What Are You Afraid Of?

Much thought has been given to the Board of Aldermen meeting of May 8th, and what I feel to be a real breakdown in our City Government. The question keeps rolling around and around; why did our Aldermen flinch in the face of final victory over sleazy politics in Wentzville? What are they afraid of?

I'm not surprised by a couple of the aldermen, but am shocked by the reaction of others. I've seen this group stand together on numerous occasions regarding one subject or another, but this is the first time they've displayed their cowardly side, in lockstep. After many hours of thought, I believe our aldermen colluded to whitewash Mayor Nickolas Guccione's violation of the Political Activity Policy, but I can't figure out why!

The aldermen pulled this discussion from the regular meeting of  April 24th, two weeks after Alderman Shryock broached the subject of the Mayor using his office to get Micheal Hays elected to Ward 3 by a measly eight votes. It then reappeared on the agenda of May 8th with the promise of "We have new information." They had one month to debate and bicker amongst themselves (in private) to come up with ... nothing! I'm going to lay out what I believe happened, or should I say, didn't happen:

Amongst themselves, someone, or all of them, decided that Alderman Shyrock needed to excuse herself, "for personal reasons," from the discussion. Whether she knew what the other aldermen had planned or not, she started the discussion a month ago and the topic was important enough that she should have been there to present the opening of the discussion. Instead she bailed.

Alderman Kross opened the discussion with a cryptic, long-winded question to City Attorney, Paul Rost, and she didn't even bother to say what it was about. Alderman Kross, what are you afraid of? I've known Rost for the better part of ten years and he is many things to as many people but one thing I never knew about him; he's a mind reader. "I assume you are talking about the campaign brochure using the office of the mayor endorsement." Kross didn't say as much, but Rost knew. There were conversations between the aldermen and Rost; every alderman knew what was going on; too bad the taxpayers, who elected these people, didn't.

After Rost admitted in a public meeting that there was a violation of the Political Activity Policy and that this Board could take action, Alderman Chris Gard went into his pale, "We are not a Judicial branch" speech. Alderman Gard, with all your knowledge about policies and procedures, I cannot believe you actually said that. It might have justified the Board's inaction to the ignorant masses, but those who watch, know. The Board of Aldermen can lay in judgement and take action against any other elected official when they violate the law, or policy; just ask the Mayor of Ellisville. So, what are you afraid of?

The noble Alderman Forrest Gosset piped in to say: "I am a firm believer in the First Amendment, and I will fight to the death any one's right to freedom of speech." C'mon Alderman Gosset, who are you kidding? Everyone knows; Mayor Nickolas Guccione can say anything he likes, just like the rest of us, but when you violate policies or break laws, you pay the consequences of your First Amendment Rights. Your blovial smoke-screen of a speech may have sounded good on the record, but we all know it was just an act. A cover-up to give a false illusion to the audience that the Aldermen's hands are tied. Pious platitudes don't solve the problems you just created. What are you afraid of?

Now we come to my biggest disappointment, President of the Board, Alderman Rick Stokes. I watched Stokes closely that night, knowing full well that he would step in to get to the heart of the discussion. Not only did he not set the record straight and secure the future of well-behaved politics in Wentzville, instead, he said nothing. Rick Stokes has set himself up over the past three years to be a leader in Wentzville. An outspoken man who was elected to tell the truth and who was not afraid of public opinion that might not agree with him. Well, it appears that Alderman Stokes may have sold out to politics. I would have expected that from many of the others, but not him. Being honest may not get you many friends, but it always gets you the right ones! What are you afraid of?

The only two people at the meeting who didn't participate in this charade were those who unfortunately, just earned the right to further corrupt the politics in our city.

Mark Twain once said: "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your Government when it deserves it." Today, the Government of Wentzville does not deserve it! We either have laws and policies, or we don't. What are our Aldermen afraid of?