Mayor out of order at forum

Published 1:00 pm Saturday, October 20, 2007

The candidate forum on Oct. 11 was a fiasco. In most elections in this country it is customary for the outgoing incumbent not to take part in the debates as a courtesy to the candidates, a courtesy that, obviously, Patty Cohen didn’t adhere to. In the past I have had nothing but great respect for Mayor Cohen, until now. I am very disappointed in her recent interference in this public forum. Her performance, and I do mean performance, on Thursday night shows her lack of respect, for not only the candidates, but for the people of Oak Harbor. She should be ashamed of what she has done.

I wish (moderator) Rick Bell had taken more control of that forum. He let mayoral candidate Jim Slowik break the rules and let Mayor Cohen ask her question before the other attendees. The whole thing was obviously staged by the Slowik team and Mayor Cohen to try and embarrass Paul Brewer. Nothing could have been more pathetic. Nice going, Rick, Jim Slowik doesn’t make the rules in these forums.

There was an elderly gentleman sitting next to me who was a disabled veteran and who probably had to use paratransit or other assisted transportation to get to this forum. He had his hand raised a lot longer than Cohen and was practically ignored. He was among the many who never got to ask their questions. It just goes to show that both Jim Slowik and Patty Cohen would not hesitate to tend to their own agendas before the interests of the people of Oak Harbor. That alone just proves that Jim Slowik does not deserve to be the mayor of our city. Before this forum I would have wished Mayor Cohen well and thanked her for her service to our city. Now, all I have to say is good riddance.

Joseph R Santos

Oak Harbor