Christine Fahl has been promoting the use of coalitions to advance community development. As campaign rhetoric, this is high-sounding theory, but let's check her record to see what she really thinks of coalition efforts.
At the start of this decade, a citizens group formed a coalition to try once again to develop a local retirement center. This was not the first such effort; other locations were rejected for one reason or another, and in another instance the developer went out of the retirement center business.
The citizens coalition became part of a larger coalition comprised of the city and the university. Together this larger coalition found a willing developer and came to a consensus that the best, and frankly the only remaining, location was along Stimson Avenue. After years of frustration and disappointment, finally, it seemed that one of the dreams of the community was going to come true.
But no; a small group of obstructionists, including Fahl, began their extended campaign to try to keep this dream from becoming a reality. Fahl's small group ignored the wishes of the people, presuming that they - the obstructionists - knew better than everyone else, including a long-standing citizen's coalition. Her actions have spoken much louder than her words. And sadly, several of our good friends have moved elsewhere to retire.
Randy Morris has the maturity to realize that our citizens, including those in the 4th Ward, have common sense and good judgment, and their wishes should be respected, not fought by ballot issues and lawsuits. His voice will be independent, not an echo for those promoting their own selfish, narrow agenda.
On November 3rd, vote for someone who will represent the 4th Ward with integrity and responsiveness. Vote for Randy Morris.
Pete Couladis is chairman of the Athens County Republican Party.
4 Opinion
