In a public setting on Easter, citizens listened as a female school board member informed a voter that a male elected official who did not vote her way must have a very small penis! Are male students referred to in this way? Could a male elected official talk of a female elected official’s private parts in public and still hold office?
In a past issue, Woody Gilk and his nameless elected official wrote a letter to the editor, seeking to rebuild trust in local government, asking people to complete a survey about government trust.
After 20 years of dedicated service to the city of Grand Marais, perhaps Charles Christiansen is the “Poster Boy” for our lack of trust issue. Trust? Trust who? The city council, mayor, city administrator, park board, parks director, steering committee, county board, or school board, all who appeared to have played a role in leaving Charles Christiansen unemployed with children losing health insurance?
Personally I’m sick of the bullying, attacks, and discrimination. In another public setting, a fellow citizen verbally attacked me, telling listeners how elected officials, naming names, had informed him that Tod Sylvester was the problem in the community. I am supposedly Mr. Negative, spreading his disease, destroying the community.
When my mom was on her deathbed, another official stopped to pay respects and informed me we were selfish people for not supporting what was then a proposed convention facility with a two-story fireplace and ballrooms. I was selfish for being concerned that this could strip the Senior Center of its annual county subsidy.
Because the agendas pushed by local politicians have not represented the majority, we have seen commissioners unseated in the last two elections. My guess is that trend is not over. Trust, accountability, and payoffs to escape lawsuits for poor decisions will be issues.
The politics being practiced by some elected officials promote bullying, attacking citizens, discrimination, and just plain are not right. As Woody Gilk and his nameless elected official seek to rebuild trust, I publicly ask the female government official in question to resign from the school board. There is no right side of discrimination.
Setting these poor examples, I don’t wonder why the school struggles with a bully problem!
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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