Tag Archives: Nepotism

Hillary’s Poor Judgement

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Just a few days before the most recent Weinergate episode we noted that Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s top advisor, was still married to Anthony Weiner. But that wasn’t the main point, only one of them. Here are the facts:

  • Abedin is a Muslim with family ties to terrorist groups
  • Her husband is a sexual deviant
  • She influences much of Hillary’s decisions daily
  • If Hillary Clinton wins the White House Abedin will be running the show

Advisor

Weiner made headlines in recent years for “sexting” women while serving as Congressman to New York’s 9th District. He recently was caught in the act again while sexting a picture of himself with Abedin’s 3 year old son beside him in bed while his wife was doing her thing with Hillary.

This story is not news to most readers here. But what we’ve found particularly interesting is how the media has spun this whole thing. MSNBC, CNN and other leftist media outlets have tried to show compassion for Huma and fend off any idea that national security issues could have been compromised during Clinton’s stint as Secretary of State. But isn’t it likely there could  have been some “pillow talk” going on between Huma and the infamous Weiner? They also minimize the fact she is Muslim with family ties to terrorist organizations.

The right leaning media outlets chastised Weiner’s actions and Huma’s judgement for staying in the marriage while simultaneously questioning a possible breach of national security with fast and loose Anthony Wiener who may  have been a little too close to the situation during Hillary’s tenure. These outlets are questioning a national security breach.

Huma and Weiner

Hmmm… I smell a forthcoming book deal for the Weiner.

There’s one question the Daily News Fix has heard no one ask. 

Shouldn’t we all question Hillary Clinton’s judgement for keeping Huma employed as her top aide when Huma’s personal life choices are so poor?

The day AFTER this latest “sexting” story broke Huma Abedin chose to announce she would separate from Weiner, roughly 73 days prior to the general election. We call this damage control.

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We conclude that both Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin have extremely poor judgement, as is evidenced in the facts laid out above. They are both dangerous and will put American lives at risk. Hillary Clinton is #AntiAmerican while Huma has too much baggage with her terrorist family ties and loose cannon husband. We can’t afford the likes of Hillary in White House nor can we afford Huma Abedin running the show for her.

Nepotism Defeated ~ Now On To The Real Issues Facing Kinston

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Residents of Kinston scored a big WIN Monday night, February 15th, when the Kinston City Council voted unanimously to reverse the September 8th Nepotism Policy Amendment. The 2015 “Amendment” gave the green light for family of City Council members, including the Mayor, to be hired on with the City of Kinston.

The “Amendment” was force fed to the public by three sitting Council members even though resident and business owner, Logan Thurman presented a petition with over 300 signatures opposing the change. The NAACP voiced concern publicly, as did the Daily News Fix. Even so, the measure passed on September 8th and became a contentious campaign issue.

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See last night’s victory video HERE

For the Daily News Fix it’s on to bigger and better things, more important issues, like getting residents gainfully employed and off welfare and food stamps, shutting down public housing in Kinston and moving residents into affordable housing owned and operated by the private sector.

The Welfare Model was designed as a “hand up”, not a way of life.  But it is now used by Democrats to control minorities and gain votes. Ironically in a town like Kinston where 69% of the population is black, Democrats retain around 86% of the vote. Think about that for a minute…… minorities are enslaved by this model while their personal liberty is stifled.

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The City of Kinston has never in its history elected a Republican to City Council. The first Republican Mayor, BJ Murphy, was elected 6 years ago and now in his second term.

Even though there has never been a Republican on City Council,  Republicans are consistently targeted for any problems Kinston might have.  Let that sink in for a minute…..   Non-partisan elections were “pre-approved” in 2013 by USDOJ after a US Supreme Court lawsuit for the reversal of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Non-partisan elections will help in a town the size of Kinston if we focus less on RACE and more on electing effective diverse representation.  This will only be breached through education and resolve.  During the 2015 municipal election cycle, for the first time ever, the NAACP and the Lenoir County Democrat Party did not endorse candidates in the non-partisan contest. That’s a step in the right direction.

