Smith ‘needs to be removed from council ...’

A.J. Smith continues to create situations where his actions are an embarrassment for the city of Middletown. I received a telephone call from an unidentified, out-of-state telephone number with a recording by A.J. Smith asking me to attend a rally against Senate Bill 5 prior to the State of the City address by our mayor at the Pendleton Art Center (last) week.

He has every right to demonstrate and voice his political opinions; however, the point of this letter is not to debate the merits of Senate Bill 5, as we are all entitled to our opinions on this subject. Likewise, we all have a legal right to publicly demonstrate to put our feelings and opinions out to the public. However, A.J.’s actions, as an elected representative of our city, continue to be an embarrassment to the city of Middletown. His actions are those of an immature individual. His behavior continues to be on the childish side.

When I was a youngster, had I behaved in the manner that A.J. seems to conduct himself, relative to his position as a council person of the city of Middletown, I could expect that my parents would go to the nearest Forsythia bush and secure a nice, green twig to address my immature, adolescent behavior. ...

I have communicated my unhappiness with this council person to our mayor and, hopefully, to the rest of City Council. I feel that he needs to be removed from council because his actions continue to be a significant embarrassment for the city of Middletown.

While there is never a good time for this type of behavior, this all comes at a time when there seem to be some positive things happening within our city limits. I would also hope that those in the 2nd Ward who elected him to this position realize how embarrassing his actions are for this city.

I have expressed my unhappiness to council. I would certainly hope that the electorate in the 2nd Ward would agree with me, express their dislike of his behavior, and initiate proceedings to remove this embarrassment to our city from his elected position. It might be considered analogous to a cancer that will only spread if not surgically removed from the body.

Larry Steele

Middletown

I did find it interesting that if a candidate is petitioned for recall but not recalled; he gets repaid for actual and legitimate expenses for such election. I also did not realize that a candidate by law can only spend so much money on running for municipal office. If you're gonna recall him, make sure you have the votes to win or we'll just waste more money that the city doesn't have. I hope that you also have a replacement.

 

In today's global perspective, it is sad to see locals cling to the right-wing closed shop of Butler County(as corrupt of a political machine as you could find). A young out-spoken black man attached to the Obama agenda is pretty scary to many old conservatives around here.

 

Well--he hasn't any significant arrests or convictions, particularly of theft, illegal business ethics or dereliction of public responsibility. Our Mayor publicly ambushed Councilman Smith, with no vocal Council support, and Councilman Smith returned the favor by leading a protest before the Mayor's State of the City address. So--can we now declare it even and begin to function as a cohesive productive Council? Not that we have done so for the last decade +.

 

Jim A.Jr. survived a messy DUI, while trying to use his position for a way out. David S. survived a messy legal situation costing him a county job rather than facing charges. Bill B survived a serious breach by allowing legal to tape private client/attorney conversations without client/lawyer knowledge. Ms.Williams, Mr.Wells, Mr.Marconi et al survived widespread public embarrassment when airing the privte issues and dislike for various Council co-horts. Mayor Mulligan has repeatly failed to recuse himself from issues involing his residential neighborhood and properties handled by his employer........

Take your pick. Plenty of stones could be thrown in these areas..

 

Can we move on to make the best of this group?

Hopefully.

 

Thanx Mike P for getting press on a revived situation that should be un-acceptable to everyone, other than those favored by the inconvenient somewhat closed work sessions? If we don't use TVM for these situations, just what is it's true purpose and benefit to the taxpayer whose funding pays their way? We know see sponorship of sporting events, why not sponsorship of all public work sessions(even could be tape delayed if shown in a quick comeback manner).

 

Well--I don't think that the Mayor's tough talk has caused anyton to pack their bags and leave town yet.

 

Now to your point sj, as always, well made. You made many excellent pts about some of the tarnished history while serving. I don't mind one way or another on the council meetings held upstairs, and assume to some extent, they help make the meetings expeditious. They meet, discuss where they satnd, to avoid spending a few extra hours at the council meetings so they can go home. Anyone can listen in. My curiousity, perhaps warped, is what does Mr. Allen and Mr. Mulligan mean, that holding them upstarismake them "more convenient." Is seating more comfortable, room temperature better, or because they are out of public eye, its simply more comfortable. If so, Iassume there is a reason public meetings are to be made public. The same public records are to be made public, that public bids are made public, et al.

 

As to AJ, while I agree with the over bashing AJ, the difference as I see it, and I might be an anomoly is this: much of what I have seen in Mr. Smith's actions goes far and above the duties of council and into areas that affect Ohio and federal government. I know of no council member that I could make such a comment about. Your references about past discretions were enligtening, and serious. But, did not the client/ attnorney discretions occur when Mr. Becker was Chief, not a council member or city manager? Was not the actions of Mr. A. Jr. not outside his council duties, while leveraging his name, to no avail? The same with Mr. S., with the execption by attending a council meeting, when he had phoned in ill during the day in his job, did that fact imapct his job and its continuance, and not his work on council?

 

You make excellent points, my only everso minor agreemnt in regards to Mr. Smith would be this. Mr. Smith has an agenda at council which focuses outside the affairs of Middletown, and into sate and federal affairs. That's his agenda. Should he be removed? Perhaps- probably. Will he/ Doubtful. Whatever that % to be, 15% of voters and I assume in his ward, would not bother, waste of time.

 

So as my friend in Arizona say often, and as TonyB referenced, its on to "Next." My time to Unplug is here, travel safe.       

Long past time to turn this venue over to younger caring faces/voices who have the desire to make this area their home, and to move it into a proper prosperous future.

4 years and 1000+ posts is enough.

Repitition is tiresome, however the dark side keeps repeating the same unworkable unfair wasteful policies. And keeps on bullying the little guys in order to feed their enablers(totally dependent on taxpayer blood).

 

I learned years ago to never say "I am out of here".

Always comes back to bite you.