Wentzville—The Campaign Created Kingdom?

 

As most educated voters know, Mayor Nickolas Guccione is deeply involved in Wentzville politics. They know of his desire to control the Board of Aldermen and that his campaigns have  had a documented record of using any dirty, mud-slinging, and deceptive tactic necessary to achieve his goal. It's easy to deduce from his unethical election practices when he was pardoned by Mayor Paul Lambi that he has no thought of Wentzville other than to have total control over it by any means necessary. Mayor Guccione is not the sharpest tack in the box as illustrated by his consistant use of deceit, deception, and diversion during any election he's ever been involved in, or one he feels will help him with his control agenda. It is for these reason's he wants to remove two of the top three achieving incumbent aldermen, he cannot control them and he hates both of them.

The election coming in April will be fraught with dirt thrown by Cuccione's camp. This year there are three targets in his cross hairs, Rick Stokes, Forrest Gossett, and The Wentzvillian. I didn't know that The Wentzvillian was running for election but Guccione obviously does, so he'll use any means to discredit it. He is deeply concerned that there are too many facts coming out here that focus too closely on his record and meddling in elections when he should be dealing with the many problems in the city. It's hard to focus on his job as mayor when he has candidates lined up for his support to help him achieve his Socialist ideas for Wentzville. You will see him at the polls in April handing out his city business cards and hawking votes for his anointed few, with a little luck he'll violate the political activity policy as he did in past elections, with a little more luck the aldermen will do something about it this time.

It's unfortunate that candidates in an election can't run on their own merit, especially when it's one of those running in Guccione's stable. When you're going up against two-term Alderman and two-time President of the Board, Rick Stokes, who championed the half-million dollar real property tax reduction in his first term and since brought forward countless initiatives to the credit of Wentzville. It's difficult for anyone to run against that kind of record, but that didn't stop Guccione from lining up Linda Wright to do just that. This race is like David and Goliath but Guccione feels, with just the right amount  cash and discrediting he could have beaten Abe Lincoln with a chimpanzee. Guccione, for the past few months, has been trying to dig up anything he can find, or dream up to unseat Stokes, watch to see the mud start flying at Stokes soon.

Look similarly at trash being piled up on our Sunday school teaching Alderman, Forrest Gossett, as Guccione presses his flawed candidate, Robert Hussey against him. Last time Hussey ran against Cheryl Kross with over $6,000 in his war chest and Guccione in his corner. It's revealing to see him fight so hard to secure an alderman seat that pays $4,500 a year—there's something wrong with this scenario. Guccione's idea of how to win an election is simple; more money and a higher pile of trash will get results. Using this method, he's certain that he could have beaten Lincoln with his chimpanzee. Unfortunately for him, and good for Wentzville, he didn't pile up enough of either to seat Hussey over Kross. Robert Hussey is going to have a difficult time overcoming his record of being fired from Dardiene Prairie, but Guccione will try.

The question is: Why? Why does Guccione want to remove two of the most highly-educated, productive, and informed Aldermen ever to be elected in Wentzville, replacing them with flawed or unqualified candidates who have already proven they were unelectable just last year? This question is complicated but very simple at the same time.

The Wentzvillian has always contended that Nickolas Guccione is all about politics, city business pales in comparison to getting himself or someone else elected, government seems to be a game to him. It has been his goal in the executive branch to have complete control over the legislative branch of government, thus taking away any aldermanic representation of the citizens of Wentzville. Were he able to do this, his "It's my way or the highway" brand of law-making would take away the voice of thousands of Wentzville residents. This is not a government of the people it's a Monarchy, what the King says, goes. Mayor Nickolas Guccione doesn't necessarily want citizens to respect him for the job he's supposed to be doing, but rather wants them to love him, and show that love at the ballot box.

Since being elected mayor, he appears to be using his office to trade favors for votes. You may think this far-fetched, but is it? Last year, Mayor Nickolas Guccione pardoned a private citizen, business owner, for not filing for his liquor license on time. There was no monetary fine attached with his lack of filing for the licence and Guccione stated publicly; "It's kind of an emergency." The emergency was that the service station owner would need to wait 30 days to re-apply for his license and unable to sell liquor until that time. Since when does our government intervene in its process in favor of a negligent business owner who is obviously incapable of running his business without a king throwing out the law. Another incident took place recently when a private citizen got him to order a police escort to drive a golf cart from the golf course into downtown Wentzville. One phone call to a local tow company would have garnered the same result without any cost to the city.

These are not isolated instances of the power he wants to wield over Wentzville, and the way to do that is to throw out any logical-thinking member of the Board of Aldermen and replace them with people who will give him his head. Currently those supporting Guccione on the Board of Aldermen is Michael Hays and Cheryl Kross, he needs to get rid of Stokes or Gosset to maintain tie control but eliminate both for a total kingdom. Should he get his way, the city won't need aldermen and could trade the mayor's gavel for a crown.

