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A season for anything but silliness.

October 24, 2009 by Steve Nazarian

Throughout my campaign for Penfield Town Supervisor I have made every effort to focus on what I have to offer the people of Penfield, while resisting the temptation to raise myself up on the shortcomings and misdeeds of others. I truly believe an election should be a civil discourse of positives, with victory going to the one that has the most to offer.

 
That doesn't mean, however, that I won't call it like it is, especially if saying nothing risks leaving the voters less than fully informed. To that end, I feel the need to discuss something that occurred at the Penfield Town Board Meeting on October 21st, 2009. 
The full video of this meeting can be seen on the Penfield Town Website by CLICKING HERE.
 
During the public comment portion of this meeting, the Republican candidate for Penfield Town Supervisor, Tony LaFountain, made several comments. I don't take any issue with his or anyone's right to speak his or her mind, although personally I don’t believe a Town Board meeting is the right forum for grandstanding or campaigning.  I feel compelled to respond to one of Mr. LaFountain’s comments, though – specifically, his reference to the time running up to the election as The Silly Season.  The exact quote appears at 46:08 in the video and is as follows:
 
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say we’re currently right in the thick of the silly season.  We have thirteen more days before the election.
 
 
Click the Play Button above to see the (2:27 long) specific clip. The “Silly” comment appears about half way through.
 
Set aside for a moment the irony of Mr. LaFountain satirizing the same electoral process he has chosen to invoke. The electoral process empowers all adult citizens to elect the individual that will best represent their beliefs and interests. There's nothing silly about that, except occasionally, I suppose, for the way certain people behave in it. Serious candidates should know better, but I'm prepared to allow that Mr. LaFountain simply chose his words poorly.
 
I would to focus less on the rhetoric, though, and more on the sentiment that Mr. LaFountain's quip conveys. There is nothing silly about the right to vote, each voter's right to make informed choices, and our obligation as candidates to be straight with you. Even those who choose not to exercise it every year would certainly be concerned with any individual that would reduce the right to vote to something even slightly less than it should be.
 
This is anything but a silly season.
  • This is a season in which all candidates should seek to raise the level of debate.
  • This is a season in which all candidates should inspire voters with their ideas.
  • This is a season in which all candidates should motivate all people to participate in the election process.
  • This is a season that should be viewed with honor and reverence.

 This is anything but a silly season.

 
Any sarcastic view of the upcoming election belittles your right to know and vote – and, I think, takes your vote for granted.
 
Every candidate for office, no matter how small, and no matter how slim his or her chances, has hard-fought personal knowledge of how running a campaign is anything but silly. As I kiss my sleeping children after a 15-hour day on the campaign trail, never once has missing dinner, or a soccer game or a cub scout meeting seemed “silly” to me. Maybe it's just that I'm new to all this, but I don't think candidates nor elected leaders ought to be flippant about democracy. Our elected leaders should be able to compose and communicate their ideas for the corresponding level of government in which they seek election, regardless of the political environment. They must also remain faithful to the truth that no matter the outcome, when the votes are tallied, the people will have spoken.
 
One of the reasons I decided to run as an independent was that I had a sense (that many others in Penfield share) that those in power have been there so long that they lack the perspective to truly be in touch with the people and the issues. To suggest that the very process by which we choose our leaders is “silly,” is to say that considering anything but the status quo is itself silly.
 
Over the last several weeks, all three candidates for Town Supervisor have appeared at Town Board meetings and at two Candidate Forums.  I encourage you to watch and compare the behavior and statements of all three candidates using the links below. Watch all three of us; listen to our chosen words and the manner by which we have conducted ourselves.
 
Leadership is more than a set of facts, a resume or a list of accomplishments. You know a leader when you see one and on November third I am confident that the strongest leader among us will be chosen.
 

Penfield Town Board Videos:

 

Thank you for your comments

Submitted by Steve Nazarian on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 13:02.

 

I am happy to respond to the comments left by “cableguy14526” and “business4penfield.” I appreciate you both taking the time to read my blogpost(s), watch the video and respond.  Beyond that, I must respectfully disagree with your respective characterizations of the piece.
 
I did choose to highlight and discuss a particular phrase, but if you watch the video I posted, you will see that I included the whole speech that you accuse me of selectively plucking it from. There can be no “out of context” when the entire context is provided. In fact I further framed Mr. LaFountain’s statement by providing a link to the entire Town Board meeting. If you disagree with my interpretation of the statement, you are well within your rights to do so, but I deliberately posted all of Mr. LaFountain’s statement so that it was seen in context. 
 
As for a cry for attention, I have no need for that. My campaign is being well followed, so much so that you came, saw and commented.
 
My campaign has been positive from the start and remains so. For you to have the opinion that my statement of interpretation is “mudslinging” is your right. By granting folks access to my website to comment on my postings, without approval or editorial oversight I have in fact invited it. I disagree with your viewpoint, but ironically I am the one who gave you the platform to voice it. I am the only supervisor candidate inviting such conversations publicly on my website.
 
As for pushing negativity, open your mailbox. Both the Democrats and the Republicans are engaged in a postcard war unlike anything we’ve ever seen in Penfield. My campaign has not sent one.
 
The evening of October 21st, I was watching the town board meeting via the town’s website while speaking with voters at my headquarters. If you were at the meeting, then you know that I emailed a question what was read aloud and answered, though not completely.   I have attended many of the recent board meetings in person and watched many others remotely; I opted last Wednesday to spend my time speaking directly with concerned Penfield residents. The town has done a good job making meetings available through many different channels – I utilize many of these channels.
 
I will be posting another video Friday and yet another over the weekend. I encourage all that have something to say to speak up.

 

A little taken back

Submitted by cableguy14526 on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 22:47.

Steve, don't you think that your view on this specific video is rather unfair? It seems that you have taken your opponent's words out of context here. We all have our own way of speaking, and all use words as we see fit. However, to take a word, and then exploit it for your own gain....well that seems rather silly to me. The fact that you took a simple word, and ran with it, in the last few weeks of campaigning is rather silly. I, however, don't see the humor in your cry for attention. I do, though, see you validating the meaning. Dale Carnegie mentioned that in speaking with others, and trying to gain others accord, you should "appeal to their nobler instincts". You, my friend have appealed to the baser instincts. You made such a point to speak about integrity and honesty, yet you defy the terms by playing the mud-slinging game. The one thing that makes sense to me, and many of my fellow residents is simple. People tire of the negative being pushed in their faces. Maybe thats why so many campaigns fail. We need to hear something positive. Maybe the 4 corners could use a facelift. I can think of 1 former boutique that will be vacant soon. At least 1 part of the facelift will be realized soon. Too bad you missed tonight's town board meeting. Did you lose your invite?

I think Mr. Nazarian's

Submitted by restorethechief on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 14:18.

I think Mr. Nazarian's observation was a fair one. The context of the remark is plain. And while it was perhaps an inadvertent poor choice of words, it creates an impression of condescending superiority. For the Carnegie devotees in our midst, such an outcome would seem to conflict with the principles espoused.

Question for Steve:

Submitted by business4penfield on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 22:47.

Were you physically present at this board meeting? How many town board meetings have you physically attended?

I second that thought! Do you

Submitted by cableguy14526 on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 22:51.

I second that thought! Do you watch videos or do you attend the meetings?