Editorials, Columns & Letters Page for City of Blanchard News

February 18, 2012

Does Mr. Fenercich Think We Are That Stupid?

First off, thank you for posting a video of the council meeting. Since I was unable to attend, it allowed me to see first hand what occurred. There are several things I would like to ask and say.

What did Mr. Fenercich mean by "motions from the floor" being made for someone to be nominated (alluding to the people in the audience)? I have never heard that citizens sitting in the audience could make motions. Does he really think we are stupid?

Mr. Fenercich was so childish when he made the statement about if the mayor would come back, then Mr. Fenercich would tell the name when he made the nomination. Did he think that no one would see through this and not realize that it would have been voted on and a done deal if the mayor had come back? Does he really think we are stupid?

What did Mr. Fenercich mean when he gave the reason for not giving a name on the agenda that someone in there could volunteer, but then evaded the question of one of the people when they asked could someone there volunteer that night? There was not going to be any other consideration other than his and he knew this. Does he really think we are stupid?

Why is Mr. Fenercich in such a hurry to appoint someone now, when he refused three times to have an election? Does he really think we are stupid?

Mr. Fenercich says, "if we had had an election like we were supposed to … I don’t know why it didn’t come about," … Really? He doesn’t remember that he and Mr. Bob Hagan, and later Mrs. Harris, would not call an election and that is the reason the election won‘t be until June? Does he really think we are stupid … or forgetful?

Why does Mr. Fenercich say it is so imperative now, but wasn’t "imperative" then when they refused to call an election? We could be having an election in March if not for them. Does he really think we are stupid?

Is it just imperative now because Mr. Fenercich wants another person on the council whom he can count on to vote like he wants? Does he think we don’t know he wants to rule the city again? Does he really think we are stupid?

With two people being able to make a decision, as Mr. Fenercich insists, does that mean it could be considered collusion if they talk on the phone (Mrs. Harris said they do) about any city business? In my opinion and watching the video, doesn’t it seem like they might have already decided what they were going to do when they hurriedly made a motion and seconded it to move up the agenda item? Does he really think we are stupid?

When they decided to move up the agenda item instead of first taking care of city business, didn’t they realize that they were the reason city business was not done? Did he really think that we wouldn’t be able to figure it out that it was because of him and Mrs. Harris? Does Mr. Fenercich think we are stupid?

The reason for Mr. Fenercich’s refusal to give the name of the person he wants on the council is so clear. Does he really think he is fooling anyone with his so "fake" concern about city business? Does he think we couldn’t figure it out that he didn’t care to take care of it before his little childish attempt to get his way to appoint his person?

I’ll say it again, DOES HE REALLY THINK WE ARE STUPID?

Sign me,

Smart Enough to Recognize A Phony

February 9, 2012

Shovel that Manure Somewhere Else

I feel the woman’s letter to the editor in the last newspaper was a load of "horse manure" and inaccuracies.

First of all, unless the accusations of voting fraud are proven, the term to use is ALLEGED.

Second, her own plea in court of "no contest" to the charges seems to me to prove the "VALIDITY" of those charges. Also, just because records are "expunged" (not ex-sponged) does not mean a person was innocent -- it just means that was part of their plea agreement, after a probation period and you do not commit another offense during that time.

Third, does calling herself an honest, law abiding citizen sound inaccurate when she apparently admitted to breaking the law? Does supporting and applauding people who are breaking the law sound like an honest, law abiding citizen? Not calling an election (required by law) is breaking the law and not providing the maps to the election boards in 2009 and again before last year’s election (required by law) was breaking the law. Does it sound like she picks and chooses what LAWS she wants to abide by?

Fourth, with what appears to me to be bitter accusations in the letter, especially against whoever she calls "the MOB backers," in my opinion sounds like she is still very upset about losing the election.

Fifth, just about everyone I know agrees with her about thanking God everyday that she did not win the election!

Sixth, if there are really 50+ people on her list, there is only ONE candidate that it MIGHT have affected … Jon Owens. However, if the other candidate had won, he would have been challenged as being ineligible. As everyone knows, Jon Owens is no longer on the council.

One point I would like to make is that there is no way for any of us to know for whom these alleged 50+ people voted. They may have all voted for those who lost the election. It is a secret ballot.

How do we know this wasn’t part of a big conspiracy by persons who wanted to discredit the election so these people could stay in office, especially since the last city council failed to perform THEIR MANDATORY DUTY to provide the Election Boards with a revised map?? Add to that the fact that two city councilman refuse to call an election for Ward 1, and then these two city councilman appointed a person they wanted for Ward 2, instead of calling an election for that position. It seems to me that they don’t care what the people of Blanchard want and these two councilmen wanted people on the council who would vote their way!!!! (I want it investigated to see if these two councilmen knew all along about the maps not being sent to the Election Boards which, in my opinion, would put all their actions in a whole different light.) And now, two indictments have just been handed down against former city manager Bill Edwards and former police chief Tom Linn for trying to bribe Jon Owens to give up his council seat!!!! I am hoping that there will be an investigation into the questionable actions of the former city government, because when you add these things together something sure stinks about ALL of this!