The Nepotism Policy Amendment was the non-partisan issue that created a unique cohesiveness.  As a result, the election was issue-based whereby qualified and effective candidates were elected to office.

Time will tell as to the effectiveness of this new team.  We are delighted they kept their campaign promises to reverse this bad policy.  Now it’s up to you, the residents of Kinston, whether you pay property taxes or not, to get involved in the process.

  • Go to City Council meetings
  • Apply to sit on a Board or Commission (an eye opening experience)
  • Contact your Council members and ask questions on the issues important to you

NOW, let’s get to work!

Kinston City Council Campaign Promises About To Play Out

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The City of Kinston Nepotism Policy was rewritten in the latter part of 2015 and swiftly passed through Council just a few months prior to the November election. Incumbent Sammy Aiken was a vocal opponent of the amendment to this policy which, as written, now allows family of City Council and the Mayor to be hired on at the City.

Mayor Pro Tem, Robbie Swinson, IV went with Sammy on this one, opposing the changes that came about when Council member, Wynn Whittington, questioned the rule.  Whittington’s brother had applied for a couple of jobs with the City and was turned away because of his relationship to the Councilman.

One thing you don’t do as an elected official is help your family members out publicly.  That’s called favoritism and Mr. Whittington blatantly did so.

The Daily News Fix was out front on this development (See HERE) and there was much debate.  So much debate, in fact, that the NAACP readily opposed this form of cronyism and made it part of their line of questioning in the public forum they put on in which all the candidates were asked the question, “If you are elected to City Council will you work to repeal the Nepotism Policy amendment?” (paraphrased)

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All the candidates made a public pledge to repeal the amendment once elected with the exception of, then Councilwoman, Kelly Jarman.  She lost her seat on Council, coming in fifth place in the eight candidate contest. Ironically she was the top vote-getter in 2011. Her refusal to admit she was wrong and her allegiance vote with Whittington cost her that seat. See October prediction HERE

The repeal of this Amendment is on the table Monday, February 15th at the 7 PM City Council meeting at Kinston City Hall.  Why would the reversal of this amendment be a problem?  It should be a 4 to 1 landslide at worst.

Maybe Whittington will even concede if he shows up for the vote.  He’s been MIA(absent) three(3) of the last four(4) Council meetings.

Everyone sitting on Council made a promise to their constituents to repeal the amendment except for Whittington.  If this amendment is not reversed after Monday’s meeting, the consequences for this Council could be earth shattering.

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Lets’s get this done people. This is a no-brainer.  Next order of business should be how to move all public housing located in the City of Kinston into private sector housing, work to get residents off welfare and food stamps and onto a payroll while curbing crime in the process. That takes representation with guts and resolve.  If this Council can’t handle this simple task Monday….. well, we’ll talk about that next time!

Other links October Article 1 Whittington Lashes Out

A Matter of Accountability

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“When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.” ~ David Brin

Part One (State)

Elected officials have obligations to their constituents. In the case of North Carolina State Attorney General Roy Cooper, he has an obligation to defend the State of North Carolina and uphold the State Constitution. He has shirked those responsibilities repeatedly.  AG Cooper refused to defend the State against Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare. Cooper refused to defend the Voter ID bill passed in 2013 by the North Carolina legislature causing Governor Pat McCrory to hire outside legal council paid for by the taxpayers. He has repeatedly abused his position of authority and influence and even used “his own office to do President Obama’s political bidding and fill his campaign coffers”.  All along he should have been looking out for the interests of North Carolinians. 

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Attorney General Roy Cooper failed to defend the State against Obama’s illegal mandate on immigration. Cooper is a real piece of work. He had to defend himself in a libel suit. He showed up for that, no problem.  But, he has not shown up to perform his sworn duties to the people of North Carolina. 

Part Two (Local)

Kinston City Council member Wynn Whittington has missed three (3) out of the last four (4) City Council meetings. The Councilman was elected in 2013 and was at the heart of the Nepotism Amendment controversy that most likely helped usher in some new in the 2015 election. Mr. Whittington has not stated publicly why he missed these important meetings.  Whittington is one of five (5) PAID City Council members. 

