Debate was a success

The debate was well run for the most part. I think there were several times, however, that I would have appreciated the moderator, Mr. Pruett, stopping Councilman Foglesong from assassinating the Mayor's character. I counted five times during the debate where comments were made about the Mayor (including the opening, during the answer session and then during the closing) where Mr. Foglesong made negative and unnecessary comments that weren't supposed to be part of the debate.

I was pleased to see that Mayor Jones did not return the negativity nor did he comment on Mr. Foglesong's character in any way, which he could have, and decided to keep his commentary above board.

Greenee...I truely agree. We were told at the beginning of the debate that type of behavior wouldn't be allowed, and that the police were there to escort them out if it did happen! Just another example of how rules don't apply to Mr Fogelsong.

Justsoyaknow & Greenee,

Thanks for your comments.

Mr. Foglesong is not personally attacking Mayor Jones but instead bringing to light the frustrations he is hearing from voters as he talks to them face to face. People want and deserve the truth no matter how much it hurts. Obviously there are things that Mayor Jones has done that many people are not happy with. When those things happen and they speak their mind, it causes debate within the community. When healthy debates takes place, people get passionate about their opinions and sometimes this spurs them on to get involved in the political process. What this country needs is for more people to become INVOLVED and actually trying to improve the areas we live in. When all people want to do is gripe and moan about what is happening and then do nothing about, then the whole idea of "by the people, for the people" breaks down.

As far as Mr. Foglesong not following the rules and that they don't apply to him...? Where did that come from? It seems to me that lately, as stated in this publication and others, that Mayor Jones is having a hard time following the rules. ie..belly-bumping with Mr. Johnson and the city employee that gets the great pay raises every time the wind blows.

Win or lose, Mr. Foglesong will be a gentleman about it. His decision to run as a Republican in Linton is brave and honorable. If nothing else, this mayoral race has got people thinking and caring about their city in ways that hasn't happended in a long time!

Mike, either you weren't at the debate to hear the personal attacks or you have chosen not to recognize the statements as such.

How can you know what was in Mr. Foglesong's mind enough to say that he wasn't personally attacking the Mayor? He was bringing more to light than issues and I was there to hear them. They were personal attacks. Several of them. The situations you mentioned are kind of like this: reporters are supposed to report the news not MAKE the news. Mr. Foglesong is making statements of his own concerns and making, rather than repeating what people have told him.

Are you his spokesperson? His handler? If you are speaking for him or he is speaking through you, then please let us know that so we can address our issues to you and you can answer for him.

Like any debate, the candidates offered their views and opinions. That's what a debate is for. If a candidate offers facts that aren't correct, that's for the voters to decide. If a candidate attacks another candidate, that's for the voters to decide if they want that person running our city.

At the Linton Mayoral Debate, the audience was told many times that they couldn't offer opinions or statements about the candidates, only questions. The candidates were allowed to offer their views and opinions. That's what a debate is for.

Thank you to everyone who attended. I believe it was a huge success, and voters got a chance to see how each candidate would react during their opening and closing statements, and also when asked questions by me and the voters.

Thank you to everyone who is concerned with Linton's future!!!!

Greenee,

I am glad that you are passionate about the candidate you favor. It almost sounds as if YOU are the spokesperson for Mayor Jones!

As for Mr. Foglesong making up news for his personal gain, that's hardly the truth. I have many friends in Linton who voice the same concerns that Kelly is bringing to light. These friends are not affiliated w/ the Foglesong for Mayor campaign in any way. The question remains: are there enough people who want Tom Jones to remain as Mayor or will the majority of voters cast ballots to bring new life and vision to the City of Linton. Mr. Foglesong will help the citizens of Linton solve their problems by working with them (and it won't be on the Golf Course) Only time will tell!

By the way, Mr. Foglesong is a very close and personal friend. But, he is by no means putting words in my mouth!

I speak my mind and Kelly speaks his.

Greenee, I do respect your opinion and enjoy debating with you. At least you are showing that you care for the City of Linton.

Mike47424,

Neither candidate is a very close, personal friend of mine, so I believe that I can be more objective in my views and opinions. The rules and laws that I was referring to, were Mr Foglesong still harping/demanding the drug test results, and his rights by law to have them, as well as the personal attacks during the debate. Mr Pruett has already explained the reason he was allowed to give his personal opinion on Mr Jones. You and I both know, that IF there were such laws to get the drug testing documents and information then the documents would already be in Mr Fogleson's hands. City employees have already sought legal council and are just waiting for Mr Foglesong to get that information. The city of Linton can't afford the law suits that Mr Fogleson continues to push for. I would HATE to see the City in which I live, work, and raise my children, go bankrupt by these lawsuits.

Justsoyaknow,

If you really feel that Mr. Foglesong would do anything to jeopardize the City of Linton and its financial well-being, you're more naive than I thought.

