What's Wrong With This Picture?

Patti Peretto threw her hat into the political arena
recently, announcing her run for a seat on the
County Board. We memorialized the event in an
article about machine politics, "One machine
candidate as announced that 'I don’t care for
the direction the county is headed in.'"

IronCountyDoings stands against machine politics
regardless of party, so we're non-partisan in all
regards. The distribution of machine politics has
run the gamut crossing all party lines around the
world.

So here's Ms. Peretto's ad in this week's edition
of the Iron County Reporter:

What's wrong with this picture? Let's take it line
by line.

"10 years experience, served as chair and finance
chair."

And still the county is economically distressed
with a continuing population decline.

"6 years Department of Human Services Board."

Yet today insufficient use is being made of the senior
centers. Indeed, more decline.

"Team Player"               

_______________________What???????????????____

The elective position for which Ms. Perretto is running
is to represent the people of her district! This isn't a
team sport! In fact, she's supposed to place the concerns
of the voters in her district above those of other areas
of the county, especially where they conflict.

What does "team player" really mean in the context of
an individual running for office? It means she's willing
to trade the interests of the people who elected her in
exchange for something that benefits others. "What
others?" is heard from the galleries observing this
event. The answer is plain enough, those she's announced
she's already on a team with, the local political machine
that looks after its own at the expense of the electorate
and the taxpayers.

She goes on to say, "I believe we all have to work
together to make our county a great place to live and
work." Well, Ms. Perretto, in the 10 years you served
during your last stint on the county board, what did
you achieve? I don't count grants from state or federal
sources as amounting to anything worthwhile.  I don't
count patronage jobs that you've had a hand in over
the years. I don't count the grooming of your successors
who have presently failed the machine politics cause.

"Your support will be greatly appreciated."

Really? How did you demonstrate that appreciation after
former elections? What did you achieve, Ms. Peretto, in
appreciation of being elected? The voters should be asking
themselves, "Was I any better off at the end of Patti's last
turn at the helm than I was before?"

The answer is obvious.

Machine politics places the politician's wishes above the
needs and wants of the taxpayer. The vast majority of us
living in Iron County don't want that.

Please remember all this at the ballot box. And remember
that not voting is a vote favoring the political machine that's
out to benefit itself at your expense.

This article is the opinion of its author.

Bill Vajk