Wednesday, September 9, 2009

My read on who the St. Marys Downtown Merchants' Association is most likely backing in each race.

For mayor: Mayor Eskridge. For Post 4: Roger Rillo. For Post 5: Jolene Haney, and for Post 6: Sidney Howell. Anyone disagree?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

What does Haney have to do with downtown merchants? I have never known her to be a part of that group. Do you know something we don't know?

Jay Moreno said...

Obviously, I do.

There has long been a lot of cross pollination between the leadership of the DMA and the St. marys Kiwanis Club. The DMA has always backed candidates favorable to their desire to suck more than their fair share out of the city coffers. The Kiwanians sponsor festival events which drop a few sheckles into downtown registers.
The KIwanians serve as the conduit for funneling city funds tot he benefit of the DMA members through taxpayer subsidy of those events - police, fire , EMS overtime, post festival cleanup, city paid electricity from outlets at the bottom of city light poles for use of vendors, city funded festival stage, cityt funded floating dock to double as Kiwanians barge for fireworks, etc., etc. We're talking welll over a million bucks and climbing.

Assuming that you honelstly did not know all of this and are noit a lying DMA / Haney backer, just ask around of those who have been here a while.

Jay Moreno said...

P.S.,

Do you really think that the fact that her first campaign event is being hosted in a downtown bar with wine provided at no cost to the candidate by a downtown package store is just coincidence?

Jay Moreno said...

By the way, I hope we can all agree that it is a given that the DMA will always have a horse in each race. My best guess is that it is Haney, but I'm certainly willing to entertain a serious argument as to why it may well be one of the other candidates.

Anonymous said...

You might want to consider LJ Williams. He is good friends with Doug Vaught (who never owned a business), who has been in charge of the DMA for a number of years.

Jay Moreno said...

Yeah, I considered him and he is my 2nd most likely to be the DMA candidate. If he is, perhaps the calculation is that between the balck vote and the DMA memebers and supporters, they can get him back in in spite of a lack-luster performance the last time.

You may be right, but my gut tells me its Haney. Remeber, it was the Kiwanis-DMA coalition that gave us Councilwoman Sears years ago.

Anonymous said...

Just reading the tea leaves as I think about this topic. It appears that Mrs. Haney qualified first thing Monday morning and LJ waited until late in the week, Friday I believe. My guess, and it is purly a guess the DMA found out the Mrs. Haney was not going to carry the water for them so they recruited LJ last minute. One persons opinion, we all have one. Jay, your thoughts??

Anonymous said...

I agree with the line-up. Although I agree with you it is placing control in the hands of DMA. But at this point I believe they would be the lessor of the two evils.

If Charlies group gets elected it would be much more costly to the taxpayers.

Jay Moreno said...

That is some pretty good analytical thought, but consider this. What are the chances that Jerry Brandon ( known to me as Jerry of "Jerry and the Pirates"" the pirates being the DMA when he was mayor) and downtown Bull Dog Liquors hosting this wine tasting for Haney rather than Williams?

Jay Moreno said...

After just reviewing who all is in that race, I think L.J. may be the mayor's, Bird's and the airport status quoers dog in this race.

Jay Moreno said...

Anonymous said...
I agree with the line-up. Although I agree with you it is placing control in the hands of DMA. But at this point I believe they would be the lessor of the two evils.

If Charlies group gets elected it would be much more costly to the taxpayers.

September 10, 2009 12:19 PM

Okay, so you subscribe to the better-the-evil-I-know-than-the evil-I-don't-know theory of governance.

Well, we know for a fact, from pastr experience, that when the DMA controls the council, they are like rats in a grain silo. They don't eat much ndividually, but in concert they can do some serious damage. We know that anythkng north and west of the old mill site is of no concern to them whatsoever.

However, do we know for a fact that what will happen - if anyhting - if the pro-airport closure group gets in? We know that in the referendum, the public said they wanted the airport closed, but at no cost to the city.
Well, so far, all the costs of the feasability study and any other studies have been borne by the FAA at no cost to the city. The city is negotiating NOW with the FAA to be able to keep the proceeds of the sale of the old airport and in lieu of handung that money over to the feds, get credit for the value of the land donated by the Sea Island Company ato the city and by the city to the feds. If all of those things coem to pass, you have a win-win situation. If not, it does not get done. Where is the risk?