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This is NOT a partisan issue. We learned that the City of Kinston does not have an attendance policy for City Council members. We think an attendance policy similar to some of the City’s commissions and boards should be considered and the by-laws amended accordingly.  The Utilities Advisory Commission, for instance, has a policy that considers it an automatic resignation when a Commissioner misses three consecutive meetings unless the UAC determines, by majority vote, that the absence was for good cause.  

There is a difference, however that must be considered.  Commissioners and board members are unpaid appointed volunteer positions. City Council members are elected by the people and paid for their services. Elected officials can be impeached or reprimanded but not fired.  They are accountable to the people, the residents of Kinston.

WE suggest that an independent review board be set up consisting of two Council members and three private residents. Once any Council member misses three (3) consecutive Council meetings his/her case would be considered for censure or given an opportunity to resign.

Personal hardship is a fact of life, but when it conflicts with elected duties it is time to step down. Job conflicts and vacation don’t count as hardship. Elected officials know the responsibilities they are taking on prior to taking the oath of office.

The review may be closed to the public but the minutes would be made public.  This review process would be for any elected official serving City residents.

WE also suggest an avenue for impeachment of under performing or habitually absent elected officials, brought by residents, should also be placed in the by-laws. 

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Elected officials are responsible to all residents. They are elected to perform a duty and are expected to participate in public meetings. They have a moral obligation to uphold the highest standards putting the welfare and safety of Kinston residents first, even ahead of their own needs.    

We have immense respect for anyone who would subject themselves to public service at any level. It takes a special person to withstand the pressures of public office.  

In closing…. We think there needs to be a better system of checks and balances for elected officials in Kinston City government. Four years is too long to wait to replace a Council member or Mayor that is under-performing, incompetent, or just doesn’t show up for work; all the while making decisions with our tax dollars that affects our health, safety and well-being. Our residents deserve accountability and transparency, if not for the fact we are paying for that service. Implementing the above mentioned measures would be a good start in holding elected public servants accountable.

Councilman Lashes Out At Concerned Citizens/Mayor

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Back of TCouncilman Wynn Whittington penned a scalding personal attack on the President of the Kinston-Lenoir County Chapter of the NAACP published in the Kinston Free Press (read his words) along with attacks on the Mayor of Kinston, local petition organizer Logan Thurman, and of course quite a bit about me.   Mr. Whittington accuses those questioning his tactics of having too much “free time”.   In his musings, I appear to be the main target and one of those “people who can’t seem to let it go”.   Well, there is plenty of reason we must not “let it go”.

Mayor Murphy hasn’t let it go either, decided he wasn’t going to take the attacks lightly, and posted his opinion and video on his website. Read and view HERE.

Also, before I go too far, VOTE tomorrow, November 3rd.  One Vote is all you need for Steve Ragan.  You can do that, just one vote…..Steve has fought this nepotism deal from the beginning.

Mr. Whittington has been silent on the public dis-rest over his own policy change… until two days before the municipal election.  Conveniently and for political reasons he spoke out clearly in an attempt to moot the argument against the policy change.  The Nepotism Policy Amendment allows family members of City Council members and the Mayor to be employed by the City, breaking a long standing common sense conservative policy against nepotism in the workplace.  Since Councilmember Kelly Jarman is the only incumbent and candidate in the race who supports the Nepotism Policy Amendment, Mr. Whittington could not have timed his “guest column” in a more overtly subversive manner.  The regularly planned City Council meeting for Monday, November 2nd (the night before election day) was cancelled due to lack of agenda items.  So the public has zero opportunity to address Whittington’s comment for comments.  Well done.

Mr. Whittington speaks of all the successes we are having as a City.  He also recognizes the problems we face.   He mentions crime, gang violence, and high utility rates and attempts to minimize the Nepotism issue by stating,  “…the recent nepotism policy debate has garnered more media coverage than the sale of power assets and related rate decreases, the possibility of bringing baseball back to Kinston, and quite possibly the West Pharmaceutical Disaster in 2003″. Uhhh… there’s a reason for that, W!

