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To the Citizens of Monona,
After much consideration, I have decided not to petition for a manual recount in the recent election of April 7th. Congratulations to Doug Wood, Jim Busse, and Mike Veserat for each winning a seat on the Monona City Council in a closely contested election.
The initial recount, conducted on April 10th, was very professional and enlightening. I want to thank Joan Andrusz and all other staff and volunteers who contributed to this effort. We all learned that the results will vary slightly with each recount, proving the validity of recounting the ballots when the result is so close. But, given the fact that I remain one vote behind, I will accept this outcome knowing that any possible change of fortune would come at too high a price. The voters deserve an untainted resolution to this impasse.
I vow to honor the electorate who supported me by staying active in city government, to continue our important and vital work, so that Monona can thrive for future generations. Thanks to all who have expressed and provided support during the campaign and recount. Monona is a better place to live, in part, due to the engagement of its citizens. I am honored to have represented you during this last year, and I remain hopeful that we can all work together to build a better Monona.
Sincerely,
Chad T Speight,
Monona Alderperson
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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It is so sad to lose someone of this caliber on the council. Even in this note, he is so well-spoken, and even though I did not always agree with him, he did always listen. He got stuck on the false rumors of sidewalks- when in reality he was just trying to make the city safer for kids and families. Which is what we all want.
ReplyDeleteI know the new guys will do well too, but I think Chad had some real passion for what he was doing and for making Monona a better place.
It wasn't a "false rumor". It was a deliberate, and unfortunate, misinformation campaign.
ReplyDeleteHeather said...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chad, for your service. I hope you'll run again in 2010. We need your brain and your heart on the council.
"e got stuck on the false rumors of sidewalks- when in reality he was just trying to make the city safer for kids and families. Which is what we all want."
ReplyDeleteI will bite-what are the "FALSE RUMORS" about sidewalks?
I agree, please run again next time. You are an asset to the city!
ReplyDeletePaul Meyer
False rumors. Sounds an awful lot like an oxymoron to me.
ReplyDeleteI've lived here for more than ten years, and I remember the last time someone threatened our fair city with sidewalks. It ended about the same way.
Easy come, easy go.
It just goes to show that in our fair city, bike mechanics and Dartmouth grads can go head to head in a fair race, the people can decide, and we can all move on.
"False rumors. Sounds an awful lot like an oxymoron to me."
ReplyDeleteHuh? You think rumors are always true???
Maybe you should grab a dictionary. "False rumors" seems closer to a redundancy.
The pedestrian safety plan was distorted into a sidewalk-only plan in order to kill discussion and defeat Chad.
And what is it with the Dartmouth hang-up? Are you (and other who mention it) insecure that somebody might have gotten a better education than you did? Plain old reverse snobbery.
I don’t know if there was any shadowy misinformation campaign about sidewalks. The info Chad proposed was available for everyone to see. It was public record.
ReplyDeleteIn a letter sent out to some Monona voters, one of the Chad’s opponents said that Chad had proposed “for the installation of sidewalks on several Monona streets.” The opponent stated his opposition to sidewalks, never insinuated there was more than that. Perhaps there was something else sent, but the letter I got off the Internet said nothing else. Or maybe one of the other candidates was sending different information.
No matter what, it’s a shame Chad lost. I don't think anyone doubts his passion for the community. I voted for him, but no luck this time. But I think it’s wrong to try and hang conspiracies on people and start whisper campaigns that do nothing but divide the community.
Why Chad lost is about a lot more than just sidewalks. But that’s a different post. Again, it’s too bad he lost – one vote is tough to swallow. But it’s done. Let’s move on. It’s like the school referendum a couple of years ago – it’s done, let’s move on, let’s work together for a better community. I think all of the candidates are reasonable, decent folks who really do want the best for Monona.
I don't think it was shadowy at all. It was quite a public campaign to tie Chad to sidewalks. It distorted his proposal.
ReplyDeleteAs for moving on, well, sure, but the election was less than two weeks ago and the recount more recent than that. A one-vote contest desrves a decent post-mortem.
"The pedestrian safety plan was distorted into a sidewalk-only plan in order to kill discussion and defeat Chad. "
ReplyDeleteReally? Chad talked an awful lot about sidewalks. I think he talked more about sidewalks than pedestrian safety. His opponent, simply-said I am against them he is for them..and here is where they are going to go-5 miles of sidewalks.
"And what is it with the Dartmouth hang-up? Are you (and other who mention it) insecure that somebody might have gotten a better education than you did?"
I am not sure what the other poster meant, but I disagree with you. An ivy league education and Dartmouth was mentioned more times than I care to hear about. IF it is reverse snobbery then so be it.
We seem to be going around in circles.
ReplyDelete