Accountability! Local government as well as our school boards have, something that is not found on any other level. Accountability. Yes our State and Federal law makers have a cretin sense of accountability, but it’s not as meaty as that of a local law maker. Every Law passed, every bill paid, every meeting held, every decision made, and voted on affects you and your neighbors.

I take this to heart being a former two term Councilman for the Town of Fayette in Seneca County before resigning my office to serve for a year of active U.S. Army duty fighting the war on terrorism, state side. As Chairman of the Water in 1998 I was a Republican and wanted to serve both my town and my party.  As Chairman It was my job to oversee all water districts and projects new and old. I had secured a low interest rate loan of $750,000 and a grant of $250,000. The district was budgeted to the penny and we did not have any room for big mistakes. I was working with a bond council to work all the monies for the project and the gentleman was charging the town $3,500.  

Then it happen, I received a call from one of my party leaders asking me not to use the current bond council because he was not a Republican and use “our” guy. I was very up front with the price we settled on of $3,500 and both the party leaders and the “guy” they wanted to do the job agreed, so I made it happen. Well we were billed for the services and the bill was $11,500 not $3,500 as agreed on. When I raised questions I was told just pay the bill and don’t worry about it. I refused to have the bill paid and I was told to be loyal to my party!

I fought for the town, not my party because, I was a councilman first a Republican second. The shifty bond council was fired and never paid while the original bond council did the job for $3,500.

I was “black listed” from my party which made my job tough. When I was approached by the Democratic Chair, I joined his party and never looked back. I truly feel at home being a Democrat.

The point I’m making here is I have never had a problem doing the right thing for my constituents and I never will.