He also stated that… “the nepotism policy didn’t make the cut in the recent Land Use Plan Study”. No it didn’t because Nepotism policies aren’t part of any Land Use Plan.  As Chairman of the Kinston Planning Board, my fellow planning board members and I reviewed the Land Use Plan (checked it for nepotism) and made recommendations to City Council.  He also stated candidate Gordon Vermillion didn’t agree on the nepotism issue.  What he failed to mention is that of the eight(8) candidates running for three(3) seats on City Council only candidate and fellow educator Kelly Jarman agrees with his views on nepotism since she was one of three votes that amended the policy.  The other seven(7) have agreed to rescind this troubled Amendment if elected. See this VIDEO.

And this quote by Whittington is only confirms that his disdain and lack of respect for public opinion…

“At the recent council candidate forum hosted by the local chapter of the NAACP, each candidate was asked three questions. The very first one was about the nepotism policy. Are you kidding me? Not one question focused on crime, specifically black on black crime!”

Mr. Whittington makes multiple moot points in order to justify his unpopular actions.  His arrogant elitist attitude and obvious disregard for the residents of Kinston are disrespectful to say the least.  In one failed swoop, he insulted the President of the NAACP, two concerned citizens who were exercising their right to redress government, and the Mayor of Kinston because they just “can’t seem to let it go”.

The nepotism issue arose from Mr. Whittington’s line of questioning in City Council surrounding the fact his brother could not be hired because of he was elected to Council.  With very little discussion and no public input Whittington brought a motion to amend the Nepotism Policy.   A few weeks later the amendment was ratified.  He knows, as does Kelly Jarman, that nothing good can come from this amendment.

Allow me Educate the “Educators”……The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America states,

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” 

So in reading Mr. Whittington’s column I find it interesting that almost every word is an attempt to stifle our First Amendment rights.  According to him we should all just trust in his wisdom, shut up, sit down and forget about redressing our grievances because he doesn’t want to hear it.  End of conversation.

From Thomas Paine’s “American Crisis” these words were read aloud on December 23, 1776 to the Continental Army as a rally cry prior to the Battle of Trenton:

“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

This issue will not go away.  If the voices of the people can be shut down “just like that”, what’s next?  We must be vigilant.  Is it obvious yet that We the People must be the guardians of liberty? That the intent of government, including elected officials, is to serve the people?  It is NOT the intent that WE should serve government.

“Never surrender your rights, never give up, never shut, and keep getting up!” ~ John Nix and the Daily News Fix

“Cronyism, Favoritism, and Nepotism are all bedfellows….”  ~  www.dailynewsfix.org

 

 

 

 

What’s the Disconnect? A Total Disregard For The People’s Will

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Councilwoman Kelly Jarman is depending on you to FORGET her misdeeds and total disregard for the people’s will with the recent Nepotism Policy Amendment she helped push through. Some folks will give her a “free pass” for incomprehensible reasons.  She knew the people were adamantly against this policy change but stubbornly ignored the residents of Kinston.  And this is why we fail as a City. We keep electing elitist crony politicians that ignore the real answers to the obvious problems we face. This is not sound reasoning when considering a candidate who will spend a minimum of four (4) years making life changing financial decisions for residents while leading our City. Unqualified elected leaders put an undue burden on all residents of Kinston. Past municipal elections have been a partisan popularity contest.

Jarman is married to Lenoir County manager, Mike Jarman and serves on the Recreation Commission, a joint City/County funded entity. The Recreation Commission has more power than other commissions and boards. They make influential recommendations to City Council on joint spending that rarely go challenged.  This nepotistic arrangement is a big no-no! yet it has existed for the last four years while the public acknowledges the act but gives silent consent through inaction.  After all, holding governmental officials and elected officials accountable is taboo or may offend someone (tongue in cheek).  Read HERE for more detail and HERE for a news column calling for Jarman’s resignation from the Recreation Commission.

