| |
~ A Groundswell of Support ~
GO RICK!
There is a tremendous groundswell of support for Rick Gray. I have heard those words from numerous people, some of whom have been going door to door in Lancaster. They say people want a change. They are tired of Smithgall. They have good reason to be.
There are numerous reports of a Republican poll that was done within the last three weeks showing Gray has the lead. So the Smithgall camp has moved to desperate and ugly tactics. Smithgall asked if Gray was “fit” to lead the police. Smithgall said Gray puts criminals back on the street. He called him a “puppy mill lawyer.” These charges are ridiculous. It's dirty politics and it’s not working.
Yesterday, Smithgall pulled out District Attorney Donald Totaro again, along with state Attorney General Tom Corbett, and I’ll have more so say about that tomorrow.
Today, this is going to be very brief. Rick Gray is leading. He is a man of intelligence and integrity. Those are two qualities utterly lacking in the current mayor. Rick Gray has taken the high road. The mayor has taken the low road. Rick Gray has character. Mayor Smithgall has none. The groundswell grows. The choice is clear. Vote for Rick Gray for mayor.
___________________________________
One very important note - regarding the huge issue of the convention center, www.lancasterfirst.org says, “With the election so close at hand, the one thing that has held promise is that mayor candidate Rick Gray has promised to get everyone in the same room to discuss whether the project can possibly succeed. If a group of well-qualified individuals determines the hotel and convention center project is not what Lancaster City needs, Rick Gray has promised to ‘pull the plug’ on the project.”
It’s one more huge reason to vote for Rick Gray.
*** BREAKING NEWS *** - This email just in from the Smithgall campaign at 11:47 a.m.:
"...the fact remains that our last set of numbers indicates that the race is too close to call."
~ Mayor Smithgall ~
NO CHARACTER AT ALL
The Mayor of Lancaster secretly sells guns out of a backroom in his pharmacy. Drugs and guns. In any other third class city, there would be outrage. The newspapers would be all over the story. A man who opposed Operation Cease Fire, a program designed to get guns off the streets, is selling guns out of a back room in his pharmacy. This is the same mayor who claims he is responsible for reducing crime in Lancaster, when in a recent F&M poll, 40% of those polled said crime was the city’s biggest problem.
In the Intell article this morning, “City GOP mail plays up Gray’s kennel ties,” Smithgall is quoted as saying it’s a “character issue.”
In the last two months, it has been exposed that the Mayor made a $900,000 commitment that he had no right to do and was eventually shown to be worthless. A letter he wrote to City Councilman Mendoza, stamped confidential three times and offering him a $15,000 bribe to vote for his budget, was made public. Dan Messimer, a former Comcast cable sub-contractor, and Barry Winterstein, the City Treasurer, both stated in detail to an Intell reporter and editor that the mayor was receiving illegal cable.
The mayor first said he thought there were 4,000 outstanding warrants and then the number went to 22,000. That is a number that should cause outrage. Instead, the mayor says they are a “non-issue.”
The mayor said he didn’t know ahead of time that the Parking Authority wanted to build a seven story garage. The mayor, in a debate, compared his management style to the amusement game, Whack-a-Mole.
And now, it is revealed that the mayor of a third class city is secretly selling guns, including assault weapons, from a back room in his pharmacy.
You have no character, Mayor Smithgall, and the mailing proves it. No character at all.
Call the Mayor and tell him to stop selling guns!
COMING TOMORROW – A GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FOR RICK GRAY.
*** BREAKING NEWS ***
~ Mayor Smithgall ~
LICENSED TO SELL GUNS
Mayor Smithgall has a current Federal Firearms License. The trading name is “Smithgall Bros Co.” and the address is 536 W. Lemon Street. I am told that he must sell any guns from that address.
Go here. Put an “8” in the first box, “23” in the second box and “03082” in the very last box. https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck
Thank you very much to a reader for this information. There will be more on this breaking story tomorrow.
