Park Record: "Challenger attacks incumbent in County Council campaign"

The following is my further clarification of and rebuttal of some of the issues and opinions contained within the above article which was published 10/22/2010. Note that I have included the article in it's entirety below my remarks for this post.

First, let me thank Patrick Parkinson for taking the time to interview me for this article. Thank you, I think.

Second, regarding “Facing an uphill climb…”, I consider it good exercise and a challenge to those who would be ‘king of the hill’. The American tradition is based on ‘uphill climbs’ and achievement, not the status quo.

Third, that said, I am not clear on how responding to inaccuracies promulgated by Chris in a KPCW interview and a North Summit ‘debate’ last Thursday is attacking Chris. Are we then to assume that whatever emanates from the mouths of our elected officials is sacrosanct and unassailable? Hardly.

Fourth, I am stating fact when I say the Council, including Chris, have NOT exercised fiscal restraint. Consider the documented facts: $1,600,00 budget deficit, $2,000,000 overrun on a public health building (Weber County built a similar structure for half the price), long term County debt has increased 40%, the County’s long term debt increase has caused our insurance premium liability to increase from $2,000 to $309,000, the County’s ability to pay short term debt (Quick Ratio) is among the worst in recent memory, there have been increases in general county government expenses of 15% in the past two years, there has been an increase in expenditures in four departments (Commission ($190K), Administrative Services ($220K), Assessor ($165K), and County Development ($212K) of $787,000 in the past three years, and the list goes on. This is documented in the 2010 budget and the most recent (2009) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Fifth, I did NOT solely blame Chris for the $1.6M deficit, but in fact he is one of the five members of the County Council who has the primary responsibility to oversee the County’s financial health. Previous Commissions were able to do it, but this Council has not. Again, Chris is one of the five having that responsibility and who have blithely voted the County into this situation.

Sixth, Chris Robinson, at the 9/15/2010 County Council meeting is on record stating to the County Auditor regarding the financial budget numbers being discussed (after this hit the fan) that “… we {the Council} never had our heads around it {the budget} …” and “… we would go away pacified …” This from a Council member with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and CEO of a company “having extensive dealings in the County”? How, after over 1.5 years, could Chris not have his “head around” the numbers (budget) that the County Auditor was producing? Would he run his company that way? I have a Master of Business Administration. I WILL get “my head around” our County’s financial situation.

Seventh, during the N. Summit ‘debate’, Chris stated the Council was “nonpartisan”. Really?! With 4.5 Democrats on the Council, it is “nonpartisan”? Excuse me, but the dictionary definition of nonpartisan is, “not belonging to, supporting, or biased in favor of a political party”. In round numbers, there are 3,600 registered, active Democrats on the Summit County voter roll, but there are 20,800 unaffiliated, Republican, and third-party voters on that roll. Where is the representation on the Council for the majority of the voters and citizens? I will guarantee you that the majority of the Mayors and their constituents in Summit County do NOT believe they are represented in our Democrat dominated “nonpartisan” Council. Those are the facts. Thus by Chris stating the Council is “nonpartisan”, either he is out of touch with thousands of voters who would disagree with him or he is being disingenuous. I know if I were ‘attacking’ Chris what I would opine, but I didn’t.

Eighth, Chris, on Thursday, also stated that the Council, and thus by implication, himself, are “conservative”. The dictionary definition of ‘conservative’ is: “1. in favor of preserving the status quo and traditional values and customs, and against abrupt change and 2. a member or supporter of a Conservative Party.” Excuse me again, but didn’t the Democrats run on “change”, NOT status quo? I would also submit that the Progressive platform is anything but about preserving status quo and America’s traditional values and customs. I doubt any rational individual would argue that the Constitution Party (see their platform on my web site at voteshumway.org) is a less conservative party than the Progressive Democrats. Also consider that a true Conservative would also be fiscally conservative. Our County’s financial woes are NOT a product of fiscal conservancy. Further, would a conservative body of legislators adopt the “1987 U.N. Brundtland Commission’ definition of sustainability as the common theme in all the model legislation and the model executive orders” in government control of land use? Your County Council has. This flies directly in the face of our Constitution’s Fourth Amendment and is part and parcel of U.N. Agenda 21. I could go on, but I believe it is clear that the County Council, and thus Chris, is anything BUT “conservative”. Yes, Chris got elected in 2008 masquerading as an elephant in a donkey suit, yet since then we have found out that in fact, in all due respect, that Chris is just a donkey. That is not attack. That is a fact.

Ninth, I have attended every weekly Council meeting (either the business or public session or both) since June of this year. There were a number of times when input from the audience was received yet there was limited discussion by the Council before a vote was taken. It seemed to me that during those times that the votes made by the Council were a foregone conclusion, irrespective of public input. After sitting in on these meetings for five months, that is my opinion. Obviously the Council should discuss the merits of their positions on a question upon which they are to vote and they certainly can do it prior to the Council meetings. I would just like to see a greater public discussion of the pros/cons of a question by the Council.

Tenth, Chris, on several occasions has tried to distance himself from the financial and legislative decisions made by the Council by stating that he, and thus three other members of the Council, were not involved in the past financial decision making. Excuse me again, but Chris and everyone else but Sally Elliott, took power January of 2009. Chris would have us believe that during the past 21 months there were no county budgets created or financially related votes taken. If those are the facts and since the financial health of the County is one of the Council’s primary responsibilities then I ask, “for what have we been paying Chris and his cohorts?”