We need candidates with knowledge of how the private sector works.  Ms. Jarman’s entire career has been with the school system, her salary paid for through taxes.  Hence, Jarman may be more prone to think of and spend public money as an entitlement.  Those in the private sector understand struggles that Jarman simply cannot. She actually stated that because the school system allows nepotism the City should follow suit.  See this VIDEO.  Of the reasons she gave for allowing nepotism in government, the most incomprehensible was that nepotism will increase our tax base.  No, I’m not kidding! See my blog on the great debate HERE.

Early voting is going on now at the Board of Elections at 110 S. Herritage St. weekdays from 8:30 AM ’til 6:30 PM and closes 8:30 AM ’til 1:00 PM Saturday.  Municipal election day is Tuesday, November 3rd from 6:30 AM ’til 7:30 PM.  This may be the most important and pivotal election in the history of Kinston.  It’s time to elect responsible leadership.  Vote today!

T-Shirts like the one shown above are available for a suggested $10 donation to cover cost. Available in Large and X-Large.  Please send your request to nixcjohn@gmail.com

And They’re Off!…. Candidates Jockey For Lead In Non-Partisan City Council Debate

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In a refreshing candidate forum held tonight at St. Augustus AME Zion Church in Kinston, eight(8) candidates for City Council gave their views on how to lead this town of around 20,000. With three(3) seats up for grabs and two incumbents trying to hold onto their seats the forum exposed each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.  Like any candidate forum, there were varying degrees of preparedness and understanding of exactly how a municipality functions.

This was the Second Non-Partisan Municipal election in Kinston since Attorney General Eric Holder pre-cleared Kinston for non-partisan elections after an extensive lawsuit for the reversal of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  See SCOTUS lawsuit Nix v. Holder.  It was pleasing to see a shift in thinking and public consensus.  This debate was hosted by the Kinston-Lenoir County NAACP, a non-partisan group.  The NAACP will not endorse any candidate(s).  It is also reported the Democratic Party will follow suit in not endorsing.  

The same three(3) questions asked of each candidate.  The candidates were:

1) Michael Davis  a Vietnam Veteran   2) Sammy Aiken  incumbent (retired Navy)  3)Gordon Vermillion  business owner & past two term City Councilman  4) Tharol Branch  native Kinstononian  5) Felicia Solomon  former Lenoir County Schools principal  6)  Kelly Jarman  Lenoir County Schools administrator and incumbent  7)  Steve Ragan   Weyerhauser employee and Planning Board member 8)  Lennie Peterson  US Army veteran & Ex School Bus driver

Queston #1 – City Council recently voted to allow family members of Council members and the Mayor to be hired.  Will you vote to reinstate the Nepotism Policy?  If Yes, why.  If No, why.

Six candidates stated they were opposed to this recent action except Kelly Jarman and Michael Davis.  Michael Davis stated he was concerned his children wouldn’t be able to work for the City.  Jarman defended and justified her unpopular voting record on this issue by stating the School System and Military have similar policies, only 30% of the population in Kinston have college degrees so we need to keep jobs opportunities available, and nepotism will increase our tax base.  (This reasoning both confounds and contradicts)

Question #2 – Public Safety Chief Johnson is retiring. What should be done with Public Safety?  (Admittedly the question was misleading and vague.  There has been talk of hiring a Police Chief and a Fire Chief in lieu of one Public Safety Director)

All candidates gave a clear and concise answer and agreed City Council should seek out and hire separate department heads and hire a well qualified Police Chief due to the serious crime problems Kinston is experiencing  except incumbent Kelly Jarman.  She touted the excellent job our current police are doing and public education programs but stated separating the departments would depend on “who we find” to replace Johnson.