22,000 REASONS TO BOOT
SMITHGALL
22,000 outstanding warrants. 22,000. The mayor said it’s a “non-issue.” And, according to the New Era article, “Outstanding warrants a ‘non-issue,’ mayor says,” Smithgall “scolded his mayoral opponent, Democrat Rick Gray, for slighting city police.” Gray never said one word that slighted the police, Mayor Smithgall. He slighted you and other top officials and that’s where the blame belongs.
NOT FINDING MANY PEOPLE
Smithgall is the one who slights his own force because the moron is quoted saying this, “Smithgall countered this morning that the warrant squad was stopped in 2003 because ‘they weren’t finding many people.’” Then the idiot says this, “Smithgall suggested the high number of warrants just might be viewed in a more positive light: ‘I think it’s a reflection that they’re (police) out making more arrests.’” Excuse me? How can such nonsense come out of a mayor’s mouth and how can a newspaper print such garbage?
THE MAYOR’S A MISTAKE
“’The New Era was preparing a correction and regrets that it could not have published it sooner,’” Ernie Schreiber, the paper’s editor, is quoted as saying in the article. The story quoting the mayor with the 4,000 number ran on Monday. How did reporter John M. Spidaliere misquote the mayor so badly? The mayor put the article on the front page of his website the very next morning with no disclaimer. Ernie had two days to run a correction and didn’t. The “non-issue” story ran on Thursday. When did the mayor figure out his 4,000 quote was a mistake? The day he found out the real number was 22,000. 22,000 outstanding warrants in a town where the mayor is basing his whole re-election campaign on reducing crime. The Mayor and Ernie Schreiber are liars, and bad ones at that.
NOT PROMISING
Speaking of editors, it doesn’t look promising at the Sunday News. The top story is – what else – about the convention center. Then there’s a large and unappealing photograph of dogs - and these aren’t even dogs for Smithgall! Who’s idea was that? Pumpkins might have been a better choice. Then we have a picture of a man who appears to have a mop on his head! What’s up with that? Marv Adams is the new editor. Don’t expect a better product. They had to promote from inside. The Lancaster Newspapers would not be able to find an outside editor willing to take the job and compromise their journalistic integrity the way it would be necessary to regarding the convention center, Smithgall, Police Chief Heim and on and on and on.
THE COMPANY LINE
Adams talks the company line. “…staffers now receive more training, including sessions with writing coaches, outside editors and page-design experts,” he says in the Sunday News article announcing he is the new editor. You would never know it by reading or looking at the paper, Marv. I can call him that, you see, because my “journalism career” began at the Intell in the sports department (yes, sports department!) under Marv. There will be more on all of that at a later time.
SMART ANSWER
Congratulations are in order for Barbara Hough Roda who is the first female news editor in the history of the Lancaster Newspapers. Progress comes slowly in Lancaster – mostly because of the Lancaster Newspapers. And Smart? He went from assistant editor to associate editor? Sounds like just verbiage to me. Do you think he got a raise? The smart answer is, “no.”
COMING TOMORROW - "A Pattern of Errors" by Ernie Schreiber.
HAVE YOU SEEN MY DOG?
In honor of “Dogs for Smithgall” Day, I post the above picture of His Honor taken on July 4, 2005 at Long’s Park. As regular readers know, the mayor has “copyrighted” the photographs on his website so I can’t use them. I have received a great many photos and offers and I really appreciate it. The above photo was taken by Cliff Spencer, a Talkbacker and hell of a guy. He and his wife are moving to Texas very shortly and you will be missed, SusQRiverRat. But, of course, he'll stay in touch through Talkback. (By the way, the “Dogs for Smithgall Rally” is today at 11:00 a.m. at Buchanan Park. Let’s hope the mayor doesn’t get a bad case of dog bite.)
Tomorrow there is a Latino Halloween Celebration beginning at 12 noon and going until 3:00 p.m. in Roberto Clemente Park. There will be face painting, dominos and refreshments. Rick Gray may be there as well! I could never understand dominos, but then just ask around and people will tell you I’m not too bright.
Please check back tomorrow when I’ll talk about 22,000 outstanding warrants, Ernie Schreiber and lots more. And don’t forget to walk your dog!
|
