Barge Under the Gun
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Council
Forum Description: Discuss individual members and council as a legislative body.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2081
Printed Date: Nov 23 2024 at 2:00am
Topic: Barge Under the Gun
Posted By: Gary Barge
Subject: Barge Under the Gun
Date Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:10pm
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At last night's forum, unfortunately I picked #1 position out of the hat. My answer was "I will refrain from answering until I am elected to review the policies." When the question was asked I started thinking "how in the world do you answer this in 60 seconds!" After watching our current administration and council not conforming to their own policies I found it rather amusing to answer this in 60 seconds and stumbled on my answer. I apologize to all the citizens and MiddletownUSA. AND YES nerves got me at first. !!!! But put yourself under that gun without being groomed. I shot from the hip and then ran with it.
Gary Barge
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Replies:
Posted By: Smartman
Date Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:22pm
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Been there done that Gary! |
You have my support!Posted By: Gary Barge
Date Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:27pm
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smartman
THANKS
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 12:50am
| Your sincerity, independence and commitment to serve came across very well this past Wednesday night. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 5:18am
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Gary,
I know that you could've done better, and would've without the lead-off spot draw. Shake it off and go right ahead.
Polished politicians are NOT what we need. We've had several (at least they THINK they are) since I returned (1998) and look where it's gotten us. ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 6:20am
| I think You did fine as well, Gary. |
Posted By: Paul Nagy
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 7:00am
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Gary,
Tuesday night's forum was an exercise in solving the cities problems in one minute bites. City Council and the Administration haven't been able to solve them in years. They still don't have a real plan. We all know the work that you have done the last few years, unselfishly, and at great expense, in behalf of the 1st ward and all of the citizens in Middletown. You have expresssed yourself clearly, over and over, at council meetings, in writing , in the newspapers, on this website, going door to door.
The fact that you have expressed your concern regarding your efforts Tuesay night to the citizens of Midlletown demonstrates the content of your character and the reason you should be elected as the 1st ward council representative. Its easy for people who have not been in any forum to criticize. I've never seen a statute built to honor a critic.
Press forward!
Paul Nagy
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 7:21am
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Gary several things struck me about the Forum.
1) The indepth questions with only 1 minute to answer. This was a less then adequate situation to start and personally I would have preferred more time for more indepth answers. Challengers are at a disadvantage when it comes to these questions as incumbents have been dealing with these issues for years.
2) I discounted everyones delivery and looked at the substance of what they were saying.
Marconi and Armbruster spent a good part of the night defending the Councils decisions for the past four years. This was a waste of time. Picard was the spit and polished attorney. For me it is what you say and will do, not how you deliver it.
Many of us, myself included, would have been just as nervous as you were in that situation. Some people want the polished orator, I want the guy that will take into consideration the little guy in the city and do what is best for everyone not just the top 1% of the population.
I think everyone had their moments during the forum and personally I will vote for Laubach and I have not yet decided on whether to vote do away with the Wards yet.
Mr. Nagy I particularlly liked your closing statement, it was right on the money.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 7:25am
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I was at the forum and couldn't believe the time they gave you candidates to answer complex questions with multiple topics included. The one question that was asked was asinine to say the least. The question "What qualifies you to manage a $100 million dollar budget and how would you go about it" or something to that affect. Ridiculous question!!!!!! No one in that room- no one but the Procter & Gamble/major corporate CEO would be "qualified" to manage and run a $100 million dollar budget!!!! Whoever decided to use that question was way out of line.
Gary- don't worry about it. You did fine as the forum went along. No one, including Armbruster and Marconi felt they had enough time to answer the questions satisfactorily. The forum was handled poorly from a time perspective. I would have rather seen the audience be allowed to write their own questions, walk up to the podium, face the candidates and point blank ask the same question to each candidate and give that candidate at least 4 minutes to think and answer the question. These questions should have never come from a pre-selected panel because the questions asked may not have been the ones that are of interest to the majority of the citizens. Again, an attempt by the city to control the process without the citizen's input. This is the very reason why all incumbants, Gilleland and certain identified problem children need to be removed from their positions. Control of/non-participation of the general public must be stopped. |
Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 8:52am
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Ward Four Voters - Paul Nagy deserves your vote too!
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 9:46am
| Presentation definitely matters. |
Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 10:25am
Spider not everyone is a born speaker. Not all people can be a Mr. Picard. Whomever is elected will most likely improve with time. If the only requirement to get elected was to be able to give a great speech or presentation.......well we would be......in the mess we are in with good old Obama.
Geeez just look at Middletowns Council a few short years ago when they were at each others throat constantly.
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Posted By: Iliveheretoo
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 10:36am
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I was at the debate or whatever you want to call it. I noticed something that no one has mentioned. Greg Pratt as we all know is a supporter of Mr. Armbruster and was on the panel. That alone is something we should be discussing. But at the start of the meeting it was said that names had been drawn to decide who would ask the first question and to which candidate it would go too. I found it funny that the Greg asked the first question to the man (Gary)who is running against the man (Armbruster) that he supports. What are the odds? Not only that the first question was a tough one that any one that has not served on council could not give a adequate answers. I think Gary needs some work speaking, but as many have said that will come with time. This city needs a change, some new ideas and I think most of us agree that the current council has done nothing to save this town. I will be voting for Gary. |
Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 12:20pm
http://www.middletownusa.com/view_news.asp?a=4503">
Are any of the Picard for Council campaign workers members of the MMF?
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 12:30pm
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Wasteful--no one is a born speaker.
jmo
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 3:16pm
| We Middletonians should support "local businesses" first. Keep our money and jobs here. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 09 2009 at 7:22pm
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Mr. Gary Barge |