Seventh, by refusing to call the election, the Ward 1 people have been denied representation. By refusing to call the election, all the citizens of Blanchard have had their rights denied and completely taken away. ILLEGAL!!! DISGRACEFUL!!! And this woman and her friends SUPPORT this??? In my opinion, when she remarks how they have "sacrificed themselves," this person insults every soldier who has served, fought or died for the very rights she has SUPPORTED the city councilmen in TAKING AWAY from us all! And they are proud of this fact??? I don’t know about anyone else, but this really makes me sick. And I will repeat, I agree and thank God everyday she did not win the election!

Both the McClain County and State Election Boards have said they would have put all kinds of safeguards to make sure the people in the area in question would know they were ineligible to vote. There was NO REASON TO TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHTS AND THERE WAS NO REASON NOT TO CALL AN ELECTION, except to delay it.

Lastly, it seems to me that the only outright fraud that has been committed has been against the citizens of Blanchard … these people used what are to me BOGUS REASONS for not calling an election and for denying us our Constitutional Rights. Voter fraud is serious, but it is not a reason to deny us our RIGHTS when there are safeguards against it!!!!

Signed

Go Shovel that Manure Somewhere Else

P.S. Please withhold my name because I do not want to become a "target," especially if they are giving back the gun!

January 18, 2012

Letter to the Host

Mr. Hagan appears to be trying to blow smoke to cover what he is actually doing. Twice now he and Mr. Ferencich have refused to call an election for Ward 1 which has been vacant since June of 2011. Mayor Broyles brought two very qualified women to appoint to that seat within the 60 day time limit -- one was threatened with her job and the other received an anonymous letter and withdrew from consideration. (Threats, Intimidation, Conspiracy??) At that time, Mr. Hagan and Mr. Ferencich were adamant that the people had the right to vote for the person they wanted. Oklahoma law mandates that the council SHALL call the election after sixty days if the seat has not been filled. The city attorney informed the council of the law. Mayor Broyles tried to call an election, but these two council members have refused twice. (Conspiracy??) This is in violation of the LAW. In the meantime, Ward 2 seat became vacant. However, Mr. Hagan and Mr. Ferencich apparently don’t think we the citizens had the right to vote for who we wanted this time because they appointed someone they chose. (Conspiracy??) Doesn't it seem like these two think the people of Blanchard aren't very smart? Don’t the accusations of voting fraud now seem to be an attempt to distract and divert people's attention away from the hypocrisy?

These two council members are denying and taking away Blanchard citizens' RIGHTS according to the LAW of Oklahoma and our Constitutional rights. (Conspiracy??) We have the right to be represented in our government by someone we have elected. It certainly seems like we are not being represented now. There is no law that allows for them to withhold an election for alleged voting irregularities that might have occurred last year. There are measures that can be taken to prevent voting fraud in the area that is in question. If every election is postponed because of alleged voting irregularities, we would never have an election on any level -- city, state or national. What a horrible precedent that will be set! Doesn’t this sound like blowing smoke, diverting attention, hoping no one will notice that we the citizens have just lost one of our basic rights in our very own town? This is a disgrace!

Also, Mr. Hagan forgot to mention that the paperwork for the supposed de-annexation had not been completely processed through the state offices at the time of the election last year -- it had been delayed for two years and may not have even been completed as of this time! Some people were unaware because they were never asked if they wanted to be de-annexed, others were not sure what area was de-annexed, and some people were given ballots and told they were allowed to vote because they were on the voters' registry -- NO conspiracy. Is Mr. Hagan also including the Election Board and the state offices in his alleged conspiracy theory? Does knowingly breaking the law sound more like a conspiracy, especially when they appointed someone they wanted on the council and they omitted putting the name of the person on the agenda so we wouldn’t know what they were up to, which also seems to have broken another law? Does this omission sound like a conspiracy to keep us in the dark? Doesn’t it make you want to find out how many other laws have been broken during their time in office? Maybe that is something that needs to be investigated too.

Mr. Hagan has repeatedly and seemingly proudly called himself Bob "the terrorist" Hagan in columns he wrote in the local newspaper. In one, he also said "another year, and I'm not sure we will have a city left." Doesn’t it seem like those words, along with his other attempts to scare the citizens of Blanchard, now take on a more serious overtone when you consider his denying our citizens their rights by refusing to call an election?

I hope the FBI and Homeland Security do investigate, especially since I feel anyone who takes away our basic rights should be considered a real terrorist and a real threat to our country.

Sign me,

Choking on All the Smoke They’re Blowing

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