Charnetzky endorses Snyder for Portage mayor
PORTAGE: Streets chief says it's not 'sour grapes' over loss to Velazquez in primary
NWI Times
Sep 16, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/charnetzky-endorses-snyder-for-portage-mayor/article_3bcdf05a-09b2-5220-8c7e-7518287ca8ba.html
PORTAGE | The race for mayor here took a nasty turn Saturday as Portage Street Department Superintendent Steve Charnetzky announced his endorsement of Republican mayoral candidate James Snyder.
Charnetzky lost to Snyder's opponent Olga Velazquez in the May Democratic primary.
"Absolutely not," Charnetzky said Saturday morning outside of Snyder's headquarters when asked if his endorsement was "sour grapes" over his loss to Velazquez.
Charnetzky said he has valid reasons to support Snyder over Velazquez.
"This particular election has caused fear and uncertainty like never before amongst city employees and departments. Jim is the only candidate who will be able to bring back the unity of our city departments, which is needed to function best for our citizens," Charnetzky said.
"I do think Steve's endorsement is an issue of sour grapes," said Velazquez, contacted after the Charnetzky announcement. Velazquez said Charnetzky said openly at a Democratic meeting that he would support Velazquez in the general election if he were defeated in the primary.
Both Charnetzky and Velazquez said they met prior to Saturday's announcement. Velazquez said she asked for Charnetzky's support, but wouldn't promise him a job in her administration and hasn't made any decisions about department heads.
Charnetzky accused Velazquez of deceiving residents on campaign promises and of "retaliation" against city employees who supported him in the primary.
"She went to homes of employees and made threats to them," said Charnetzky.
"That is an out-and-out lie," Velazquez said, pointing to the Charnetzky's continued position as head of the street and sanitation department.
"Steve still has a job. His wife still has a job," she said, referring to Annie Charnetzky, who is secretary to present mayor Doug Olson.
She said Charnetzky and Snyder's campaign have been spreading rumors. She said she recently wrote a letter to street and sanitation department employees informing them of the rumors, including privatization of the department.
"I wanted them to know I never said I wanted to privatize," said Velazquez.
Charnetzky said Velazquez also has been talking about lowering taxes, but instead has raised cable, planning, Board of Zoning Appeals fees, voted to approve a fire hydrant fee which is included in resident's water bills and for the park impact fee.
"She claims to help seniors out, but she voted to double the ambulance fees," he said.
Velazquez said those aren't taxes, but user fees. The park impact fee doesn't affect present residents, but only residents building new homes in the city and are required to buy equity into the parks department, which present residents have paid for for years. She added that the decision to raise fees was the decision of the full City Council, not just her's.
"Part of leadership is making difficult decisions," said Velazquez.
No comments:
Post a Comment