Candidates state their positions at Dunn

Drogo and Mohammad face the voter's scrutiny while Bell and cadre' drink

The Exeter Examiner held a forum for candidates for Exeter Township Supervisor on May 14th. In attendance were the two candidates who had the guts to face the public, Larry Drogo and Mohammad Mohammad.

The video can speak for itself. The candidates that chose to attend and face the public acquitted themselves as good citizens and gentlemen of the highest order. Our thanks go out to both of them. They did what was right by Exeter voters.

The thrust of this article will be to detail the petty tactics practiced by two of the other candidates, who refused to attend the forum, George Bell and Amanda Johnsen.

I announced this event on April 19th, after securing use of the Dunn Center from the township, and sent invitations to every candidate. I got a “no” from Bell the next morning, “yes” from Drogo and Mohammad that evening, a “yes” from Dave Vollmer (who has now dropped out of the race), and no response from Johnsen or Michelle Kircher.

Shortly after my announcement, Bell (and I presume Johnsen, the two seem joined at the hip) announced a coincidental event at the Reading Country Club (RCC) where “bipartisan” candidates would be gathering to answer questions, in “meet and greet” fashion. So instead of facing real questioning, he (and Johnsen) opted to go the softball route. “Hey, George, nice two new cars you got there, that cost you a bundle, didn’t it?” “Hey, Amanda, doesn’t your hair look so pretty? The water in Exeter must be GREAT for hair.” “George, ready for YET another one?” As opposed to questions like this, heard at the Examiner forum, “Many residents have expressed concerns about communication, a lack of transparency, and limited opportunities for public input. For example, the meeting agendas often include business for which there is relevant documentation, but those materials are not made available to the public until after the meetings, often only by request, limiting the ability for the public to comment. What specific changes would you support to make meetings more accessible, enhance transparency, and provide more time for residents to contribute to decisions? Could you consider a format similar to the school board, having discussion at one meeting and then the actual voting at the next meeting? This would allow for more thoughtful decision making and time for public input?” I’m sure serious questions like that came up in the bar at the RCC amid, “Set ‘em up, Joe!”, and, “I wonder what the poor people are doing tonight”.

While I wasn’t there, I wonder if that event at RCC last night went the way that George’s meet and greet at Giovanna’s Pizzeria went. I decided I needed a pizza that night and went to get one. Got there at about 6:30 (meet and greet scheduled from 5-7), he was nowhere to be found, which is an indicator that no one showed up to meet him and he left early.

To show the true petulant nature of the man, George decided to taunt me last night online for some reason, which I never would have seen if two people didn’t send it to me.

Nice try what, George? Actually putting together a forum to inform the populace about the positions that candidates hold in an election season, instead of positioning myself in a bar, drinking to the point that I’m compelled to post something like the above? Oughtn’t informing the public about candidates in an election season be a good thing? Why is everything with this guy some insane measuring contest, where he has to be bigger and better? I don’t care who had more people. You satisfied yourself, puffed up your own ego. I didn’t do this for views, although the more that see my presentation, the better. I did it to help inform the public. It’s about THE PEOPLE, not the politicians. This is why you’re a HORRID public servant. You make it about YOU.

Yeah, George, I’m sorry that I held a “two-bit, 2 person” forum, not debate. Sorry I tried to inform the public while you were lushing it up with your hangers on in a bar. Does it make you feel better now that I’ve apologized to you for informing the public? FOR INFORMING THE PUBLIC, GEORGE. There, you win. Feel better?
Incidentally, one of the people who sent this post along told me it was gone fifteen minutes later, so once again, George posts at night (glug glug?), then thinks better of it. In truth, something tells me his wife has a good moral compass and straightens him out when necessary.

So while Bell and Johnsen were potentially getting a snoot full at RCC, candidates who wish to serve the public sat and answered tough questions soberly from people of the township.

Tuesday, May 20th is primary election day. Inform yourself by watching the forum, and make the right decision.

You can watch the debate HERE: