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Subject: Mayor Perm Dude?
Posted by: Perm Dude
- [174121611] Wed, May 20, 2009, 12:07
As some of you know, I started a quixotic quest a few months ago to become mayor of my small borough here.
By way of background, this little borough of Mount Pocono has a shade over 3000 people, and politically is known as a Republican stronghold for this part of the county. The current Mayor and all Borough Council members are Republican and (except for one year there was an Independent), have been Republican since long before I came here 6 years ago. The last Democratic mayor of the borough left office in 1993.
But things change and I've been working for a few years now (on the Planning Commission, the Strategic Planning Committee and other stuff), and I've developed very good working relationships with all the elected officials in the borough. Time to throw my hat into the ring!
With only 10 names needed to be on the primary ballot, it was pretty easy to do but I did virtually no campaigning for the primary since I was the only Democrat running (well, I did get a Facebook page going). And I went to a "Meet the Candidates" meeting with the local business association.
Even running against a guy who has been here 30 years, ran a well-known sign business and is currently on Borough Council, I was very surprised to do much better than expected in the primary, getting 47 votes (to 68): Tentative primary results, without write-ins or absentee ballots
I believe there will be a tightening up of a handful of votes once the write-ins are counted, but now the race is on! |
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| 29 | Perm Dude
ID: 154552311
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 10:00
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Thanks, guys. Truth be told I'm still a little down about it--had to pick up about 70 yard signs late last night. I was kidding my wife that if I'd won I'd have been picking them up at noon, waving to everyone that passed by.
:)
I dunno if I'll run again. The office of Mayor is a 4 year term and that's a long time. But who knows--I've got a bunch of signs already made up. The key will be finding them in my garage in 4 years!
I'm still involved in the town as a member of the Planning Commission and other things, and I always encourage anyone who might think about public service to start small by looking at Park & Rec Boards, Planning Commissions, Library Boards, etc. If anyone here has a public service itch to scratch, being on a volunteer citizen board is a great introduction.
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| 30 | walk
ID: 291046510
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 11:50
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Aaah, PD sorry to hear you did not win. It would have been a great thing. Good for you to get involved to such a degree and make a good go of it. I imagine this was quite an experience.
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| 31 | rfs on bb
ID: 37931319
Thu, Nov 05, 2009, 13:42
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Good to see you take a run at it pd. I hate it when people (not saying you) complain about everything that is wrong yet never offer to take part in a solution. Kudos to you for getting involved.
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| 32 | Perm Dude
ID: 3210201915
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 11:11
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It isn't exactly the same as being Mayor, but the new year will bring a new name: Councilman Perm Dude.
Was sworn in Thursday at the county seat, and will have another at the first meeting of the year on Tuesday.
So the erosion of rights in Mount Pocono will begin on Tuesday...
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| 33 | biliruben
ID: 59551120
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 12:16
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Congratulations Council Member Perm Dude!!
If you are into garbage issues, what Seattle does is collect food waste along with yard waste, compost them, and sell back the juicy stuff to us to put on our gardens. Money maker, and drops our landfill use way way down.
Almost nothing really needs to go into any bin besides recycling and compost.
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| 34 | Perm Dude
ID: 3210201915
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 13:37
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That's a great idea (and I'll be on the Sanitation Committee as well). I remember going to Prince Edward Island a few times and they have a massive ongoing composting effort.
I'll have to see if our hauler has ever done anything like that. We're certainly not afraid to be the first in the area to try something like that.
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| 35 | Seattle Zen
ID: 4811181319
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 16:42
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Congrats Perm!
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| 36 | Building 7
Leader
ID: 171572711
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 18:57
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Congratulations Perm Dude. They'll be lucky to have someone with your knowledge.
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| 37 | Pancho Villa
ID: 597172916
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 19:04
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Nice going, PD. Give em hell!
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| 38 | Boldwin
ID: 321121173
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 21:23
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Be afraid. Be very afraid, Mount Pocono.
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| 39 | sarge33rd
ID: 211332319
Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 21:25
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Why? Are you going there for a visit?
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| 40 | Frick
ID: 52182321
Sun, Jan 01, 2012, 02:15
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Congrats PD, I hope you can have a positive impact on your community.
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| 41 | Tree
ID: 41512710
Sun, Jan 01, 2012, 21:05
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congrats PD!!
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| 42 | Perm Dude
ID: 41661813
Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 21:03
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At the risk of lengthening an already self-serving thread, a quick update:
The guy who beat me 4 years ago resigned rather suddenly last September, and while I was in the running to replace him our Borough Council decided to appoint someone else to fill his term (which expires at the end of this year).
