January 5, 2009
The final election results from the November 2008 election were not available at the time that the Standard went to press in December. They are now and we would like to congratulate Mary Hannon who will fill the one year unexpired term of resigned councilman Matt Mumbaugh, and David Montgomery who will fill the unexpired term of the late Ann Bean. Montgomery was seated at the regular Town Board meeting of December 8, just after the election was officially certified. Hannon, who is faced with running for reelection next November, took office on January 1.
The year 2008 was a very productive year for the Town Board as all members found ways to work together. We hope that the new members can find ways to continue this approach. Both Hannon and Montgomery have indicated publically that they wish to do this. The new Town Board, which consists of Supervisor Balus, Norm Uhteg, Heather Phelps, Montgomery, and Hannon, has a lot of work ahead of it. Fortunately, Balus, Phelps, and Uhteg, all strong minded, independent, smart, and effective leaders, have served Sardinia magnificently with good ideas and by finding ways to work together.
Unfortunately, the election campaign was marred once again by what can only be called rancid political tricks and smears. As many of our readers know, anonymous letters were circulated throughout the town, -the so called “Taxpayer Newsletters” which spread deceit and untruths on behalf of Hannon and Montgomery. In addition there was a last minute letter that was designed to look as if it came from Town Supervisor Balus. That letter portrayed her in an unflattering and untruthful way. The letter was reminiscent of one sent in a prior election purporting to come from Town Board Candidate Bob Kaiser. That letter, which like the Balus letter did not come from the identified source, portrayed him in an ugly light. He ended up loosing the election by a handful of votes. These letters are shameful, disgusting, and in our opinion, harmful to the community. Political smears should not be tolerated at any level. Lies do not lead to good decision making or effective leadership. Progress and accomplishment is at stake. But they seem to have worked in getting candidates elected. This does not bode well. The source of these letters has not been revealed publically, but we are sure that those behind them will eventually be exposed.
