Petty Politics by Lewis & Campai

The campaign for 2006 has already started in NRH and it is amazing to see just how petty and vindictive, the majority group can be. They just cannot tolerate dissent, open government or a loss of their omnipotent power. They ignore their own laws and interpret whatever they want to essentially slander Councilwoman Bielik.

The latest tempest in the teapot is personified by actions of Trevino, Johnson and now Lewis. His erroneous and misleading response to an email of a constituent shows just how low this group can get. According to Lewis, no representation for the city when recruiting new business would have been better than Ms. Bielik. Had this been any of the five council members in the majority on the council, this subject would not have ever come up. Since most folks don't read all the detail, Trevino and company are using this smokescreen as an attack - pure and simple - against Ms. Bielik. Note that Ms. Bielik followed the existing city policy to the letter - including all required approvals!

The travel policy that was in effect when Ms. Bielik made her trip is as follows:

The new travel policy including some "redefinitions" of pre approved travel is quite interesting. Note that it specifically references pre-budgeted travel but now lists specific pre-budgeted items. My bet is that the council will not follow this new policy at all. If you look at the budget, you will have a hard time finding these specific categories of travel mentioned or budgeted.

One other thing that we as citizens need to take note of is that "conferences, educational meetings and business trips" (at taxpayer expense) has been changed to read "municipal conferences, training and workshops, educational meetings, and legislative efforts." Trevino and company want the taxpayers to foot the bill for the city to lobby for higher taxes, more local control and special treatment for subjects such as runaway spending. While NRH routinely ignores state law such as the requirements for council approval of budget variances, they do like to have a license to exact more tax from us.

Please don't be misled by the efforts of Trevino, Johnson, Lewis and Sap with all of their early campaign rhetoric. Watch what they say verses how they vote and how they treat citizens. Question their facts because - like Trevino's false statement about "having to vacate the library" which has not been retracted, they are given to other such pronouncements. The loss of the two seats on the council has opened their activities to at least a little more scrutiny. The city needs an opposing voice on the council so that they do not tax us out of our homes without at least a fight. Opposition is needed to question their runaway spending.

Ms. Bielik followed the travel policy with all required approvals. While Johnson may resent having a working, honest and informed member on the council, Ms. Bielik does represent our city. If we need to be ashamed of anyone, it would be the name calling members of the majority that cannot accept questions or criticism.

Following publication of this article, I received the following email from Mr. Lewis:

From: JOHN H. LEWIS <lewis_and_associates@airmail.net>

Date: 7/22/2005 8:29 PM

To: publisher@nrhonline.com

Hi Ron,

Thanks for posting my email to Ms. McNeese. I actually think you did me a favor posting it.

Disappointing but not surprising, you described it as early campaigning against Bielik while it was in fact a response to a rather negative email from McNeese. This is a fact I’m sure you were aware of but choose to spin it in your typical manner.

Truth is from watching activity on your site, you began early campaigning in you article “Time for Trevino & Johnson to Be Retired!”

I won’t bother to debate your comments as I have learned long ago there is no value in it as you appear not to be open to any views other than your own.

John

While I believe that you can read for yourself who is spinning what - notice that Mr. Lewis does not address the issues raised in the article nor does he deny any of the information. As to the early campaigning, one member of the closed circle around Trevino was reportedly bragging about already having around 50 volunteers lined up for the campaign next May - well before my article about retiring Trevino & Johnson. If you examine the council meetings since the last election, specifically noticing Trevino's demeanor and comments directed at Ms. Bielik, he is either very bad mannered or deliberately trying to demean her for political purposes.

As a reply to Mr. Lewis, please note that your email has been published verbatim. I would like to note, however, that if any group is closed to other views, it is the current majority on the council that wants to keep taxes high, questions ignored and local government closed to the public. Your own deliberate violation of the sign ordinance on the last day of the campaign shows just how hungry this group is to stay in power.