Eleventh, no one, least of all myself, is or has ever impugned the intelligence of anyone on the Council. I also do not doubt their seriousness. As to our Council’s “reasonableness”, “open mindedness”, “{not} motivated by anything other than doing its level best for the common good”, “lack of a lot of ego”, “Council does not throw money away”, “we do the job well”, etc., well I have my opinion, which is one of the reasons I am campaigning against Chris.

Twelfth, Chris states that those who oppose his personal opinion regarding the Council’s composition and their decisions are “naysayers” which are “a dime a dozen”. Interesting. So Chris is the one attacking those not agreeing with him or the Council. So much for little egos. It is reported that he goes on to say, “naysayers are a dime a dozen”, the County Council doesn’t need someone “who is going to come in there and try to stir it up.” Thus, Chris opines that if you dissent with the Council then they do not need you. What about the County, Chris. I submit that THE COUNTY needs someone on the Council who is not a rubber stamp for the Progressive agenda. Chris, I get it. I understand that you do not want to be voted out of your position on the Council and apparently you will say almost anything to dissuade the County voters from that outcome. Yet, I for one believe the County DOES need a different voice and vote on the Council.

I am not campaigning against Chris just to “stir things up”. I have attended every weekly Council meeting since June, I am spending the time and my own money in this campaign to give YOU, the voters of the County, a choice. I am a serious and motivated candidate. I have the education (three Masters), the desire (third campaign), no political baggage or debts to repay, and the desire to listen to YOU, the citizens of Summit County. I will be YOUR voice and vote on the Council.

When voting for me, I am not asking you to change parties, just your vote for Gary Shumway. If you vote a straight party ticket, you must, after voting straight party, go to the Summit County Council, Seat ‘D’ race and vote for Gary Shumway. Not doing this will essentially be a vote for the Progressive Democrat incumbent.

Be informed and please vote.

Thank you!

The following is the Park Record article by Patrick Parkinson:

Facing an uphill climb in the Summit County Council campaign, South Summit resident Gary Shumway went on the offensive Friday in an interview with The Park Record.

Shumway, a member of the Constitution Party, attacked incumbent Summit County Councilman Chris Robinson as someone who has not exercised fiscal restraint while overseeing the county's budget. Robinson is a Democrat.

Shumway blamed Robinson for allowing a $1.6 million deficit to accrue this year in the general fund, which is the money used for the county's day-to-day operations.

"[Robinson] wouldn't do that in his business. He would absolutely want to know where the numbers are in his business," Shumway said. "I would certainly try to get my head wrapped around the numbers The buck needs to stop somewhere and it stops at the council."

With four Democrats and one Republican on the County Council Shumway said the panel is too partisan.

"When everyone on the council agrees with each other it could appear nonpartisan to Chris," Shumway said. "Obviously it's another indication that [Robinson] is out of touch with the citizens of Summit County."

Shumway said he would be the most conservative voice on the County Council.

"It often seems to me that even with public input, the votes that are conducted are foregone conclusions," Shumway said.

There is rarely dissent among members of the County Council, he said.

"It just seems like the votes are just a formality versus really listening to the people," Shumway said.
Some mayors on the East Side of Summit County have complained that the needs of the municipalities have been ignored by the County Council, he said.

"They have been taken out of the equation They certainly feel that they are not listened to," Shumway said. "I think I would want to listen to the mayors."

He said his top priorities as a councilperson would be controlling spending and maintaining a balanced budget.

When the form of government in Summit County changed to the council/manger model in 2009 terms on the five-person panel were staggered. Robinson was elected to serve a two-year term in 2008.

Now he is vying for a full four-year term. In an interview on Thursday, Robinson resisted attacking his opponent.

Serving effectively as a councilperson requires a certain demeanor and temperament, he explained.

Councilpersons must have "intelligence, reasonableness and open mindedness," Robinson added.

"I think I am adequately so in all of those and I think that the rest of the council displays that," he said. "We want it to be where the council is never motivated by anything other than doing its level best for the common good."

The County Council is a diverse group, he said.

"The electorate in 2008 chose five very smart and diverse people from different backgrounds who don't have a lot of ego," Robinson said.

Councilpersons are fiscally responsible, he said.

"This council doesn't throw money away," he said.

Given the challenges waiting in the County Courthouse, Robinson said "the biggest issue right now is the economy."

One of the County Council's top priorities is boosting economic development, he said.

"We're trying to prioritize our expenditures so we can accomplish our goals," Robinson said.

Partisan politics rarely influences the County Council's decision making, he said.

"It's been said that we don't debate anything and we don't have spirited discussions. The reality is that we have five smart people from very different backgrounds who are not bashful to put forth their opinions without ego and without being disagreeable with each other," Robinson said.

"It is somewhat a shame that county government is partisan by state law Park City is not a 'D' or an 'R' or a 'C.' It's just a bunch of good people trying to do what's right."

Robinson said "naysayers are a dime a dozen."

The County Council doesn't need someone "who is going to come in there and try to stir it up."

"I think we have people who are willing to stir it up when it's needful," Robinson said. "We respect each other and we do the job well."

But he said he appreciates having an opponent in the campaign.

"What really hurts is when no good people want to run, when there's apathy," Robinson said.

There is also a write-in candidate in the campaign for County Council seat D: Henefer resident Tyler Rowser.

Election Day is Nov. 2 and early voting will be underway at four locations in Summit County until Oct. 29.