For purposes of discussion....

Bart Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #135 9 hrs ago Interesting to note wrote: Snappy comeback. In other words you got no balls. If it is as you say, contact the state attorney general or the secretary of state and ask for an investigation. I got no dog in this fight; I just make observations. Riiight - each time that a proposal is voted down because of petty Council members with a grudge I'll "contact the state attorney general or the secretary of state and ask for an investigation". Apparently you have little experience with the nuances of local politics and the often-subtle retaliation of those in power against those who challenge the status quo. From seemingly small items such as a permit denied for no discernible reason to lack of support for various organizations' initiatives, politicians can exact their pound of flesh - and unless the "victim" wishes to spend their life on hold with state officials, there is little recourse. That's part of the impetus behind the drive to fracture the voting stranglehold of self-interest blocks such as the one of Deloughy/Weaver/Trader/Hase and the undue influence of the Camden Partnership, isn't it? The above post comes from TOPIX, Kingsland. With regards to the second paragraph, anyone who has been paying attention to local politics for the last 16 years will know that I have loads of personal experience with the kind of retaliation the author refers to. I agree that it exists. However, I'm curious as to the veracity of the last paragraph. I'm sure the author reads my blog as well. Perhaps he could go to the comments section of this post and give us examples of how and when any of the four, individually or jointly, have engaged in any such vengeful abuses of office. I'm reasonably well plugged in and I have no such knowledge. Surely, you are not talking about the legitimate ethics complaint against "No Conflict" Bird. And while we are at it, let's address the "self-interest" issue. How would each individual in "the four" profit from any of their votes, outside of an outright cash bribe? The usual way is to funnel some business to an elected official's business. What does Chuck Trader do for a living that would easily facilitate his pockets being lined by any action, much less the closing and or building of an airport? Now, I would ask the same question with regards to Weaver, Deloughy, and Hase, respectively. The usual rap with regards to Hase is that she is a Realtor, ergo she will somehow profit from new home sales. First of all, she is a sales associate, not a managing broker. You can bet that Sea Island will have its own exclusive sales force, should they build a new upscale development around a new airport. If there is development by one developer on the old airport site, chances are he will have his own sales force. Needless to say, Hase could go to work for either one, but EARNING sales commissions is neither illegal nor unethical. There is a lot of talk about all of the people, elected or not, who stand to profit from a new development on the current underutilized airport property and / or the new airport development. Folks, in any such development, there is profit to be made. Someone has to make it. Ask yourself, honestly, do you object to the fact that certain people you know by name and don't like might profit or are you just one of those class-envious dogs-in-the-manger who is pathologically against the financial successes of others per se?