One thing is certain, Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton doesn’t have much of a future as an on-air television personality. Despite three (or was it four?) features on WBOC news Monday evening, I don’t think that Ireton comes off half as bad as his predecessor.
For those of you who missed yesterday’s major scandal, Ireton made several errors. First, he allowed the Daily Times, a newspaper not known for their competence in reporting city affairs and an ally of the Barrie Comegys party, to record audio and video of an hour long interview with Ireton. Second, Jim appeared to be slightly over-caffeinated during the interview. Third, he said a couple of things that he probably shouldn’t have.
Readers should note that neither SbyNEWS, nor this author, have been staunch supporters of Ireton since his assumption of the Barrie Tilghman throne. While I count Jim as a friend, I have attempted to call them as I see them. However, after watching WBOC’s take on the Ireton interview I have to rush to Ireton’s defense. Unless you take the time to watch the ENTIRE interview on the Daily Times website, WBOC leaves you with the impression that Ireton spent the entire interview cussing like a sailor and attacking everyone who may (or may not) be a political enemy. This simply is not the case.
While I listened closely to the interview, it appeared that Ireton may have mumbled a couple of four letter words. He definitely said “shit” once. He implied it another time when referring to two supposed allies, councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen, by stating that “they needed to MUMBLE or get off the pot”. Yes, we all know what he meant.
Ireton said some things that he shouldn’t have. That’s for sure. He’s apologized for them. I’m going to risk insulting him by stating that he appears to suffer from the same disease which inflicts RNC chairman Michael Steele. If Jim is smart, he’ll keep any future on-camera appearances to the scripted variety favored by his hero – Barack Obama.
None of this excuses the poor job done by WBOC on this affair. To actually use former councilman Mike Dunn as some sort of “morality arbiter” was disgusting to say the least. This is one of the individuals chiefly responsible for the mess that was left for Ireton to clean up. Dunn’s ties to the city’s slumlords and the Sassafras Meadows affair leave Dunn unfit for any office above inmate hall monitor.
I hope that Ireton learns from an obvious mistake. I hope that WBOC does to. For any citizens wishing to FAIRLY criticize Salisbury’s mayor regarding this interview, watch the FULL HOUR first.
21 comments:
How dare Ireton make the remark about Cohen and Campbell, who are known for being methodical, but certainly not for holding things up just for the sake of holding them up. How many mistakes have they caught because of their dilligence, including that water and sewer hike a few years ago? Especially, when Ireton has taken over a year to do something as simple as appointing a fire chief and is ducking for cover by taking the candidates for interviews with fire personnell. Lead, Mayor! You could take a lesson from Cohen and Campbell and spend more time on getting to the heart of issues and less on ribbon cuttings.
I have scene the entire video. When did we become such wussies??? Our Mayor spoke his mind. GOOD! Maybe not the best choice in words but who cares. This is much to do about ... NOTHING!
Politics changed when press became more about the sensationalism. Much like this blog!
Jim Ireton is trying. He is speaking his mind, he is not hiding anything. He has always been and will always be someone who does this.
OH MY GOD! Maybe we should stick our heads in the sand. He speaks freely and openly.
This proves my point if we had a real local newspaper people wouldn't need to turn to this BLOG!
Jim, keep up the good work. Many of us support you!
It could have been the best interview recorded in history - but because you were not the one doing the interview and because WBOC and the Daily Times are atomically wrong- you shoot the hell out of it. Each one of us is capable of having their own opinion without you telling us what to think. And that is my opinion sir.
by Silver Lining
Joe there is always a Silver Lining if you would bother to look and be opened minded,
GA:
The man is Salisbury's version of Obama!
Exactly right, G.A!
Joe:
Can't wait for his "State of the Shitty" speech.
Please cover it live.
Sir:
I watched all of it and would like to know his drug of choice in order to suggest the proper dosage.
Dr. J
Anon 0913 -
I concur regarding Ireton's statement about Campbell and Cohen. I also disagreed with his assessment that they (although he never mentioned their names) they would oppose an issue just because the Barrie Comegys party supported it.
Silver Lining -
Neither WBOC nor the DT are automatically wrong. They certainly are not ATOMICALLY wrong.
Did you take the time to watch (or listen to) the full interview. My point regarding WBOC was a simple one. They pulled several examples of Ireton mumbling and bleeped them as if they were obscenities. I also noted that he did utter a four letter word or two (and that was two too many).
It's interesting that you accuse me of "telling you what to think", when all I did was give you my opinion AND asked you to listen to the actual footage and make up your own mind. In this case it was WBOC telling you what to think.
Anon 0954 -
It is true that Barack is Jimmy's messiah. However, that isn't what this post was about.
i agree with 940am
There were mistakes made all around regarding the interview. The Times violated a number of "Journalism 101" rules. They opted to take Ireton's comments out of context, zeroing in on his unfortunate choice of vocabulary. I got the idea that they set him up, maybe because he has not cooperated with the Times by allowing department heads to answer questions .
Ireton certainly used very poor judgment in letting his tongue slip. He fell for the journalist's basic trick of getting the interviewee nice and comfortable, creating a "we're all friends here" feeling and then waiting for him to fall for it. It is hard to imagine how he could be so naive as to use the type of language he did, knowing full well that he'd be quoted.
As far as the comments regarding Cohen and Campbell, I must agree with him. Yes, we appreciate their looking out for the taxpayers, but they do so much nit-picking that little seems to get accomplished. It has been suggested that, if Louise Smith does not run for re-election, Campbell would make a good Council president. Can you imagine what Council meetings would be like then?
