Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wouldn't it Make Sense To Show Up To a Candidates Forum If You Were A Candidate?

Last night the Middletown Board of Education held the first of three Candidate Forums for residents to meet and learn about those people that are seeking election onto the school board.

I was unable to attend last nights forum because I was on "homework" assignment but I hope to attend one of the other two scheduled events.

From what I have been told about last nights forum only five of the seven candidates bothered to show up! Mike Mascone and Vinnie Brand, two of the three individuals backed by Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore did not show. In his absence Brand had a lenghty statement read by the moderator, which at times was not coherent.

Here's what an anonymous commentator had to say about last nights event concerning Mascone , Brand and Aveta:

"...With the times being so serious I don't understand how 2 candidates who want to run for this extremely important position not show up for these events. Where's the dedication and commitment that is needed?

These critical times require experience which wss quite obvious in the exchanges between the current BOE members and Mr. Aveta, but at least he showed up...."

I have to agree with the commentator, if you are a serious candidate how could you not make last nights forum,what was so important that Mascone and Brand couldn't show up to meet potential voters?

Mascone must have been very busy because he didn't bother to respond to the invitation for last nights event, and who knows about Brand, maybe Vinnie Brand was too busy making jokes about his kids somewhere to take the forum seriously.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

They were told to no show so people can't see how unqualified they are.

MiddletownMike said...

That would be very sad if it were the case...

Anonymous said...

DUMP

SHARFEY & CO. !!!

Unknown said...

Dear Mike,

I had a professional commitment, made months ago, and honored my commitment. This prevented me from attending last nights meeting. I'm proud of the fact that my word has a value and would honor my commitment again if the circumstance were the same.

My letter is coherent, you just don't like what it says nor do you seem to like me or my candidacy, regardless of the fact that you know nothing about me or my stance. The point of my letter was that we need to work together, not apart, in order to provide a first rate education for our children. Likely this point is lost on you, who seems to only want to further divide people. Why won't you just print the letter and let people decide if it's coherent?

As for being unqualified, it didn't stop you from commenting on last nights meeting while you were not even there to judge for yourself. .

I hope all of your readers vote in this upcoming election. The process works best when all concerned cast their ballot.

MiddletownMike said...

Vinnie,

If you send me your letter I'll post it.

As for being unqualified to comment, I disagree.
I am qualified to agree with a commentator if the facts are true and it seems in this case they are.

You had a previous commitment, kudos to you for keeping it, but the fact remains that you and your running mate Mike Mascone did not show.

You may want to thank the person who read your letter for its incoherency but other who have talked to me also said to rambled!

Send me the letter and I'll post it.

Unknown said...

Mike,

Please provide me the email address you'd like the letter sent to.

Glad you liked my act. But let's straighten out the story. It was his bedroom, not the bathroom. The story speaks for itself. Come see me tell it live sometime.

As for my act, it's like me, honest, without sugar coating, dependable and funny. I missed that meeting because I'm reliable. I had given my word previously and I don't break my word. If I win this election that same level of commitment will serve the board well. I have no intention of using the Board of Education as fodder for my act. I have plenty to talk about without politics. Nor do I have connections to the TC. I know some of them, others I do not. I do however stand by my positions and won't change them for you or anyone else in order to get elected. As you are aware, the Board of Education is a volunteer post, unpaid. My purpose in running is deeper than soccer fields.

As for my bio, every time I read it I'm proud. I've had some great challenges in my life and they've made me stronger so I'm not ashamed of having lived in a boarding house. I tell that story on stage too. Your efforts to embarrass me will generally fall flat Mike, because I'm not ashamed of my life, my children or my family. Nor am I afraid to admit mistakes.

One last final note, you may attack me all you want, leave my children out of it. If you find the desire to work together and have all involved shoulder the burden of educating our children unacceptable, I don't know what to tell you. To me, it's the very essence of our society.

I will send the letter as soon as you send me the address that suits you best.

Thanks for posting,

Vinnie

MiddletownMike said...

Vinnie,

my email can be found on the left tool bar under "About Me"

I had the story straight, it was funny and I did not mention the bathroom. If you re-read the post It clearly stated bedroom.

I have nothing personal against you, politics are politics whether your are running for dog catcher, BOE or TC.

You say you have no connections to the TC but you admit that "you know some of them". To me that is a connection.

If Fiore hadn't have signed your and Aveta's petitions there would have been no need for me to comment on your candidacy for BOE. I believe that political partisanship has no place on the BOE and this isn't the first time the TC majority has attempted to influence the BOE by sponsoring their own slate of candidates.

As for your Bio, it's witty and tongue-in-cheek, just what you would expect from a comedian. The problem is that while your Bio promotes you as a comedian it does nothing for your candidacy for the BOE, if people are interested in knowing who Vinnie Brand is or what his qualifications are that would make him a good choice to be elected to the BOE, that Bio doesn't cut it.

As for attacking kids, I never attacked your son. I gave a brief description of the content of the video. Nothing more.

Attacking kids or wives is out of bounds unless they are the ones making headlines, otherwise attacks on them to embarrass or shame the individual that I may or may not have a problem with is a low blow.

I do not post anything on my blog about my family or other peoples families because I respect their privacy and should be left out of conversations.

I don't always agree with the BOE, I've had to take them to arbitration in the past to get the needed services for my kids, but overall I think they do a good job for our kids.

For the TC to slate candidates at any time is wrong and is just an attempt to place blame for their mismanagement of our property tax bill somewhere else which is evident every time Scharfenberger has to point out that the municipal tax rate comprises less than a third or the overall tax burden in town. But what he refuses to acknowledge is that the BOE tax rate increase over the past few years has been dwarfed in comparison to the municipal tax increases.

His attempts to pitt the residents of Lincroft, Pop Warner Chargers and Middletown Soccer against the BOE in order for them to open the fields at the high schools was despicable and blew up in his face.

As they say, politics makes for strange bedfellows so be careful who you wake up next to.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Mike, now we are a little more enlightened about Vinnie. His statement at the Candidate's night sounded like a press release for his comedy establishment.
Its one thing to say you're all for a first rate education who isn't? The real issue is how do you get that. I haven't heard one original idea from Mr. Brand about what he would do to achieve that. Why would anyone entrust him when he hasn't make himself available to the public except through your blog. His whole candidacy is a joke.

Anonymous said...

We can't wait to get to the polls and support the new path our state is on! Finally someone is telling the truth and not just saying what they think the Teacher's Union will like.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I just read the fine print at the top of your blog... so much for freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideas. That explains why my comment made yesterday has been eliminated from public view. WOW, I was right when I called you a shill for the Democrats.

MiddletownMike said...

Anonymous,

What fine print are you talking about and what post has mysteriously disappeared???

if your comment was orginally posted it should still be here. I do not delete comments once posted.

If you resubmit the comment I'll make sure it gets posted.

Anonymous said...

Mike,

That wayward post is on the next article....you did not delete it.
Whoever the name caller is ,they are about as thoughtful as the name calling.

Keep up the good work.The rest us us appreciate your efforts to enlighten us about all the sides to the issues.

Maybe the real problem is the subject of the post....the no-show candidate.

Not very impressive....that's for sure.

MiddletownMike said...

Thank you for the clarification.

Some people just like to bitch when they have ulterior motives.