One hand washes the other
Needless to say, I’m not invited to the fundraising parties for the re-election of county commissioners Brian Blair & Ken Hagan. But I do have copies of the invitations, so let’s have a look at the host committees to see who’s backing whom.
Less than a week after Blair and Hagan appointed Hung Mai to the Planning Commission, Mai is soliciting funds for their campaigns, e-mailing the invitations out and handling the RSVPs. (Smell that disgusting odor? That’s cronyism.)
The host committees for both candidates are almost identical and include plenty of fundraising heavyweights, with lots of support from the development lobby. Sticks readers will recognize some of the hosts’ names, including Ralph Hughes, Todd Pressman, and Judy James. All 3 were used as references on Hung Mai’s recent application for the Planning Commission. (The Trib printed headshots of all 3 plus Mai with my Op Ed.) I told you Mai knew commissioners would hear that cash register a-jinglin’ when they voted for him. But I didn’t imagine it would be this blatant.
Stephen Dibbs, a leader of the recent attacks on our local wetlands regulations, is also on the host committees for both Blair & Hagan.
Most of the county commissioners are already taking sides in each other’s political campaigns, which is sure to bring out the nasty on this ridiculously dysfunctional board. Commissioners Blair, Hagan & Norman are all backing each other. Commissioner Sharpe is backing Hagan, but not Blair at these country-club soirées, while professed Democrat Kevin White is backing Republican Brian Blair, but not Ken Hagan. Higginbotham & Ferlita are sitting this dance out. How will they all work together from now until November 2008, while mired neck deep in each others’ politics?
This is all further evidence that the primary concern for most of our commissioners is not our county but merely their own campaigns. They can’t even maintain a pretense of integrity, because they have no idea what integrity is.
