A response and some questions of my own
Early yesterday a friend sent me a copy of something Kent Monte posted on the Internet in which he questioned the motives of Common Council member Meredith Scheuermann’s recent call for an executive session of the council. As part of his innuendo-laden commentary Mr. Monte "asked questions" - but in his usual "shoot first, ask questions later" style - about a “meeting” between Mrs. Scheuermann, former mayor Jon Dell’Antonia and me at Kodiak Jacks last month. I debated for some time about whether to even respond to his comments, primarily because they usually speak for themselves. But since he is running for office and wants people to believe he is a level-headed candidate who practices common-sense, responsibility and leadership, I decided a response was in order.
I’m amused that Mr. Monte should speculate about others’ motives and activities – playing fast and loose with innuendo, gossip and rumor - yet he has the nerve to chastise others when they do the same. In the past this so-called “model” of public stature and integrity has told people that if they want answers to questions, they should go directly to the source. Yet here he is questioning Mrs. Scheuermann’s actions as an elected member of the Oshkosh Common Council, and gossiping about and casting aspersions on some people Mrs. Scheuermann invited out for some holiday cheer in between Christmas and New Year’s (that's right - it was purely social. There certainly was no official city business being conducted and no campaign business was discussed. I'm not even associated with her campaign committee. It should also be pointed out that there were two tables full of people that Mrs. Scheuermann invited out; but I guess that slipped past the ever-watchful eagle eye of Mr. Monte or his “man about town”). Leave it to Kent Monte to try making something out of nothing. Perhaps if he worked as hard at grasping at straws as he does questioning others' character or motives, he might be able to put the broom together.
I believe this, along with some of his other recent stunts, call his worthiness as a candidate into question. I question the leadership ability of any candidate who goes off half-cocked as much as Mr. Monte seems to. His actions show he not only seizes, but seems to relish, opportunities to spread gossip and innuendo about situations for which he doesn’t have all the facts. Nor does he seem particularly interested in always getting them. It looks to me like he goes directly to the source if he thinks it will benefit him politically. But if he thinks he can benefit politically from "speculating" about something or someone publicly and, in doing so, raise even just one eyebrow in the community, it seems he will do that, too. That he has to “speculate” about so many things shows he’s not nearly as much in the know as he fashions himself to be. Or maybe they're the deliberate actions of a not-so-slick politician. At any rate, when Mr. Monte’s own actions rise above the intense public scrutiny they seem to be under, perhaps then he can question those of others. Until then, he would appear smarter and less like a loose cannon if he took a more mature, less accusatory approach to things in a public venue, especially those about which he has such limited knowledge.
Finally, a note from the “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” department: Mr. Monte has questioned other people’s motives and suggests they’re doing things for political gain. Might that be the very reason why after months and months of complaining about and criticizing the Oshkosh Police Department’s policies, procedures and activities he suddenly is now singing the department’s praises? Political favor may or may not be his intent – I don’t know, nor do I care. But we voters should care about someone who either didn’t bother to do enough homework about the department before attacking it and its personnel, or who is now changing his tune because an election is but a few weeks away. Whatever the case, I doubt his “Johnny Come Lately,” “suck up to the guys and gals in blue” routine is going to garner him any more votes from those working in the OPD than he had before.
I’m amused that Mr. Monte should speculate about others’ motives and activities – playing fast and loose with innuendo, gossip and rumor - yet he has the nerve to chastise others when they do the same. In the past this so-called “model” of public stature and integrity has told people that if they want answers to questions, they should go directly to the source. Yet here he is questioning Mrs. Scheuermann’s actions as an elected member of the Oshkosh Common Council, and gossiping about and casting aspersions on some people Mrs. Scheuermann invited out for some holiday cheer in between Christmas and New Year’s (that's right - it was purely social. There certainly was no official city business being conducted and no campaign business was discussed. I'm not even associated with her campaign committee. It should also be pointed out that there were two tables full of people that Mrs. Scheuermann invited out; but I guess that slipped past the ever-watchful eagle eye of Mr. Monte or his “man about town”). Leave it to Kent Monte to try making something out of nothing. Perhaps if he worked as hard at grasping at straws as he does questioning others' character or motives, he might be able to put the broom together.
I believe this, along with some of his other recent stunts, call his worthiness as a candidate into question. I question the leadership ability of any candidate who goes off half-cocked as much as Mr. Monte seems to. His actions show he not only seizes, but seems to relish, opportunities to spread gossip and innuendo about situations for which he doesn’t have all the facts. Nor does he seem particularly interested in always getting them. It looks to me like he goes directly to the source if he thinks it will benefit him politically. But if he thinks he can benefit politically from "speculating" about something or someone publicly and, in doing so, raise even just one eyebrow in the community, it seems he will do that, too. That he has to “speculate” about so many things shows he’s not nearly as much in the know as he fashions himself to be. Or maybe they're the deliberate actions of a not-so-slick politician. At any rate, when Mr. Monte’s own actions rise above the intense public scrutiny they seem to be under, perhaps then he can question those of others. Until then, he would appear smarter and less like a loose cannon if he took a more mature, less accusatory approach to things in a public venue, especially those about which he has such limited knowledge.
Finally, a note from the “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” department: Mr. Monte has questioned other people’s motives and suggests they’re doing things for political gain. Might that be the very reason why after months and months of complaining about and criticizing the Oshkosh Police Department’s policies, procedures and activities he suddenly is now singing the department’s praises? Political favor may or may not be his intent – I don’t know, nor do I care. But we voters should care about someone who either didn’t bother to do enough homework about the department before attacking it and its personnel, or who is now changing his tune because an election is but a few weeks away. Whatever the case, I doubt his “Johnny Come Lately,” “suck up to the guys and gals in blue” routine is going to garner him any more votes from those working in the OPD than he had before.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 5:16 PM
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