Archived Story
Mayor didn’t deserve to be singled out
Published 12:00am Sunday, August 19, 2012I read with interest Mike Caldwell’s recent column on fair and balanced reporting.
He said that, regardless of someone’s position, they should be treated the same as any other citizen.
And I agree.
Now, how many DUIs arrests merit headlines, on the front page with large photos?
You call this fair and balanced?
I couldn’t disagree more.
Tom Allyn, Ironton
I don’t agree about the newsworthiness of the original article but, now that Blankenship has pled guilty to DUI…as reported here on the Tribune, here’s the way I see it.
I’d be willing to let him have another chance…in the spirit of fairness…given a few conditions.
I think he should (and predict he will) write a letter to be published in this newspaper, clarifying a few points. After the per-requisite apologies and explanations of his side of the story, he should be very truthful as to whether or not he has ever before had a DUI. If he has not had another DUI in his lifetime, not just the 6 or 7 years it takes them to drop off your record, but if he’s never had even one before in his entire lifetime then we should give him another chance.
If he cannot state that, unequivocally and on the record, then we should not give him another chance at being mayor…in my opinion. Of course he’s not on the ballot this year so it’s a moot point for now, but the whole “I’m only human” and “we all make mistakes” justification only holds water if he’s never, ever made this exact same mistake before.
So, mayor, we look forward to hearing from you here soon and giving you a big, fat, bi-partisan second chance as long as you can testify that this was the first and only DUI in your life.
It’s good to forgive.
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I totally agree with Mr Allyn although some people enjoy putting all of that out there. They won’t post pics of the City Council person that tried to rape another one, they won’t even put his or her name although I know who the one is, how many girls are on City Council? Rich Blankenship didn’t deserve a front page slot for that but obviously Mr Caldwell didn’t have anything else to put in that day, shame on you!!
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Some report the news and others try to hide it.
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I think Mr. Caldwell reported this correctly. Mr. Blankenship is different than “Joe” citizen, Mr. Blankenship chose public life and his salary is paid by the money earned by the citizen of the City of Ironton. Therefore we the citizen have a right to know what he is doing.
I think he may have made a very poor choice when he put everyones life in danger by driving drunk (if he was drunk). Then he chose not to take a required DUI test, this leaves me asking just what kind of “leader” do we have?
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I agree. He is after all the “leader” of the city.
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