A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I don't know how many Wentzville voters watch the city meeting videos but I do know that it should be a prerequisite for any voter (before entering the voting booth)  to make an intelligent selection for a candidate who will represent them and our city. We have two mayor candidates "strutting their stuff" almost every week, voters can get more information about these candidates there than during any campaign speech or piece of literature they could ever see. It is in Board of Aldermen meetings where candidates shine or fizzle while they are carrying out the business of the city. A voter can pick up everything he or she needs to make an educated decision about who is the better candidate for the huge job of being mayor of Wentzville. In the meeting videos there is no biased or false interpretation of the facts and the only thing better than the video is actually being there. Last nights meeting was a perfect example of things I've been reporting on mayor candidate, Nick Guccione for the past few months.

There were tense moments last night, I say "last night" because it didn't finish until 11:00 pm, a full three hours after my jammy time. The place was packed for—you guessed it—the pit bull ordinance, not the budget or other important legislation but dogs, and Nick Guccione was in his element; pandering to a special interest group. I watched Guccione closely during the four and a half hour meeting and I suspect he's been reading The Wentzvillian. He had his hand up (like the smart little girl in the front row in grade school, waiving her hand frantically—"call on me, call on me!") to make a motion to approve or second any motion made. I think he really believes he was actually contributing and being useful with his "hand-up" participation. Of course he never once entered into any of the many major important discussions that all of the other Aldermen aggressively debated. The answer to that is simple: It's easy to make a motion to approve or second a motion but it takes knowledge of the ordinance or subject matter through study, to actively discuss it with intelligence. Guccione simply does not read the material, he is unprepared.

It's not fair to say Guccione didn't speak at the meeting, he did—twice. The first time was to take a stand on the "Automotive Coalition" where he said "I want to make it clear that I supported this when it was first brought up and I'm in support of it now." What I don't understand about his statement is; if he is still in support it, why did he flip and vote against it? I am three for three calling his flips but seriously, I think he has a screw loose. The second time was when the "Pit Bull" ordinance was being discussed, he perked up like a kid at a carnival. He was difficult to understand the two or three sentences he uttered because he talks so fast and his voice tone is so breathy, it made it difficult to catch what he was saying, even with a microphone. Someone who commented here on another blog hit it right when he said; "he sounds like a cheap version of the godfather with marbles in his mouth..." I think his blathering was something about fines and punishment, I'm not sure, maybe the city clerk caught some of it but we'll have to wait for the minutes to be released next Friday. That was Guccione's entire input, four and a half hours of meeting where every alderman participated on almost every discussion except Mayor candidate Guccione who contributed four or five sentences the entire time.

Guccione took a major shagging when the Board moved to change the ethics policy to disallow campaigning in city facilities during working hours. This proposed change was to keep candidates like Guccione and Donna Bannas Sherwood from visiting employees to drum up support while they are working like they did at the police station a few weeks ago. Bananas Sherwood took a shot from the Board when they suggested revising the city code so she and others would not abuse or ignore the law. Ya know, now that I think about it, I'm not sure Guccione or Sherwood even realized that the aldermen were talking about them. I'm telling you, these two candidates; Nick Guccione and Donna Bananas Sherwood are a serious problem if you think they should be representing anyone, in any capacity, at any time, in this city.

I know that watching four and a half hours of a city meeting could be considered cruel and unusual punishment but if you are concerned that The Wentzvillian is exaggerating about Nick Guccione's lack of leadership qualities, I urge you to watch the January 25, 2012 Wentzville "Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting:" http://www.wentzvillemo.org/. The video will stand the test of truth and try as you may, it cannot be disputed or denied that Nick Guccione is not mayor caliber and for my money he doesn't even represent the voters of Ward 3 as an Alderman. It's time for Guccione and Sherwood to take a hike! It is truly a tragedy for Ward 3 and Wentzville that he was unopposed in last year's election.