The future is coming. We can hide under the bed until it finds us and runs over us, or we can face it head on and shape it. The milll is not coming back and the base may not be here forever.

Anonymous said...

As usual you have it all wrong. The winetasting has been organized by supporters. The wine is being paid for and food is being served. And I would caution you on printing potentially libelous statements implying someone drinks and drives. Do you have any idea what Haney did before she moved here? We can only hope someone with her own ideas is elected to help this city.

Jay Moreno said...

Really now. You will find that I also don't even respond well to unfounded warnings, much less threats. I never implied your candidate, a used car salesperson whose ad was paid for by the famous bartender at Seagles; whose first campaign is an event at Seagles bar; and whose wine tasting is sureley financially subsidized to some extent by a downtown package shop (otherwise, why mention them by name in the ad?)but now that you mention it, will she be coming and going from the wine tasting in a taxi. How about her supporters? A bus, perhaps?

Okay, I'll bite: What did she do before she come here to work as a used car salesperson? New cars?

Anonymous said...

Jay, at least Mrs. Haney has a job and is working. What are you implying with your statement about being a used car salesman, that's she is dishonest and shady? If I am not mistaken the dealership she works at won Best of Camden two years in a row. I've bought two cars from Mrs. Haney and I will continue to do business with her as well vote for her. If I'm not mistaken her boss is heavily involved in the local Republican party which you claim to support as well. So again I ask you what difference does it make where she works?

Anonymous said...

I used to not read this blog because it was too stupid. now I think it probebly good to keep raeding it. You all know that Moreno supports the Charlie Smith and Debra Hase people who are out to screw us. So just see who he is out to get and pick your candidates from that. So far we should vote for Roland Eskridge and Joleen Haney because they scare him and his cronies.

Jay Moreno said...

Anonymous said...
Jay, at least Mrs. Haney has a job and is working. What are you implying with your statement about being a used car salesman, that's she is dishonest and shady? If I am not mistaken the dealership she works at won Best of Camden two years in a row. I've bought two cars from Mrs. Haney and I will continue to do business with her as well vote for her. If I'm not mistaken her boss is heavily involved in the local Republican party which you claim to support as well. So again I ask you what difference does it make where she works?

September 10, 2009 5:56 PM

And I'll allow as how you did not intend that as a dig at me for not "having a job" if you will allow as how I was just flinging it back at the jerk who made a thinly veiled "libel" threat over something I never said. Selling anything legal is (or can be) a perfectly honest job. However, I'm still waiting to hear exactly what did she do prior to moving here (as I'm assured I would be impressed if I knew) and since moving here - outside of selling cars and joining Kiwanis - that would commend her to me more so than any of her competitors.

Jay Moreno said...

Anonymous said...
I used to not read this blog because it was too stupid. now I think it probebly good to keep raeding it. You all know that Moreno supports the Charlie Smith and Debra Hase people who are out to screw us. So just see who he is out to get and pick your candidates from that. So far we should vote for Roland Eskridge and Joleen Haney because they scare him and his cronies.

September 10, 2009 6:24 PM


So, let me guess: someone even more stupid than you was monitoring the blog for you and let you know that it was time to rejoin us? No, that can't be true. Your spelling indicates than anyone stupider than you could hardly manage bipedalism, much less operate a computer.

I'm hardly afraid of Rowland (the correct spelling) Eskridge. I don't dislike him. I've just never been very impressed by him. I've certainly not been impressed by his term as mayor. As to Jolene Haney, I only know what little bit I've gleaned about her from here and TOPIX. Who knows - if she turns out NOT to be the chosen candidate of the DMA, I might even vote for her - depending upon what kind of impression she makes upon me.

For that matter, I've not decided who I will vote for in any race. I do have an idea of some that I will not likely vote for, but it's way early yet.

Anonymous said...

Um, Jay...considering your own posts you might want to reconsider casting stones at those who misspell (or mis-type). Haney was also deeply involved with M.A.D.D. by the way (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) so your constant and unfounded harping upon alcohol is, once again, proving you to be the mere embittered gadfly that you are.

I'm curious...

What created this hatred of anything "downtown"?
You say "As to Jolene Haney, I only know what little bit I've gleaned about her from here and TOPIX." and yet you call everyone on Topix idiots. Make up your mind, Jay - or not...you're quite amusing as is.

Jay Moreno said...

Bugger off, A.K. You're done, virago!