The biggest puzzle in this city is Cheryl Kross. She is staying out of supporting either Stokes or Gossett in favor of Guccione and his plot. Kross isn't an unintelligent individual by any stretch, and has always claimed to have conservative values, so why she is going along with this Socialist way of government? It's baffling, especially since she has designs on being Mayor in 2016, and needs to win her seat in 1015. Both Gossett and Stokes have supported her in every election in an effort to keep insanity from taking power over the board, yet it seems that by her lack of support for her old comrades, she's inviting Guccione to impose all sorts of lunacy into city that she will be powerless to stop after the election of Guccione's recruits. She may as well be campaigning for Hussey and Wright when she turns her back on Stokes and Gossett. Two years ago she activly campaigned for Alderman Leon Tow againts "Guccione for Mayor," and now through her silence is advocating Guccione for King. Alderman Kross needs a reality check if Wentzville is going to continue digging out of the many problems facing it.

Mayor Nickolas Guccione hates The Wentzvillian and will use any deception he can to shut it down because he finally realizes that his record, which is being reported here, is damaging his plot to be the King of Wentzville. Fearful, like a rat in a corner he's lashing out trying to frighten someone who will be here reporting on Wentzville politics long after he's a bad memory. Mr. Mayor, if you want to shut me up, start looking out for the welfare of our city rather than control of it. Start acting like a rational mayor of a great city and learn how to make Wentzville a better place, not a palace.

(To my devout readers, and also those of little faith: I've heard about imitators and impostors out there and The Wentzvillian wants to assure you first;—I don't care—and second; the only place The Wentzvillian posts comments or reports is right here on this blog since 2006. The Wentzvillian does not post on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network so if you want to read what The Wentzvillian has to say, you'll find it here exclusively. The impostors out there are fear driven, by the same folks who will bring you trash-talk about Rick Stokes and Forrestt Gosset—guess who? He used this tactic during the election of 2012, it didn't work then and it won't divert the Wentzvillian from posting the facts regarding the political activity of Mayor Nickolas Guccione and his machine today. The Wentzvillian is flattered to know they are so concerned by this blog that they would imitate it. Everytime you attack it, or refer to it, a larger spike in readership results. The Wentzvillian is encouraged to know that a nerve has been struck. I'll keep up the good work—thanks for your assistance in spreading the message of The Wentzvillian!)
 

Are These the Good-Old Days?

Coming back after a month-long absence has left me with more questions than answers about some of the strange things going on in city government. But, there are some extreme constants sitting on the board of aldermen, and one of them is my appointed anointed elected official; Alderman Michael Hays. Another remarkably predictable individual is Mayor Nickolas Guccione, he illustrates each day just how far under water he really is. These two gentlemen are frightening because their total lack of knowledge of government and non-engagement in governmental matters leaves Wentzville  crippled at the highest levels. Then there's Aldermen Cheryl Kross and Sonya Shryock, They are the complete opposite. Their actions and reactions are so random and unpredictable that they have become dangerous, as illustrated by their drive to remove the city attorney, audit firm, and attack aggression toward our chief of police. Their actions will cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming years.

 

Hays and Guccione are so close and so much alike they could be Siamese-twins. In five years of sitting on the board, Alderman Nickolas Guccione had absolutely no initiatives, and introduced nothing. As mayor for two years, his claim to fame is a double-fine zone experiment and getting the ethic's policy brought back to allow him to take private donations so he can bring more than one basket to the Mayor's Ball. The policy which may will be repealed is what Mayor Paul Lambi plead guilty to, and was consequently fined by the Missouri Ethics Commission.

If Guccione were to put as much effort into bringing city facilities up to code, or making this a Charter City, or fixing employee morale, Wentzville could be a model for the county, instead a lack of humility drives him to seek more stuff to bring to the Mayor's Ball. Feel-good things, these are what our mayor is all about. Budgets, personnel problems, and legal matters are boring, uninspiring, and so fraught with political pitfalls that he steers clear. So, with seven years of pseudo government under his belt, Guccione has put Wentzville on a "double-fine zone" road that leads to his idea of Candyland, where he will go skipping along with his arms full of baskets to the Mayor's Ball. He wants this blog off of his back, but as long as he ignores the business of the city and indulges himself in feel-good legislation, The Wentzvillian will be here to "rat him out."

 

Then there's Hays. This gentleman spent ump-teen years on the Planning and Zoning board doing exactly the same thing he has done for the past year on the board of aldermen ... sleep nothing, but stare blankly at his computer screen. He reminds me of one of those iguanas that sits so still you start wondering if he's breathing, I find myself watching to see if his tongue flicks in and out. This is precisely what his benefactor, Guccione did when he sat in that exact same seat ... sleep nothing. Anytime Hays adds anything to a discussion it's to parrot what someone else already said—don't believe me, just watch him.

