For
What It's Worth
"As
the Raise Turns: Ten Thousand Dollar
Jeff"
Part
V: A political perspective
We’ve spent some very long days here
at The Carolina Scoop, since we’ve
started “As the Raise Turns: Ten
Thousand Dollar Jeff.”
One email particularly caught my
attention, as it’s more of a
political look at the raise/bonus saga.
The author of the email asked his
identity be only known to me, and
I’ve complied.
The email reads:
“…I appreciate the
"ink" you are giving to the
Jeff Emory story. It is an excellent
issue for you to shine light on. Jeff
Emory's reaction aside, the real story
here is the insensitivity of the three
people who voted for his raise.
Jeff does have some culpability in that
he could have had the good sense and
political acumen to politely refuse the
raise and bonus, or at least ask that it
be postponed to a future date.
It also speaks to an issue of ironic
insensitivity by "Democratic"
elected officials in our city government
as well as a lack of compassion among the
Democratic elected officials and their
Democratic appointed
manager…..”
While this is the only
“political” opinion expressed
in the droves of emails and phone calls
received since we began running the
“saga,” the author makes at
least one valid point.
The writer says something I’ve been
saying since day one that someone –
even Emory himself – should have
spoken up and postponed the raise.
Contract or not, the timing of the raise
and bonus was bad.
I’ve talked to a myriad of former
city employees – including former
city officials – who have said if
they were still in positions of
authority, they would have postponed the
raise.
In doing research for part five, I
discovered that Mayor Black’s seat
– as well as the council seats
occupied by Fred Houser and Carroll
Heavner – will be up for grabs in
the next election cycle.
Let’s remember that Houser and
Heavner voted against Emory’s raise
because it was obscenely large and the
wrong time. Let’s also remember that
Dr. Les Cloninger and Larry Mac Hovis
voted for the raise, with Mayor Black
breaking the tie.
While covering the Mayor’s birthday
reception at City Hall this past week, I
noticed something about “Ten
Thousand Dollar Jeff” that, upon
reflection, doesn’t really surprise
me.
As he
greeted city employees who attended the
event, he didn’t address a single
one of the non-administrative city
employees by name.
It makes me wonder if he even know their
names or worse, appreciates their
sacrifices and accomplishments as they
continue to work without the benefit of
raises or bonuses.
The pile of money “Ten Thousand
Dollar Jeff” was handed in December
was something “Moneybags”
himself, as well as the City Council and
the Mayor, didn’t want anyone to
know. It’s been a secret for many
years, according to some of our loyal
readers.
Well, the kitty is now out of the bag.
I received an email from a former
colleague of a newspaper I worked at
several years ago. She also asked her
name be withheld.
It reads:
“Jon…. Keep telling
the TRUTH. Your friend.”
Another one we received came from a
former Lincolnton resident, now residing
in Texas.
It reads:
“….I look to your
web site for what’s going on in
Lincolnton. Keep telling the truth,
something that has needed to be done for
years.”
Thanks for all the emails. I’m
interested in the poll we’ve posted
at the top of the Web site. We’re
looking for responses as we continue the
saga of “As the Raise Turns: Ten
Thousand Dollar Jeff.”
On another note, I would encourage my
fellow citizens and the city employees to
make it a point to attend the budget
workshops on Feb. 27, 28 and March 1 at
Lincolnton City Hall.
I’ve heard some officials in the
city are going to try to make it a closed
session to avoid having an audience.
However, in talking to my sources,
I’ve discovered the City Council
cannot do that because closed sessions
can only be held for personnel matters or
matters involving legal action with the
city attorney.
Therefore, The Carolina Scoop will be
there from start to finish to hear the
requests of the different departments and
to garner reactions from city officials.
On a personal note, I am amazed at the
overwhelming response The Carolina Scoop
has received since the great
“saga” started. Our average
hits have climbed in a week from around
500 to over 800 per day.
Thanks, everyone for your support. And
stay tuned for Part VI.
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