Editorial Comment

By Sylvia Alber I recently read a “joke” on line. It read like this… A man was sitting in a town meeting, heckling the mayor as he delivered a long speech. Finally the mayor could stand it no longer, so he pointed to the man and said “will that gentleman please stand up and tell the audience what he has ever done for the good of the city.”“Well, Mr. Mayor,” the man said in a firm voice. “I voted against you in the last election.” In Blue Hill, while no one can brag about having voted against the Mayor in the last election, no one will have to admit to voting for her for mayor. Or most of the rest of the council. As we should all know the mayor was not elected to the position of Mayor by a vote of the people. The position was granted by default after the resignation of the previous elected Mayor when he was forced to decline the position because of his failing health. When a Mayor in Blue Hill is unable to fulfill that position and is replaced during the term that position falls to the president of the city council so I guess we can say that the members of the city council put the present Mayor in that position by making her the president of the council. In the last election, unlike the one just previous to it, there was a full slate of candidates, four candidates to be elected for two city council positions. Elected to the positions were incumbents, Keri Schunk, and John Schwab. They defeated candidates Ed Wademan and Tim Eiseman, who each received a significant number of votes during the election. So if an opening should occur during the term lots of thinking people would have thought one of these two individuals would have been a logical choice for that position as they were voted for by a number of people. Or even the additional two individuals who had put their names on the ballot in the primary election, Mike Hall or Jerry Hamik. But not, so according to Mayor Schunk. Now with the Mayor moved from her position on the city council to the position of Mayor there is a vacancy on the council, so an appointment must be made to fill that position. After a long and drawn out process finally a nomination is made by the Mayor, not nominated are the individuals who had expressed a willingness to serve in that position and had been voted for by many people, no election this time, the public did not vote, the council approved the nomination by a vote of 2 to 2, and with the Mayor casting the deciding vote another city council member was on board. A council member not elected by the public but put on the board by the mayor, hand selected. This council member is “elected” with three votes, the mayor and two council members. Then after a lot of name calling and lies are spread around a council member who was elected in a legitimate election, honestly elected, even though he was elected with five write in votes because there was no one willing to step forward to take the position, is recalled after stating in a public forum that he was through and had enough of the ridiculous process being called city government in Blue Hill . Again it falls to the Mayor to appoint someone to fill the open position. Again the Mayor does not discuss her selection with the council she advertises in numerous forums for a candidate for the position. She does not reveal the names or qualifications of those candidates who agreed to be considered for the position, even to members of the city council and with no fan fair whatsoever she announces her selection at the city council meeting saying, “ I nominate Albert Grey”. No introductions necessary, I guess. She does not state his qualification or any reason for her selection. She does not express any confidence in his ability to serve. So with five votes Albert Grey is on the council. Hand picked by the mayor. Later she is quoted in the Hastings Tribune "....I think there were some people that had a conflict of interest who wouldn't have worked, but they were all very qualified and would've worked fine." ???? they would have worked or they wouldn't have worked, which is it?. So let’s summarize, No one voted for Keri Schunk for Mayor, four council members voted for her for president of the city council, a position that she no longer holds. Mark Petska, who was appointed by Mayor Russ Willems to fill an open position on the council because no one would run for the position. He was put into place by a 2 to 2 vote with the tie broken by the mayor. Doris Hartman was put in place with a 2 to 2 vote after having been nominated by the Mayor, with the tie broken by the Mayor Keri Schunk. And finally the newest position was filled by Albert Grey who was not elected by the people but appointed and that appointment approved by the city council. We have two members of city government who received more than five votes to be in the position they hold. So we have only two honestly elected members of city government, Jesse Alber and John Schwab. What does that say about the people of Blue Hill? Several years ago I attended a city meeting when Mark McFarland was mayor, there was an open position on the council to be filled. He discussed all the candidates and their qualifications with the council, he did not make the decision all by himself but involved all the elected officials in the decision. I guess Mayor Schunk has enough insight she doesn’t need any input from the rest of the council but I was more comfortable with Mayor McFarlands methods. So where do we go from here.? I am looking forward to the next election. _______________________________________________________ 　 The preceding comments are the opinion of the writer and should not be taken to reflect the views of Blue Hill Today or anyone associated with Blue Hill Today other than the author.