I, too, had to laugh when Mike Dunn was sitting there with his holier-than-thou posture, castigating Ireton for using inappropriate language that would disappoint his students. How can we ever forget Dunn's tirades as Council president? Of all the people that WBOC could have chosen for Ireton's foil, why would it be Dunn with all his baggage?
What should have been a good opportunity for Ireton to focus on the accomplishments of his first year as mayor was rendered almost totally ineffective by both sides.
The Daily Times did what the ALWAYS do! I've been misquoted and my interviews turned every which way by them in the past and now I refuse to talk to ANY reporter from DT! Why should anyone have expected anything different???
What's become of "investigative journalism" is these parts?
The DT and WBOC should have asked Barrie: "Is that true or did it happen before you became mayor?"
When are they going to appoint a new fire chief. The city put on a second forumBernie Becker from Ohio who was let go because of sexual harrassment charges against him. Jim Ireton told him no and then invited him back for a second forum. WTF!! Is Jim Ireton that mental to even consider someone with serious allegations? This person has been uneemployed for over 2 years and Jim Ireton thinks he has to go out of state for this trash. Can someone start a recall petition on Jim Ireton?
Ireton is always making some bad choices. This is who he brought back as a candidate for fire chief after he told him no. WTF!! Par for the course!
Township fire chief accused of harassment was warned in 2001
By Lawrence Budd
Staff Writer
Friday, March 07, 2008
SPRINGBORO — Clearcreek Twp. Fire Chief Bernie Becker was still on probation when he first came under fire from his firefighters in 1997.
Before recommending that trustees end Becker's probation — despite a no-confidence vote from his staff — the township administrator suggested Becker's detractors could be "a chief want-to-be" motivated by politics in neighboring Springboro or delivering payback for some actual or perceived slight.
Extras"Finally, the dissension could just be part of the natural progression for an organization that knows it is under pressure to meet steadily increasing service demands," Administrator Dennis Pickett said in Becker's Dec. 29, 1997, evaluation.
Now Becker, 49, is under internal investigation again, accused of sexual harassment.
On Feb. 25, the firefighter's union president presented a complaint to township officials accusing Becker of improperly touching firefighters, exhibiting other inappropriate behavior and creating a hostile work environment.
Among nine new sexual harassment claims are some similar to those made in 2001 during an investigation by the township police chief.
Union officials said this represents a pattern of unacceptable misconduct.
While ordering an investigation, administrators said they believe they had taken sufficient preventative steps.
"We sent him to some counseling and kept an eye on him for quite some time," Pickett said Wednesday, March 5.
On Feb. 5, 2001, trustees issued Becker a written warning and ordered him to complete sensitivity training.
The action followed an investigation triggered when Becker displayed an appendectomy scar to a firefighter in the hospital facing the same procedure in front of the firefighter's wife.
The same day, a different couple, Tim and Holly Lofton of Springboro, expressed their support for Becker in a note still in his personnel file.
"I want to apologize for where our society has digressed to when a friendly touch, football-player pat on the butt, or swapping stories about scars constitutes disciplinary action. It is a sad day," the Loftons said.
On Monday, Becker returns to work after a vacation planned before Feb. 25.
He didn't return phone calls seeking comment.
Since taking over the department, which is responsible for firefighting and ambulance services in Springboro and Clearcreek Twp., Becker has increased the number of professional firefighter-paramedics on staff, added a fire station and overseen myriad other changes.
Most recently, Becker put together a public-private coalition to fund a 2 million gallon water tank at the fuel terminal off Ohio 122.
Becker also has represented management during the unionization of the department.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.
I watched the whole interview. I agree Ireton fell for the whole "we're all friends here" ploy.
The cursing issue is way overblown. Mike Dunn should crawl back to his hole and stop running to the media with this pettiness.
Cohen and Campbell do not hold things up. If Ireton would clean house and hire competent people, these ladies would not have to step in and correct their many screw ups.
You heard me, SCREW ups. Tell Mike Dunn to turn me in. Better yet...naw, I can't say it ;-)
Good post, G.A. I got same impressions when I watched the video.
Does anyone have this video in mpeg or how can we copy it in mpeg?
Wow the firefighters are out in full force. I should say the Gordy/Hoppes clan is out in full force. Afraid their cash cow is going to run dry? Afraid no more toys for big boys? If they don't like Ireton's choice they too can make a choice. They can choose to QUIT.
Salisbury isn't the only town with problems, I thought it interesting last night when WBOC showed the facebook comments and the town secretary--Kathy Tyndall at Pittsville's comments were shown posted at 3 pm or so. Is this what my pittsville taxes go to pay, someone on facebook?
This guy scares the bejesus out of me. The mere fact that he's even in the process befuttles me. There is something going on with this man and the papers back it up. Its not worth the chance. There is only one candidate that I feel comfortable with and thats Werkheiser. There has been nothing negative posted anywhere about him. He's basic, steady and knows the department. For the record I am not a Gordy/Hoppes supporter. I am a proud volunteer that just wants the best for Salisbury FD. The turmoil has got to stop and I dont believe it will end with either of the two other men.
Joe
Your focus shouldn't be on a particular candidate, but this entire process. Salisbury firefighters are sick to their stomach from watching this whole process play out. A year without a Chief. A review panel appointed by the Mayor that had their selection ignored. The Mayor ignores a vote taken by fire department members on November 3, 2009. Months pass by before members are told their pick was thrown out and there are no local candidates. A local candidate is interviewed days after. Officers are told in meeting with the Mayor that there are two candidates. Days later there are four. This list goes on and on with deception and suspicions. Your all about honesty and exposing corruption from what I se. Heres a feast for you to digest.
Still want a copy of this in MPEG?
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