The drug testing issue boils down to this: Mr. Foglesong, as a city councilman, believes he has the right to view the drug tests that are positive for illegal substances, which is a violation of the city's personnel policy. By testing positive for illegal substances, a city employee poses a far more substancial liablity risk than your threatened lawsuit.

I guess that's where Republicans and Democrats disagree...I have nothing to hide, so I really don't care if you look at my test results! My Grandfather used to say "skeletons can live forever in your closet unless you don't invite them in there in the first place!"

If a city employee wants their drug test results to stay private...then stay clean!

Mike47424

I agree with much of what you say. However, Democrats like myself agree with Mr. Foglesong on the drug testing issue. I feel any city employee who fails a drug test should be fired. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue at all, it's an issue of being honest and fair. Something Mr. Jones is not.

Also, Greenee can not be more objective in her views and opinions. Her husband will be out of a job if Tom Jones is not elected.

He can BELIEVE what he wants to BELIEVE, but the law states he can't have the documents. I may be naive, but I do have the facts. He didn't ask for employee's documents that tested positive for illegal substances, he demanded to see the all the documents. I have never commented on what should be done with employees that tested positive, believe it or not there are laws for that too. I just personally can't afford for my utilities to double or triple to pay for these lawsuits just waiting to happen.

whatithink, this isn't a Republican or Democrat issue. The drug policy was created for the first time by Mayor Jones. Before that, there was NO testing at all except for CDL testing.

It was the City Council who approved the Drug Testing policy, and Kelly Foglesong was on the Council when it was approved, and he voted to approve it.

The policy states that employees who test positive must submit to drug counseling and test clean before they can return to work. They get one chance. If they screw up after that they are released.

So, by your reasoning, I guess all of you who support providing Kelly with those results would approve of your employer handing out your personnel file to anyone who asks? It doesn't matter to you that your personnel file is considered private?

Frankly it is irrelevant what I think about the policy or the procedures, it was the State of Indiana who denied him those test results. He isn't entitled to those records because that's the law. I didn't make the laws. It is also the law that if the City or its employees who maintain those records give them out, they are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (the most serious misdemeanor). So, in addition to asking for something he's not entitled to by law, he is putting people's liberty in jeopardy by demanding them.

There was NO wrongdoing on the City's part at any time. The Mayor only sees the records if someone has failed a drug screen and disciplinary action is taken. He doesn't see them all either -- because that's the law.

Greenee,

I applaud Mayor Jones AND the City Council for instituting a drug testing policy. It was needed for for many reasons. Refresh my memory...does the Mayor have sole discretion over the results of all drug screens? By this I mean does anyone besides the Mayor view the results, positive or negative? If so, wouldn't this be a little too much power for the Mayor to have? I like you so I am going to forget the results of your dirty drug screen just as long as you support me when I need it. On the other hand, you aren't one of my favorite people so the dirty drug screen you had now are brought to light and you are going to face sanctions.

To me, this process leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Without oversight from more than one person, who knows what the results might be!

It is a privilege to be employed by the City of Linton! In these days of high unemployment and skyrocketing poverty in Greene County, anyone should feel lucky to have a well-paying job with good benefits. If I were employed there, I would want objective, intense scrutiny by those who are in charge (Mayor, City Council, HR Manager) in order to weed out the bad or lazy employees. If it took the Council or a panel of other city employees viewing my drug test results to make sure that everyone was treated equally, then so be it!

Mike, perhaps I was not clear. The HR Director receives the results of the drug screens, not the Mayor. The Mayor does not know who is being tested nor when they are tested. The only time the Mayor is made aware is when someone fails a screen and disciplinary action is required -- and only then its after the Supervisor has dealt with the situation.

There is an objective person -- the HR Director -- yet another thing that was not present before Mayor Jones. There was no one specifically trained in HIPAA nor in HR related things. Now there is and those records are kept according to the laws of the US and the State of Indiana. No prior administration had any proper record keeping until Mayor Jones took office.

Again -- the Mayor DOES NOT see any drug test results unless and until someone has a failing screen and then discipline requires that the Supervisor deal with the problem and the Mayor is involved at that time depending on what action needs to be taken.

The records are kept with the employees' medical files (which are separate from other files) and so they are protected by the privacy laws as they should be.

Greenee,

Is this the same HR Manager that is in charge of payroll issues? For example; the city garage employee who keeps getting raises far above what was approved? The Mayor says that this problem was not his fault, but isn't he ultimately the one in charge?

Mike....what part of a drug tests screens for lazy???? Your funny LOL LOL

Greenee..you were VERY clear, you just were not saying what he wanted to hear.

Mike, nope. Not the same person.

Well I believe that Mr. Foglesong was on the council that had to approve that Citys drug policy and now he doesn`t agree with it. He also seems to be bothered with city workers stopping at the store while on duty. I wonder if he has ever stopped at the gas station while on the clock at the bank????? It has been rumored that he likes to take pictures of the citys truck at the Dollar Store.