That guy won his primary rather handily in May, and since I ran unopposed on the Communist Party line (to hear tell around here) this meant a showdown in November. But he withdrew his name from the ballot about a week ago, and last night at a work session he offered his resignation as mayor.
The GOP Monroe County Chair has until the 27th to submit a name to replace him on the ballot, so I'm not breathing easy yet. But it does look like I am likely to be appointed mayor to fill the position until the end of the year (and, of course, if I win in November I'll start a full 4-year term in January).
Lots of other balls in the air here and much of this is happening for personality-driven reasons (as one might expect, in local politics). But through a perfect storm of reasons, on Monday night a Republican-only Borough Council is likely to unanimously appoint the first Democratic mayor of Mount Pocono since 1994.
And, needless to say, I am going to kick the ass of anyone I run against, should someone be foolish enough to try to slip themselves onto the ballot against me.
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| 43 | Seattle Zen
ID: 3603123
Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 22:31
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on Monday night a Republican-only Borough Council is likely to unanimously appoint the first Democratic mayor of Mount Pocono since 1994.
and there was much rejoicing!!! Well, there WILL be much rejoicing! Go get 'em!
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| 44 | Biliruben
ID: 358252515
Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 22:35
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Mayor perm dude!!
Bike paths and bacchanalian celebrations in the well-funded libraries!!
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| 45 | Khahan
ID: 16341313
Fri, Aug 02, 2013, 00:15
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Congratz PD. I may have to swing up and pay you a visit one weekend. Its only about 1 1/2 from me. Will buy ya a beer.
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| 46 | beastiemiked
ID: 53512921
Fri, Aug 02, 2013, 03:01
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Nice! Hopefully your opponent doesn't catch wind of your shenanigans on rotoguru ;)
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| 47 | Tree
ID: 1674429
Fri, Aug 02, 2013, 10:44
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where is that damned "like" button???
woot! free beer for the masses!
right? you did run on that platform?
every time your political ambitions come up, i can't help but think back to my time in Vermont, when the "Spread Fred" campaign was at a fever pitch.
what a fine and fun film "Man With a Plan" was...
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| 48 | Perm Dude
ID: 41661813
Mon, Aug 05, 2013, 22:25
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Some serious mixed feelings tonight.
The good news is that everything went exactly as expected--I was appointed Mayor without dissent, and you all may now refer to me as "Mr Big."
We had a couple of TV news crews there (not just for my appointment, but there were some other big items we were going to be tackling). About 15 minutes into the meeting, the guys literally grabbed their cameras, the stands and mikes, and ran out of the building.
Turns out that there was a shooting in another municipal meeting just like ours, and three are dead. My wife and I know the guy who tackled and shot the shooter, in fact.
Whatever joy I might otherwise have enjoyed has, obviously, been completely overwhelmed by our concern for what happened in Ross Township. I know people over there. We've no idea about who the shooter was, or his motives. But it is freaky that it happened in a meeting like the one I was in, at the same time.
I suspect regional and state media will be swarming here over the next few days--more info as I get it.
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| 49 | biliruben
ID: 21841115
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 01:09
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Holy smokes! Stay low. And congrats, I guess.
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| 50 | Seattle Zen
ID: 3603123
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 01:31
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That is a very eery downer, Mayor.
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| 51 | Boldwin
ID: 5474264
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 05:42
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I just saw that and raced over here to make sure PD was ok!
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| 52 | Pancho Villa
ID: 40610217
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 09:12
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Congrats, PD. Too bad about the tragic distraction in Ross Township.
Patiently waiting for claims that the incident is Agenda 21 related.
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| 53 | Perm Dude
ID: 41661813
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 09:31
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Thanks, guys. Am headed over to the office for a bit, tie dyed t-shirt on. Should be a good day.
4 ended up dying last night in Ross Township. It is still freaking me out a bit, as it was a regular municipal meeting just like we were sitting it.
Turns out the guy was essentially a junk collector who lived in a garbage-filled lot without sewage hookup and spotty electrical and water. The town was finally successful in evicting him and he took it out on them. I was just reading about him not long ago and the name stuck in my head: Here's a story on him.
Reading that story, it is hard not to feel for the guy. Still, though--4 are dead.
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| 54 | Tree
ID: 50741610
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 11:51
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Congrats PD. as you said, the news from a neighboring town makes it bittersweet.
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| 55 | Frick
ID: 432501512
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 12:19
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Congrats PD and sorry that the day was marked with such a tragic ending.
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| 56 | Pancho Villa
ID: 40610217
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 13:37
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"I live on SSI which comes to $600 a month I have no money to clean it up." - Rockne Newell
But I have money to buy multiple guns!