Question #3 – What do you foresee for change in Kinston to make it a better place to live and work?  (This was a vague open-ended question.  But there was some common ground with the answers)

Peterson struggled initially but eventually stated we needed jobs and address crime. Ragan connected the fact that our crime issues have a negative effect on our business climate and the desire for industry, businesses, and families to come to Kinston and stay in Kinston.  He stated the only way for us to solve this issue will be a Unifed Effort putting partisan politics aside.   Incumbent Jarman stated our lower utility rates, the promise of baseball coming back to town, the coming Land Use Plan, Queen Street revitalization and enforcing the Unified Development Ordinance will make us better.  Solomon wants us to work together and invoke community responsibility.   She stated we have the “right people at the right time” to solve Kinston’s woes.  Branch stated we need a change in leadership, claimed current leadership has destroyed much African-American historical structures and built an entrance to a Confederate Cemetery after tearing down a popular pool hall.  He charged the Board of Elections with continuing racism and  Jim Crow laws.  Vermillion spoke of his two term experience, the fact that we were the only two time All American City in the country, downtown revitalization and the increase in tourism.  He sees a bright future for Kinston.  Aiken spoke solely of eliminating crime.  Davis wants to change the way we think, educate everyone on gangs, change our entire leadership and stated we are failing as a City and as a people.

After viewing this debate and how these candidates fielded the questions, there is no doubt the “Nepotism issue” could be a deciding factor.  See “One Issue Could Decide Council Race”.   You need to decide for yourself.  Please continue to follow future debates and look for the traditional PodCasts on www.Kinston.com this Thursday with Bryan Hanks and his crew.  We’ll continue to bring you up to date news on the www.dailynewsfix.org.  Use the Subscribe feature to have the “Fix” delivered to your inbox when published.

 

 

One Issue Could Decide Council Race

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October 22, 2015 begins One Stop or “early voting” for municipal elections in Lenoir County, NC.  There’s one race that peaks my interest, maybe because it’s so close to home and the outcome will  continue to affect my wallet, my business, my investments, my family, and my way of life as a taxpaying resident of Kinston.  Eight(8) candidates will vie for three(3) seats on the Kinston City Council.  This race has my full attention and for good reason.

Several weeks ago Councilman Wynn Whittington brought an issue to the council floor. He made HIS problem OUR problem.  His brother had applied for a job and was turned down due to his the City’s  nepotism policy.  He wanted to examine the policy for fairness, and through a series of motions and votes the policy was amended three weeks later to the public’s dismay.  I exposed these shenanigans in earlier blog(s) BLOG #1  BLOG#2 and Kinston Free Press column.

Even with over 300 citizens signatures on a petition calling for a NO vote on the amendment, Whittington, Kelly Jarman, and Joe Tyson pushed it through.  Joe Tyson will not run again, Whittington will continue in his elected role for at least two more years, but Kelly Jarman is the lone incumbent in this three seat race to be decided on November 3rd.

Jarman is the wife of Lenoir County Manager, Mike Jarman.  She also serves on the Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Commission, a City/County funded board.  This conflict of interest and form of nepotism was pointed out in a news column a few weeks ago in which she was asked to resign from that commission – Read HERE.

Cast an educated vote!  Tuesday, October 13th, the NAACP will be holding a debate at St. Augustus Church, 318 E. North St., Kinston, NC from 6:30PM – 8:00 PM.  Reportedly all candidates will attend.  I feel certain one of the questions will focus on the “Nepotism Policy Amendment”.  If not, they will have missed the mark. Within this one issue lies the key to effective leadership by an elected official ~ Listening to the Will of the People and acting accordingly. 

Each candidate will also have an opportunity to sign a  pledge introduced by resident Logan Thurman at the October 2nd City Council meeting.  The Pledge states that if elected the first order of business will be to reverse this misguided policy change.   We’ll report an eyewitness account of this debate and where these candidates stand on this most important single issue and!  Stay tuned….

 

Jarman Is No Nepotism Novice

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Last week I wrote a News Fix blog making a case as to why Kelly Jarman, a City Councilwoman, should resign from a commission she serves on.  I never published the blog but instead the Kinston Free Press published a version of it in the Thursday edition on September 17, 2015. Read the Free Press column here:  Guest Column – Councilwoman Should Remove Herself From Board