 

Hatred and misguided revenge describe best what drives Aldermen Kross and Shryock. Rather than trying getting down to the business of the city, they have focused on upsetting the balance of power in opposing the President of the Board, Rick Stokes. Kross is especially baffling with her voting record, no one knows where she stands, but nine out of ten times when there's a 5-1 vote, she is the dissenter. Last week during the regular board of alderman meeting she was the only one to vote "Nay" to accepting our newest (full-time employee) City Administrator, Mr. Robert J. Bartolotta. Her vote came with the pregnant pause that she has been using with annoying frequently—is she truly just making up her mind at that moment? How is it that Mrs. Kross knows more than the rest of the board, consistently? Some pundits are forecasting that if she continues with her erratic method of legislating into the coming year, her base could diminish significantly making it difficult for her to be re-elected in 2015.

 

By the way, when our illustrious leader, Mayor Nickolas Guccione attempted to read Mr. Bartolotta's name, he stumbled over it all three times and never once got it right. His inability to read the name was nothing compared to the total embarrassment felt for our city when he floundered read a proclamation presented to our Timberland Wolves soccer team after they won second place in the state. Go Wolves! For two years the city has watched Guccione stumble, bumble, and fumble while reading out loud, in public. He should have given it to one of the teenagers being honored and asked them to read it for him. I hate to give him any good ideas, but if he were to let one of the aldermen read the proclamations, it might make Wentzville look better.

Now we come to Shryock, she is running on pure emotion due to her hatred of Stokes and Chief of Police, Lisa Harrison. Surely, she knows she made a huge mistake running for office—illuminated by her withdrawal from the election roll. It's uncertain how she is going to respond backing out of the election, some think she'll throw support via money or campaigning for the long-shot against Stokes, Linda Wright. Others say she cut a deal with Wright and Guccione—support for assistance in getting certain grace with the city. It is a known fact that Shryock and Wright are having conversations, they don't hide it very well.  For myself, I'm really not sure, but I am almost certain that from the dais she is going to publicly trash Stokes and Forrest Gossett—a classless act atributed to only the most petty and hate-driven politicians. Chris Gard may be spared, we'll see.

Shryock is may be going on a witch-hunt to find the phantom who is leaking information to the press from executive session meetings. She's alluded to the her fact that the snitch is Stokes and she may wants him to pay for perceived crimes against the city. I would state under oath that no alderman has given confidential information to The Wentzvillian, wittingly. Carefully worded questions asked of the appropriate individual and a little deductive reasoning is all you need to get the answer you seek. Most people are terrible liars. If she hunts too hard she may find that it was she who divulged the secret location of the new city hall; confidential information that was taken from executive session to The Wentzvillian. The only thing I can say is; when you're in the public eye, quit doing things you shouldn't be doing and maybe no one will find out!

There will probably be very little city business spoken about by Shryock in her last two months on the board, she will could easily spend her remaining days in public office being Guccione's zombie. Guided by the master of trash and Mayor of Candyland, she will could be resorting to his slash and trash tactics for which he has become so famous, he won't get his hands dirty. She needs to talk with some of his past political associates to find out that he blames others and feels no remorse when he throws them under the bus, but she knows that. Shryock will could be doing the dirty work and letting Guccione make a fool of her in the process. I'm sorry for that once "cute little mom" that brought sensitivity to the board, she is showing that politics has the effect of change, even on the nicest of people who get too deeply involved. Shryock entered the political arena for the wrong reasons—personal. Her hope for greatness was thwarted by the gleam in her eye, now it's misguided revenge—in the end nothing will change, no one will benefit, and Wentzville will lose. I would hope she shows good judgment and bows out of political life gracefully and just say "no" to helping Guccione in his quest to destroy any rationality in Wentzville.

I seriously doubt the day will come when Guccione, Hays, Kross, or Shryock are no longer in office that they will have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the time they wasted spent in politics. I know of only a handful of mayors and/or aldermen, even the good ones, who remember their time in Wentzville politics fondly. These are not the good-old days.

 

Election of April 2014

 

It's been a month since I posted here and in that time the goofy things going on with the city of Wentzville has continued. I won't get to those things today, but I promise some juicy stuff will be posted here soon. Right now, since the deadline for candidate registration has passed I want to talk about the coming election and some surprising developments that have arisen. We now know who is running, the question remaining is why some of them are seeking office; I will try to answer some of those questions today.

Unfortunately for our fair city; a few years ago a short-sighted group of aldermen pushed through an election to extend the term of mayor, we could have been throwing out the trash in April, instead we are condemned to endure our current situation for two more years, ugggg! The intent was to extend the alderman's term but that initiative backfired, consequently giving us the privilege of suffering through an appalling two more years of Nickolas Guccione. God, I don't want to think about that development anymore!