If a person is unemployed for years and makes 600 bucks a month from the government, that person can't realistically expect to be a permanent property owner. Property ownership is not an entitlement, it comes with responsibilities, some realistic, some not so realistic.
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| 57 | C1-NRB
ID: 48754612
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 13:54
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Congratulations, PD. Too bad it isn't the only remarkable event of the day.
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| 58 | Frick
ID: 432501512
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 13:56
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Why shouldn't a person expect to own property on $600/month? The article says that he was paying his property taxes (probably his biggest expense) and that the mortgage was current. I'm kind of surprised that a mortgage existed, that or he is lying about income.
It sounds more like his neighbors didn't like his collection (or junk in their eyes) and were looking for away to get rid of it. Looking at a map of Flyte road, it isn't exactly in the middle of town and I would be surprised if he hadn't been there longer than most of his neighbors.
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| 59 | Perm Dude
ID: 41661813
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 14:21
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I think this is one of those local things that have festered a long time. The place *was* an eyesore, with crap all over the place. You'd be driving a curvy road through beautiful woods for a long way, and suddenly you'd see a yard full of crap.
Apparently he got a permit ten years ago to build a garage only on the property, and the next thing you know he's living there, sounded himself with junk (literally--he called himself a "junk collector").
There's always a bit of tension in this area because large sections are rural and people come here (for vacation, or to live) for solitude but most areas have zoning rules in place. Truth be told, if his stuff was farther off the road and out of site no one would have been the wiser.
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| 60 | Ref
ID: 34731299
Tue, Aug 06, 2013, 15:06
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Holy Smokes!!! Congrats PD! Just happened to see this in the list as I never go into this forum.
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| 61 | Boldwin
ID: 427211210
Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 14:50
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Do you have a tumblr account, PD?
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| 62 | Building 7
ID: 247531214
Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 15:53
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Perm Dude: Congratulations on becoming mayor. Can you give out a key to the city?
Can I get one?
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| 63 | Perm Dude
ID: 41661813
Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 16:01
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Still feeling my way around. The whole thing came together literally in just 5 days.
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| 64 | Building 7
ID: 247531214
Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 16:45
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It's usually way bigger than a regular key. In fact, it can't actually open anything.
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| 65 | Taxman
ID: 487211220
Tue, Aug 13, 2013, 01:08
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Too cool. Congrats.
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| 66 | Ref
ID: 34731299
Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 17:09
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And I thought being President of my HOA was a lot of work! I would love a key to the city!
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| 67 | Perm Dude
ID: 41661813
Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 17:24
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I hear that the keys are a real chick magnet.
In any case, it would be kind of cool to carry one along on a pub crawl.
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| 68 | Perm Dude
ID: 431013412
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 10:11
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Well, they went and did it:
Perm Dude with over 70% of the vote in Mount Pocono.
No constituents post here so there is no real gain from even mentioning the election. But you guys are, at worst, colleagues of a sort and so I can't miss the opportunity to mention how weird and wonderful it is to run across strangers who want to help you get elected. I'm sure experienced politicos deal with it more smoothly, but I genuinely have no idea how to react when people I don't know request signs, offer to make calls, or congratulate me on the street.
And I hope that feeling never leaves.
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| 69 | Pancho Villa
ID: 40610217
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 10:53
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Congrats, PD. You'll do a great job.
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| 70 | Pancho Villa
ID: 40610217
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 11:30
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You might not want to pattern your mayoral career after the mayor of Toronto.
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| 71 | Seattle Zen
ID: 3310162612
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 12:17
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Congratulations, Hizzoner!
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| 72 | Biliruben
ID: 358252515
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 12:43
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Congrats!!
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| 73 | C1-NRB
ID: 351023614
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 15:24
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Congratulations, indeed.
Now do something about the garbage collections routes. Whatever time they're coming by is either too early or too late for my liking and it's the wrong day(s). I expect results! :)
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| 74 | Khahan
Donor
ID: 39432178
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 16:32
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I'll have to look your mayors office next year on my annual family trip to great wolf lodge, PD. Congratulations.
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| 75 | Perm Dude
ID: 431013412
Wed, Nov 06, 2013, 17:16
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Please do let me know, Khahan. Great Wolf is a very nice place, and only about ten minutes up the road from me.
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| 76 | Frick
ID: 432501512
Thu, Nov 07, 2013, 13:36
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Congrats PD.
And just being Mayor doesn't make people want to help you. Being a good leader and doing the right thing do. Keep up the good work.
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| 77 | Tree
ID: 438482411
Thu, Nov 07, 2013, 16:39
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Mazel Tov!
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| 78 | sarge33rd
ID: 3871221
Sat, Nov 09, 2013, 14:00
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Gratz PD!
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