{"id":1087,"date":"2016-03-19T10:06:10","date_gmt":"2016-03-19T15:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1087"},"modified":"2016-03-19T10:06:23","modified_gmt":"2016-03-19T15:06:23","slug":"1087-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1087","title":{"rendered":"The Deception of the \u201cunsolicited\u201d letter I Smell Another Rat\u2026 Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Deception of the \u201cunsolicited\u201d letter
\n<\/strong>I Smell Another Rat\u2026 Part 2
\n<\/strong>By Susan M. Halpern
\n<\/strong>Former Addison Councilmember (1992-1999)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In Part 1, we learned that the author of the letter being circulated in the latest effort to disparage Former City Manager Ron Whitehead is actually a political consultant who lives in Frisco, Texas.\u00a0 He appears to know one of the three incumbent candidates, something I discovered because she is a common \u201clink\u201d on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n

It speaks volumes that this critical context was omitted by the folks circulating the letter.\u00a0 There can be little question that this was quite by design; knowing all the facts completely changes how you view the letter.\u00a0 To omit the true context was shameless manipulation, and speaks volumes about the real purpose of this publication.\u00a0 Think about it: here they are proclaiming themselves the master of the high ground, giving you \u201cthe facts,\u201d but then publishing propaganda and political advertising with labeling any of it.\u00a0 It\u2019s deceptive.<\/p>\n

The author\u2019s attacks on Ron Whitehead are inexplicable.\u00a0 Having given 32 years of service to our community, Ron is now a private citizen with the same First Amendment rights we all enjoy.\u00a0 But the author nonetheless claims that when a retired city manager becomes involved in politics, \u201che crosses the red line.\u201d\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 What \u201cred line is that?\u201d\u00a0 Is there some law or statute that says this?\u00a0 Let\u2019s have the FACTS: Where is it written that service to the community for 32 years forfeits your First Amendment rights?<\/p>\n

The author mentions the ICMA, and a code and creed to be \u201cconstantly professional.\u201d\u00a0 Interesting.\u00a0 I wonder how that code and creed applies to a letter deceptively packaged as being received from an East Coast stranger, when it is actually written by a Frisco political consultant who knows an incumbent?\u00a0 Where is the professionalism there?\u00a0 Does that \u201ccross the red line?\u201d<\/p>\n

And by the way, did you notice that you were never actually told how the letter came to be?\u00a0 Who is \u201cwe\u201d who received the letter?\u00a0 And did anyone talk to the author about what he should say?\u00a0 At any point in time?\u00a0 He sure knew a whole lot more than was in the Dallas Morning News article.\u00a0 How did that happen?<\/p>\n

And what of this talk of Ron\u2019s 32 years of service?\u00a0 What\u2019s to \u201ccover up?\u201d\u00a0 Look around the Town and you\u2019ll see what 32 years of hard work brought to Addison.\u00a0 Addison Circle.\u00a0 Vitruvian.\u00a0 The conference and theater center.\u00a0 Our parks, including the extraordinary park across from the conference center that took years to come to fruition.\u00a0 Our legendary special events.\u00a0 Our Health Club.\u00a0 Our hiking trails.\u00a0 Our landscaping and appearance.\u00a0 Our vibrant restaurant and business community.\u00a0 Well buffered neighborhoods.\u00a0 A well-managed and regionally significant airport.\u00a0 We live in a spectacular place!\u00a0 And all of it was brought to you by many talented professionals who were fiercely loyal to Addison because their creativity and innovation were encouraged by Ron\u2019s extraordinary brand of leadership.\u00a0 For 32 years.\u00a0 The efforts of Meier and his cadre to disparage all that came before are utterly shameful.\u00a0 What a sad commentary on the current administration.<\/p>\n

And all because of a setup.\u00a0 An almost two-year-old recycled presentation, now with inflammatory innuendo added, arranged by a mayor orchestrating a campaign when he\u2019s not even a candidate.\u00a0 You have to shake your head as you watch our own council direct destructive propaganda to harm Addison\u2019s reputation, all because they believe it will influence the upcoming election.\u00a0 All while concealing management\u2019s perspective, and never mentioning all that has occurred in the intervening two years.\u00a0 It\u2019s disgraceful.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the election, the author also directly endorses the three incumbents. Talk about injecting yourself into politics?\u00a0 He tells readers that they should \u201cstay the course\u201d and that \u201csupporting the incumbents\u201d is a \u201cpositive action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the problem: that\u2019s \u201cpolitical advertising.\u201d This is from the Texas Ethics Commission\u2019s website: \u201cPolitical advertising includes communications supporting or opposing a candidate for nomination or election to either a public office or an office of a political party.\u201d<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s the thing, also from the Ethics Commission\u2019s website: \u201cThe law provides that political advertising that contains express advocacy is required to include a disclosure statement<\/strong>. The person who causes the political advertising to be published, distributed, or broadcast is responsible for including the disclosure statement.\u201d You can read about it here: https:\/\/www.ethics.state.tx.us\/guides\/Gpolad.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0 Perhaps I missed it, but I didn\u2019t find a disclosure statement anywhere in the publication.<\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t it time for these people to cease this pointless smear campaign?\u00a0 Shouldn\u2019t we be embracing Addison\u2019s great past and working to make Addison even greater in the future? And in connection with the current election, isn\u2019t it time for voters hear from the candidates<\/em>?<\/p>\n

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