Ward 1 Candidates are; incumbent Forrest Gossett, Robert "Rob" Hussey, and Jay Webber. Gossett, who is seeking a second term is well versed in processes and procedures, he continuously tries to bring order to a mayor who just learned to bang a gavel (in all fairness, it only took Guccione one year to master that task). Gossett was difficult to read at first, but I believe he has evolved, and is a legitimate asset to the Board of Aldermen, he has earned a second term.

Robert Hussey failed in his bid for the Ward 1 seat last year against Cheryl Kross, and has come back this year to take another shot at it. A fair-haired apostle of Guccione who tried to slip him into the Wentzville City Administrator job, when that failed Guccione supported him heavily to take down Kross. During that race, Hussey held fund-raisers in St. Louis County and brought a large $6,000 war chest to the campaign. One of his biggest hurdles during the campaign was in trying to overcome his job history which included being fired by a nearby city from his City Manager Job. Guccione, will once again be plunging a lot of effort into Hussey's campaign to unseat Gossett, Guccione needs allies on the board to take complete control.

Jay Webber ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2012 in a two-candidate race against Gossett, he was one of Guccione's hand-picked hopefuls. Jay Webber is a nice guy, I like him, but I'd like him better if he would drop out of the race, because I don't think he can win in this three-way election. I believe Guccione has him running to split the vote, but that could also backfire by taking away anti-Gossett votes from Hussey, but I'm not sure either of them can beat Gossett, alone or in tandem.

Ward 2 Candidates are; Patrick Vining and Michael Rhodes who were initially going to take a run at the incumbent Sonya Shryock. Shockingly, Shryock withdrew from the race leaving her new found political advocate and benefactor, Nickolas Guccione, twisting in the wind. This was a pivotal key-seat for Guccione, Shryock had become his sock puppet right along with Michael Hays and Kross, they had tipped the balance of power. That seat is now lost to Guccione because the rumor mill is saying that both Vining and Rhodes have a very strong dislike for Nickolas Guccione, imagine that.

At the moment I'm not sure who I'd like to see win this race simply because of their feelings about our mayor. Both men have strong points and could be good for Wentzville. Vining filed for the election of 2011 but didn't campaign because he didn't want to run against Chris Gard, who he respected. Rhodes is a well-known and highly-respected businessman in Wentzville, and he could have a large following of voters. I'm very pleased to see a Wentzville business owner run for office here, its been since the 1980s that one has had enough guts to do it, thank you Mr. Rhodes for your courage!

Ward 3 Candidates are; Rick Stokes and Linda Wright. The selection between these two candidates should be a no-brainer, Stokes has two strong terms behind him,  and been elected President of the Board of Aldermen for the last two years. According to The Wentzvillian poll, Stokes is the strongest alderman on the board. His job approval is second to none, although Gard is a very close second. He was instrumental in helping Wentzville get back on the fiscal track.

Stokes record speaks for its self so I'll move on to his opponent, Linda Wright. Wright was a pawn for Guccione in the election of 2013, she was inserted to draw votes away from Darrel Lackey and give Hays an advantage. It worked, Wright gathered 142 votes and Lackey lost to Hays by 6 measly votes, Guccione's "appointment" took the election with a paltry 39 percent of the vote.

There is talk that Linda Wright will become the Donna Sherwood of Ward 3, Sherwood ran in every election for three consecutive years prior to this one. She finally gave up when she drew the lowest amount of votes in the election and being crushed by no-name Sonya Shryock.

In Conclusion: Guccione has stated in public that he's going to throw every bit of dirt he can find (even if he has to make it up) at his arch-enemy, Rick Stokes. It won't work, Stokes is a great alderman and Guccione has a reputation as the 'trash man,' he has an uphill battle carrying Wright up a very large hill. Guccione's only hope to maintain status-qua is to beat Gossett with either Hussey or Webber. He still has his sock puppets Hays and Kross, but he can't be sure with Kross, because she wants to take his office in 2016. I think anytime Kross gets a chance to let Guccione hang himself, she just might do it.

If Guccione cannot beat Gossett next April, he's going to have a miserable year, just like before Kross and Shryock flipped to run with his screwed-up agenda. If I were Kross, I'd mend some fences with Stokes, Gossett, and Gard, and prepare for trying to be re-elected in 2015 before she messes that up. Let Guccione go crazy with frustration, he'll screw up his chances of ever being re-elected—all by himself.

I'll be keeping up with developments of the election of April 2014 and keep you informed.

P.S.S.: Kross is going to be really upset after the election when Stokes is elected President of the Board for the third consecutive year, and Guccione will be going crazy sitting right next to him for two more years. LMFAO!