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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Is Jim Ireton REALLY a Part-Time Mayor?

Yesterday we highlighted Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton’s interview on Delmarva Public Radio.  In addition to being scarily anti-business in his rhetoric, Ireton also made the following comment:
I get up every day and barrel at 110%.
Really Jim?  What do you “barrel” at?

For the moment, let’s ignore the debate as to whether a “part-time” mayor can successfully operate a $51 million enterprise (I believe the record indicates a big NO on that one).  Let’s ask two other questions:
  1. Is Jim Ireton really a part-time mayor?
  2. Is Jim Ireton really devoting the time he supposedly spends as mayor to making Salisbury a better place to live and to work?
If your definition of being “part-time” is spending one second or more per week, month, etc. to the job of being mayor I’d have to give Ireton a free pass.  However, IF (like me) you define the term as spending 20 – 30 hours per week at a task then the answer is clearly no.  This ties directly in to question two.

For four years, and particularly during the last two, Jim Ireton has spent a fair piece of his “mayor time” engaged in political grandstanding, partisan politics, and pushing an agenda that is not even tangentially connected to making Salisbury a better place to live and to work.

In August, 2011 Ireton took time out of his supposedly busy day to picket the Salisbury office of Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD).  He has time to picket, but not to sit down with city council and engage in civil, honest discussion of issues facing our city?  Did this make Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

In June, 2011 Ireton called a press conference to attack the city council majority for not backing his planned luxury apartment project at “The Bricks”.  In his press conference Ireton implies that council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies are racists (sound familiar?) and intimates that racial discord could follow (with councilwomen Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields cheering him on).  Ireton’s rantings before the press are numerous, and (sadly) legendary.  Do any of these things make Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

Ireton has travelled to Annapolis to lobby for issues such as gay marriage.  Unless Ireton has some undisclosed plan to make Salisbury a mecca for gay marriage (with the tourism dollars that would follow) we have to ask - Do any of these things make Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

Ireton has lent his name and the prestige of his office to a campaign to strip gun rights from our citizens.  Do any of these things make Salisbury a better place to live and to work? (Criminals will still get guns.  C’mon … They’re CRIMINALS)

So … what’s your definition of “part-time”.

G. A. Harrison is a former editor of SBYNews and a regular contributor.  He also writes at the DelMarVa Observer.  This article was originally posted at the DelMarVa Observer.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that he is a part time pansy. He goes around trying to make people feel as if has done something for the residents of the City of Salibury. This guy has done nothing in the 4 years. We need a full time mayor like Joe who can devote the time to make businesses and jobs want to come to Salisbury. Fix the downtown up make it the true center of Salisbury.

Anonymous said...

He has no business sense. He has no ability to compromise. He has no vision.
We need a guy who will work the hours necessary to form a coalition around an exciting vision.
Tag Joe - you're it!!

13 days left jimbo. said...

He walks and talks like a SPOILED Brat, And this guys a Teacher, People gets your kids out of that school.

Anonymous said...

After 4 years Jim has shown time and time again he has no leadership skills, he does not work well with others, he has no plan on keeping jobs in Salisbury, no vision on bringing jobs to this town. So I say this Jim your grade as mayor is a...F... You have lied showed no class and are lazy. Time to pack your bags.

****Anti Business JIM***** said...

JIM = Low income housing on waterfront property this is why he wants rid of businesses like Mojos and Market St and Brew river, How are you going to explain this to the chamber of commerce??? JIMBO

JoeAlbero said...

Ireton picketed Andy Harris' Office TWICE, not once. BOTH were on City time.

Anonymous said...

joe isn't that illegal.

Anonymous said...

BOTH were on City time said March 20, 2013 at 11:43 AM

....and you know this how? What are his hours? When you are Mayor how will account for your time Mayor and part time economic developer?

Anonymous said...

Every meeting I have attended when Jim Ireton was supposed to be there I doubt he sat down or participated more than 5 minutes. He always runs in and out of meetings, answers his phone, text messages and puts other department heads on the spot to run the meeting or in his words "answer questions." This is because Jim Ireton is no leader! Can Jim Ireton stand in front of a class and teach for an entire period without leaving the room or text messaging someone?

Anonymous said...

JoeAlbero said...
Ireton picketed Andy Harris' Office TWICE, not once. BOTH were on City time.

March 20, 2013 at 11:43 AM

Why would Jim Ireton picket Congressman Harris' office?

Anonymous said...

Jim Ireton picketed Andy Harris' office because Andy Harris is a Republican and Ireton despises Republicans. If you are a Republican and you support Jim Ireton then you lost your mind. Instead of picketing the Congressman's office Jim Ireton should have used his position as Mayor and extended the Congressman an olive branch. How unprofessional can the Mayor be to picket office of a U.S. Senator. When this happened the first time the citizens and business owners should have ran Ireton out of town. Can you imagine if a Republican elected official picketed the office of Kratovil, O'Malley or Obama? Jim Ireton and his buddy Cook would have had a temper tantrum and been all over them calling them racists and other hateful innuendo's.

Anonymous said...

Ireton is an immature incompetent boob. He pushes things on the council and if they move it forward and it hits a snag, he blames them and cuts and runs.

Cut n Run Jimbo.

Anonymous said...

Jim Ireton recently allowed a long time city employee, supporter and city resident to be unlawfully terminated. This person will more than likely lose everything and this goes to show everyone how ruthless Jim Ireton is. Shame on you Mayor Ireton. Please fire Jim Ireton on April 2, 2013.

Anonymous said...

He didn't just allow the termination, he supported it and made sure it would happen before he got voted out on April 2nd.

Anonymous said...

Unlawfully?

There had better be a lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

If a person is terminated, likely they deserved it.

Anonymous said...

2:46 PM is 100% accurate in their comment.

Anonymous said...

I have heard for almost 4 years now that Jim Ireton has turned on his supporters. The above comment proves just that and I hope he is fired on April 2nd. This is something the local media needs to get a hold of. These kinds of actions aren't supposed to happen to decent people.

tick tock said...

13 days left jimbo...

Anonymous said...

When Ireton gets heat on any type of issue, I notice he starts stammering and moving his hands rapidly. He gets tongue-tied, and his statements usually are full of hateful, nasty comments. I notice he is quick to take credit, but he forgets it "takes a village" to get the job done. He is also quick to condemn others when in fact he should be looking into the mirror at himself. Yes, he is noticeably nervous all the time and I believe it is because he is a complete fake and totally out of touch with reality.
An honest person doesn't act like he does and certainly doesn't deserve to represent Salisbury.

Anonymous said...

The man was positively schizo in his interview with Don Rush.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
If a person is terminated, likely they deserved it.

March 20, 2013 at 4:06 PM

You obviously have no clue!

Anonymous said...

Ireton spent the last two years spending your tax money to...

discredit Debbie Campbell.

Plain and simple.

Jake Day wants to be his partner in that. Ireton wants Jake in that seat something bad.

Ireton has taken Salisbury right back to the good ole days of Barrie Tilghman. Who endorsed Jake Day. It all fits.

Anonymous said...

Ireton is a community rabble-rouser, like his idol, Obama.

Anonymous said...

Yes Jimbo spent plenty of time sneaking behind the new Fire Chief's back making deals with the trouble-makers. Plus many hours selling him out to save his Flavors drinking buddy Bragg. Ireton's reversal of the unanimous ruling for termination cost the city taxpapers over $15,000. Time well spent for Jimmy and the city attorney!