Each of the six candidates has run through the campaign gauntlet, hoping to receive your vote on Tuesday, Election Day. One candidate in particular is looking at this election as being far more significant than just another chance to return to an elected office.
The Search Goes on
Scott Malsin will be looking for public vindication. He not only is having to run on his past record, but he has been made to defend his unprecedented decision to resign from his office in mid-term.
His campaign would have liked his decision of last December to have already faded out of public view and not remain a major issue, as it has been throughout the campaign. But Mr. Malsin made his decision. Now it is time for the voters to have their say in the matter.
Not the Only One
It has been suggested that Mr. Malsin only took what other retired Council members are still receiving. And that if Mr. Malsin is going to be criticized, those past Council members should also be called on the carpet to renounce their future benefits.
There is a distinct difference between how the other previous Council members received their lifetime coverage and the way Mr. Malsin went out of his way to finagle his own benefits. Previous members remained in office, fulfilled their four-year commitment to the community and finished out their term. Mr. Malsin did not. That is the difference
What We See Ain't Necessarily So
In his previous campaigns, Mr. Malsin portrayed himself as being just like you and me by only showing us his commonalities he had with us local folks. As we know now, by his decision to quit, he seems to hold a quite different set of values than the rest of us.
Ask veteran campaign managers. They will tell you that you cannot have a candidate publicly flaunt his wealth and arrogance. It is just not a good way to get elected. On the other hand, having a seemingly well-to-do Councilman resign from his office for financial gain, only to claim need as the reason for his decision, is a bit hard to believe and then vote for.
Cel-le-bra-tion Time! Come On!
On Tuesday, each knowledgeable voter thinking about casting a vote for Mr. Malsin needs to understand and remember that his or her vote will be seen as a vindication of this local pauper-playing prince and his decision to stick us taxpayers with his lifetime benefits bill. Although his campaign will, no doubt, deny it, even a fourth-place finish will be seen as a public vindication of Mr. Malsin's decision to retire early and take his taxpayer-paid benefits.
Election Day is the time for voters to hold Mr. Malsin accountable for his actions.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
