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October 25, 2007
Are the Indy's Endorsements Heartless or Worthless? It's One or the Other.
While his advocacy for gifted children is admirable, as their needs shouldn't be overlooked, when voting, he hasn't always kept all children in mind. His rigorous job as a physician scientist at Durham's veterans' hospital also has prevented him from attending many forums and activities beyond his basic board duties.It is the second of these reasons I'd like to call your attention to. (The comments of Tracy Burger and "edosan" on the Indy endorsement page refute the first of the reasons.)
In February of 2006, midway through Mike's first term on the Board, his wife and daughter were run over by a car while selling Girl Scout cookies outside a grocery store. Both -- especially Mike's wife -- sustained very serious injuries that ended up requiring lengthy convalescence and therapy. Most people would have resigned from the School Board in such a situation. Mike hung in there and honored his commitment to the district's children.
The Indy now faults Mike for missing some forums and events outside his regular school board duties. This raises two possibilities: One is that the Independent Weekly is displaying an Ann-Coulter-esque level of heartlessness, in which it owes Mike Kelley an apology. The other is that the newspaper somehow did not even know about the tragedy involving Mike's family -- something that everybody in town who follows the school board knew about. If that's the case, then the Indy has revealed that it did not do the most basic of research before issuing its school board endorsements, and should confess to voters that they're worthless and retract them before election day.
It's one or the other. Which will it be, Indy?
Posted by Eric at October 25, 2007 7:41 AM