Setting the Tone and What Happens Next

This started as a response to a previous post and quickly grew to the point that I thought it deserved it's own entry.  I'd like to start by thanking 'Upper Macungie Concerned Resident' and Mr. Brunell for their comments on my first blog post, and all of you for your interest in the Supervisors race.  This is an important election and it's only through the concern of our residents that UMT will move forward. 

First, I will try to make this campaign as much as possible about what I will do for this township when elected supervisor.  I don't like negative campaigns any more than you do.  However there will be times when it will be necessary to point out the differences between Mrs. Rader and myself.  To Mrs. Rader and her supporters this will probably look like criticism or negative campaigning.  What I won't do is engage in name calling, and I promise to keep the tone of the dialog respectful at all times.  If we all engage each other as reasonable adults we can have a discussion about our differences without slinging mud and the candidate with the best ideas will win.

Mr. Brunellon the discussion over the need to hire a new Community Development Director.  Mrs. Rader did not ask for a debate on the best way to fill the duties of the Community Development Director;  she asked to head a committee which would hire a replacement for the director.  Mr. Ashmar asked if it was really necessary to hire a replacement right away.  The debate between the two was over the need to fill the position right now.  Mrs. Rader is in favor of hiring someone without discussing the need to fill the position.   We all have concerns about budgets and taxes and this may be an opportunity to trim an expense or reallocate some funds.  I don't have an opinion either way on this yet because the merits haven't been discussed, but it definitely should be looked at before rushing off to hire someone. 

According to several e-mails and letters I've received at my home and office the rush is on because Mrs. Rader already knows who she wants to hire for the position.  This starts to look more and more likely because the same person was named by each of the people who wrote.   I guess we'll see how this plays out at Thursday nights Supervisors meeting which starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.