De Luca/Profeta/Pettis-The Good, The Bad or the Ugly?

Local politics some might say include "the good, the bad, and the ugly." For those of us brave enough to run for local office in order to represent our neighbors and friends, it's a challenge no doubt. You put yourself into position where your every move is questioned. So let's do just that and ask some questions.

Maplewood Mayor Victor De Luca and former Mayors Fred Profeta and Ken Pettis have all been busy these last few weeks. Mayor De Luca caused some controversy by choosing to have parking spaces lined in the privately owned Woman's Club parking lot. In using public tax money he has angered some residents  who have taken to the local gossip site, Maplewood On-line to vent their feelings that perhaps this was a misappropriation of public tax dollars. However, the town is planning to purchase the property "soon" so I'm sure the Mayor could argue that the job was going to have to be done sooner or later so why not sooner? Is this the good or is this the bad or is this the ugly?

Former Mayor Fred Profeta also took to Maplewood On-Line to tout this week's "Conversation on Race" hosted by the controversial Community Coalition on Race, the non-profit organization that is partially funded by local tax dollars. The Coalition has been accused in the past of getting to heavily into local school board elections which would in theory be grounds to drop the non-profit from being eligible for taxpayer dollars. Others contend, the organization is about as relevant in the 21st century as let's say the horse and buggy. Mr. Profeta, one of the founders of the CCR disagrees and he has come out firing at critics. Is this the good, or is the bad, or is this the ugly?

Another former Mayor, Ken Pettis is currently starring in a local production of "The Full Monty."  For those of you unfamiliar, the climatic last scene includes the male actors exposing their, well, let's just leave it at that. So I ask, is this the good, or is this the bad, or is this the ugly? 

I'll let you decide.