geiger were there.
I'm sorta rushed but, todays press conference was quite a moment of enlightenment. I won't wait for Schwebke's interpretation in the morning.
Neil delivered a short speech, detailing how in the last eight years, this administration has never sot his or any other elected state representatives input or critic of anything to do with whats going on in Ogden. These are people elected by the good folks of Ogden to represent them, at the state level. Wouldn't they have some insight, or valuable input as to whats going on in their districts?
Neil went on to explain how it's not about him or the other people running for office, but what's best for the people of the community. In other words, which candidate is more in line with how he feels and knows his constituents feel about what they desire and expect from their City Government.
His conclussion,clearly Susan Van Hooser.
Susie came to the mic and thanked Neil, and continued on breifly re-affirming that it is all about the people, describing her approach and issues all relating back to who will be served, the people.
Jessie was asked to the mic, and also endorsed Susie.
Then they asked the press if they had any questions. The first question was directed to Jessie, for further explaination of his endorsement. His response was something like this. In 14 yrs. on the council, there has never been such division between the administration and council, he said this last eight years has been the worst ever. Then sighted some examples of how this administration refuses to recognize the Council, or anyone, as part of the team. The team thats supposed to govern.
In the crowd were Amy Wicks and Dorrene Jeske. So, 4 Council persons and 1 legislative rep, all advocating the same basic principle. Doesn't that say quite a bit?
Also present was Sheila Ardema, she also is running for very much the same thing.
One last note. I've learned that royal eccles has chickened out of the candidate forum set for tommorrow night.
It seems his conviction for running is not much more than campain signs and his prayerful name recognition.
Telemundo was there. All the TV stations talked at length with me about "that business with your business and the mayor". Ch 5 taped a recording of Gov Huntsman' phone dialer.
Ogden has once again hit the limelight fan as the laffing stock of the state!
If the jerks aren't shooting each other to death, we can count on the mayor to make a fool of himself and end up in "Weird" news in TX and Phoenix!
Neil did an outstanding job today. He said he was swayed to Susie's camp when he realized that the dictator had not called him once in 8 yrs. Godfrey isn't interested in the concerns of the citizens...4 Reps represent Ogden. On the other hand, Susie made it very plain that she wants to meet with all the Rep's and see what can be done to help their constituents.
Susie looked and sounded great. The whole conf. was well done, and an enthusiastic group of sign holders, applauding and cheering, added to the excitement.
Neil, thank you. Jesse Garcia stood by Susie, and Wicks and Jeske were there too. Nice gestures.
Kudos and high fives to all who made this a success.
The TV editors and newspeople spoke at length with me yesterday and today on the phone about the mayor's arrogant disregard for propiety. They do chuckle.
At one of Ed Allen's soirees for the dearly beloved, the beloved said, "in 8 years Amy Wicks has not called me." Well....has he called her?
Aren't the unwashed required to go thru the A Team angels to reach diety?
lol no one is calling me either : (
don't they know who I am!!!
Sharon-
In the 4 years I have served on the Council, the Mayor had his secretary call me to set up one meeting. I showed up and the Mayor did not have the decency to let me know in advance that he would be unable to attend and was sending John Patterson in his place.
I attend our regularly scheduled Joint Leadership meetings.
There are plenty of opportunities to interact and discuss issues with the Council at work sessions and Ogden City Council meetings- all you need to do is show up.
He is a full time Mayor. I am a part time Council Member.
Daps said: "don't they know who I am!!!"
Ummmm.... Jeffrey Daumer?
No matter what your title, it is a two way street and sometimes you have to be the bigger person. And if you are not, it just means you are as much of the problem.
Amy, do you think Godfrey displays that pattern because he's so busy, or because he really has no desire to share his agenda with the City Council? You know, I'm sure Godfrey would say, "well I'm too busy building this and that to be bothered or slowed down with your inquiries and involvement. There are only so many hours in the day..."
come on,
I've made many attempts to communicate with Mayor Godfrey over the years. Believe me, it isn't easy. The problem, quite frankly, is that much of what he says is not true, and he doesn't appreciate being challenged on his "facts". As I've documented more and more examples of this over the years, he has pretty much stopped answering my questions. I asked him a few questions about the Peterson project in May 2006 which he never answered. I emailed him three times last July for clarification of his decision not to sell the golf course, and received no reply. The Sierra Club sent him a candidates' questionnaire and he didn't respond. I sent a commentary to the newspaper shortly before the primary and the editor invited Godfrey to write an opposing commentary, and he refused. I asked him a question at the candidates' forum on October 23rd, and he gave an answer that was almost unrelated to the question.
The mayor loves to talk to people who don't think critically about what he's saying. Amy Wicks is not in this category. She keeps track of what he says and she checks her facts. I'm not at all surprised to hear that he doesn't like talking to her either.
On the communication thing:
As I recall, during the first Ernest Co. go round, members of the City Council asked the Mayor's office for information about the company and the Mayor's office refused to supply it. At that point, if memory serves, some Council members decided that henceforth they would put questions to the Mayor requesting information in writing, so that there could be no confusion about what was asked, and what the response was.
One of those written questions, over a year ago now I think, if memory serves, was from Ms. Wicks to the Mayor, asking how much the city [i.e. Mayor's office]had already spent on gondola promotion. After a long time, she received a partial accounting that she and other Council members quickly learned was incomplete by thousands of dollars and grossly under-reported the amount the city had acutally spent on the Mayor's little tourist ride obsession at that point.
All this before the infamous "Bootjack I don't have to tell you who I want to sell city property to and I won't" petulant snit fit by the Mayor's staff, and before Dan S. turned up via GRAMA the administration emails which Godfrey administration appointees explained how important it was to keep secret from the Council and press what they was doing regarding getting UTA to pay the Mayor's consultant [hired on a no bid contract] for her opinion on a lot of gondola hypotheticals.
The Godfrey administration is in no position to criticize any other branch of city government for "lack of communication" --- not without blushing, anyway. But to blush, you have to be capable of shame.
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