The Recreation Commission wields a lot of power.  With her husband, Mike Jarman, serving as the Lenoir County Manager, Kelly Jarman’s appointment to this committee creates a conflict of interest mainly because the Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department is jointly funded with the City bearing brunt of the fiscal burden.   There’s no doubt nepotism is a problem in this working/private blended relationship.  Elitists will brush this aside as trivial.  In fact, they already did when this was brought up in a public forum prior to Kelly Jarman being elected.   Really none of this would have come up had Ms. Jarman not been one of the three that brought about the amendment to the City’s Nepotism policy.  For a little background read:

Blog #1                             Blog #2                                 Petition

Writing a column or a blog is eye opening but following through on those words is a completely different animal.  I don’t suspect Councilwoman Jarman has any plans to resign just because I suggested it was a good idea.  Her circle of friends will see no wrong in the current arrangement.  I suspect her church family, family members, and good friends have already blown right past the meat of the issue and will insist “she’s done nothing wrong”.   Well, guess what,  I hope there has been no influence or information sharing flowing from Mike to Kelly or from Kelly to Mike.  In fact, I have not once suggested either one are corrupt or would even consider doing wrong.

Under the current arrangement the door is wide open for either one, or both, to carry out “insider trading”, if you will.   By isolating the weakness in the dam, my hopes are to plug the leaks before it breaks.   A huge window for discussion has now opened up and discussion will ensue.   As a precautionary measure, Kelly Jarman should be removed from the Recreation Commission and be reappointed to another board that is not jointly funded by the City and the County.

City Nepotism Policy Up For Debate

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During the August 3rd, 2015 Kinston City Council meeting, Councilman Wynn Whittington brought up for discussion the City’s nepotism policy.  The current City policy reads:

Sec. 2-140. – Employment of relatives

“The hiring of a relative of the city manager, personnel director, or of the mayor or any member of the city council after his election or appointment and during his term of office is prohibited. Likewise, no person shall be hired or assigned to work under the administrative influence or supervision of a relative, nor shall any employee’s relative be hired without prior written approval of the city manager. “Relative” means wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandmother, grandfather, grandson, granddaughter and also step, half and in-law relationships.” 

See the entire breakout starting at page 66 HERE.

Mr. Whittington’s brother, upon application, was not hired due to this long time policy.  The policy is now being challenged by Mr. Whittington with at least two other Council members considering his argument valid.  Opinion aside, this is and was policy when Whittington’s relative applied for the job.  For this Council member to make this a personal issue and bring it before the body and the public not only puts the rest of Council and the City Manager in an uncomfortable spot but illustrates the very reason why the Nepotism Policy exists.

The City Manager was asked to do a comparative study of towns in the state that had similar policies and the results were neither a help or a hindrance.  However the discussion led to Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem recommending the HR Director draft a new, less stringent, policy that would include “direct supervision” language. The Mayor has been a vocal opponent of an amendment. By inserting “direct supervision” language the desired effect is to nullify the City Council and Mayor portion of the current policy allowing relatives access to employment. That portion of the amended version reads:

“The initial employment of relatives of the mayor or any member of the city council after his/her election or appointment and during his/her term of office is permitted, provided there is not a direct or indirect reporting relationship.”  (See page 16 HERE)

I ask the Council members not  to miss the point.  The entire reasoning behind a nepotism policy is to eliminate the possibility of those with power or influence to show favoritism of their relatives. Without an effective nepotism policy, even if there’s no favoritism, at minimum that perception by other employees will always exist.  The Mayor and City Council members simply have too much influence, direct or indirect, over department heads.  So, if the brother of a City Council member were insubordinate, the department head may be apprehensive to deal with that insubordination out of fear of retribution by said Council member.  Conversely, when a relative of an elected official is up of hire the department head may feel beholden to hire the relative or even fear not to.

The City Council meets at 7:00 PM on Monday, August 17th.  Public comments will be heard early in the agenda attached HERE.  You may also come early for the work session at 5:30 PM.  Make your concerns heard.  Don’t be one to ask, “What are they going to do about it?”…… YOU are THEY!

Write a letter to the editor.  Since this will most like go to vote on Monday, the  letters to the editor are due Thursday, 8/13/15.  Send them to jennifer.shrader@kinston.com and the Kinston Free Press.

You may also write your Council Members directly at  council@ci.kinston.nc.us