By The New Albanian.
The year 2007 is shaping up as pivotal for the city of New Albany, and not coincidentally, a primary election comes to us on Tuesday, May 8, 2007.
Whilst pondering the efficacy of dipping our tremulous toes into the turbid, murky water of political endorsements – multiple Croupiers at the ready – NA Confidential’s editorial team of The New Albanian and Bluegill took several matters into consideration. First and foremost, we concede from the outset that our collective gaze is ... selective.
We have little interest in the Republican side of the aisle, at least until such a time as a knee-jerk, right-wing local blog comes along to espouse the ruinous cause of Dick Cheney’s ruling party and give us something to criticize – or until the general election in November, whichever comes first. Perhaps there'll be one tiny exception, but overall, there’s just too much activity in New Albany’s donkey corral.
And, we’ve little to add to unopposed races. NAC supports the re-election bids of 6th district councilman Jeff Gahan and city clerk Marcey Wisman, whose records are solid, but we remain (as yet) non-committal on Diane McCartin Benedetti’s candidacy in the 5th district, at least until her platform planks are revealed to the general public.
These exclusions leave five contested city council races in the Democratic Party primary, and of course the surreal three-way Democratic mayor’s race. The format will be consistent throughout, beginning here with the 1st council district, and with our comments clearly identified as to source.
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Council - (D) 1st District
The New Albanian (NA):
No one doubts that the 1st district has often been dealt a poor hand, but what has become increasingly obvious is that the incumbent, two-term councilman Dan Coffey -- at heart an anti-intellectual regressive primarily interested in personal aggrandizement -- plays that hand quite badly. Refusing to attend storm water board meetings when drainage is a fundamental district concern is reason enough to suggest it is time for a change … and there are many others.*
(NA) - Endorsement:
Challenger and political newcomer Theresa Timberlake is both sufficiently knowledgeable about local issues and displays a cooperative and gracious spirit with respect to the city as a larger entity.
Contrast these good qualities with Coffey’s myriad personal demons and utterly transparent prejudices, which fuel a chip-on-the-shoulder, us-against-them attitude toward the wider world outside his front yard – flaws that certainly register as the very worst signal to send to those with skills, funding, education or artistic temperament, whose presence is vital for the city’s future viability – and vote with confidence for Timberlake.
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Bluegill (BG):
This is the house in which my mother grew up, 216 W. 10th, right in the middle of the 1st district. It's currently a foreclosure, for sale for $10,900. When I first stopped by to look at it, the back door was kicked in and it was full of trash. It's been that way for months.
The houses across the street are worse, with boarded up windows. Judging by the number of cars parked out front on my last visit, at least one of them is occupied. It would seem an opportunity for a caring local representative to either hold the landlords responsible for the egregious violations or to inform the beleaguered homeowners of the city assistance programs available.
All I've heard from incumbent and former redevelopment liaison Dan Coffey are the reasons why we can't. I guess they believed him.
I hope they believe Theresa Timberlake on Tuesday.
----
* For a year’s sampling, see:
"PART 1 (January – March, 2005): Why 1st District City Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the council’s 2006 President.”
"PART 2 (April – June, 2005): Why 1st District City Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the council’s 2006 President.”
"PART 3 (July – September, 2005): Why 1st District Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the city council’s 2006 president.”
"PART 4 (October - December, 2005): Why 1st District Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the city council’s 2006 president.”
The year 2007 is shaping up as pivotal for the city of New Albany, and not coincidentally, a primary election comes to us on Tuesday, May 8, 2007.
Whilst pondering the efficacy of dipping our tremulous toes into the turbid, murky water of political endorsements – multiple Croupiers at the ready – NA Confidential’s editorial team of The New Albanian and Bluegill took several matters into consideration. First and foremost, we concede from the outset that our collective gaze is ... selective.
We have little interest in the Republican side of the aisle, at least until such a time as a knee-jerk, right-wing local blog comes along to espouse the ruinous cause of Dick Cheney’s ruling party and give us something to criticize – or until the general election in November, whichever comes first. Perhaps there'll be one tiny exception, but overall, there’s just too much activity in New Albany’s donkey corral.
And, we’ve little to add to unopposed races. NAC supports the re-election bids of 6th district councilman Jeff Gahan and city clerk Marcey Wisman, whose records are solid, but we remain (as yet) non-committal on Diane McCartin Benedetti’s candidacy in the 5th district, at least until her platform planks are revealed to the general public.
These exclusions leave five contested city council races in the Democratic Party primary, and of course the surreal three-way Democratic mayor’s race. The format will be consistent throughout, beginning here with the 1st council district, and with our comments clearly identified as to source.
----
Council - (D) 1st District
The New Albanian (NA):
No one doubts that the 1st district has often been dealt a poor hand, but what has become increasingly obvious is that the incumbent, two-term councilman Dan Coffey -- at heart an anti-intellectual regressive primarily interested in personal aggrandizement -- plays that hand quite badly. Refusing to attend storm water board meetings when drainage is a fundamental district concern is reason enough to suggest it is time for a change … and there are many others.*
(NA) - Endorsement:
Challenger and political newcomer Theresa Timberlake is both sufficiently knowledgeable about local issues and displays a cooperative and gracious spirit with respect to the city as a larger entity.
Contrast these good qualities with Coffey’s myriad personal demons and utterly transparent prejudices, which fuel a chip-on-the-shoulder, us-against-them attitude toward the wider world outside his front yard – flaws that certainly register as the very worst signal to send to those with skills, funding, education or artistic temperament, whose presence is vital for the city’s future viability – and vote with confidence for Timberlake.
----
Bluegill (BG):
This is the house in which my mother grew up, 216 W. 10th, right in the middle of the 1st district. It's currently a foreclosure, for sale for $10,900. When I first stopped by to look at it, the back door was kicked in and it was full of trash. It's been that way for months.
The houses across the street are worse, with boarded up windows. Judging by the number of cars parked out front on my last visit, at least one of them is occupied. It would seem an opportunity for a caring local representative to either hold the landlords responsible for the egregious violations or to inform the beleaguered homeowners of the city assistance programs available.
All I've heard from incumbent and former redevelopment liaison Dan Coffey are the reasons why we can't. I guess they believed him.
I hope they believe Theresa Timberlake on Tuesday.
----
* For a year’s sampling, see:
"PART 1 (January – March, 2005): Why 1st District City Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the council’s 2006 President.”
"PART 2 (April – June, 2005): Why 1st District City Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the council’s 2006 President.”
"PART 3 (July – September, 2005): Why 1st District Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the city council’s 2006 president.”
"PART 4 (October - December, 2005): Why 1st District Councilman Dan Coffey should not be selected as the city council’s 2006 president.”
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