Rutland Herald
KILLINGTON — Residents hit the polls
Tuesday to unseat a selectman and elect a new constable for possibly the last
time.
In a
battle of innkeeper versus innkeeper, Patty Mc-Grath beat incumbent Jim Haff for
a three-year seat on the Select Board. Haff, who served one term, was hardly
broken up when reached at Mogul’s Sports Pub and Restaurant in Killington.
“I’m
having a celebration party,” said Haff, owner of the Butternut Inn and Pancake
House. “I’m celebrating getting my life back. The people voted and that’s the
way America works.”
Haff,
who has exhibited volatile behavior at Select Board meetings as both
an audience member and a selectman, expressed tentative support for McGrath,
owner of the Inn at Long Trail.
“Patty
said she’ll work with everybody and let’s hope she’ll keep her promise,” Haff
said. “I’ll be there when the budget comes up again in November.”
McGrath
was also celebrating Tuesday night.
“I’m
happy. I’m looking forward to helping the town move forward,” McGrath said from
a celebration party at the Birch Ridge Inn in Killington. “Right now, I’m just
looking to change the way we do
things in Killington. I want things
to be more discussion-oriented and calmer.”
E.J.
Willis, who was also running for the Select Board seat, received 40 votes.
Willis announced she was dropping out of the race during Monday night’s public
information meeting and she encouraged residents to vote for McGrath.
“I’m
glad Patty won. She’s a great candidate.” Willis said. “I’m excited with the
prospects of the town of Killington.”
In the
other contested race, Whit Montgomery beat Mark Fiore for the two-year post of
first constable by a vote of 331-119.
“I’m
looking forward to serving the taxpayers, the second-home owners and the
business people of Killington, now and in the future,” Montgomery
said. “I’m glad the people recognized my experience, both on the job and in
life.”
Fiore
was upbeat in the face of his loss.
“Despite the outcome, I feel like I won either way,”
Fiore said.
It will
be the last time voters elect their
constable, for the time being, at least. By a vote of 281-166, voters decided to
give authority to the town to appoint constables in the future.
Vo t e
r s a p p r o v e d a m u n ic i p a l b u d g et of $5,093,080, an increase of
$252,168, or 5 percent, compared to the current budget of $4,840,912.
“I think it’s a strong budget that will
allow the town to move forward and I look forward to working with the Select
Board to make that happen,” said Town Manager Seth Webb.
Comment: I
sure hope Patty moves the town forward. Instead of backward to when the town
was put into debt we’re still paying off because of the influence of the very
businesses who backed her. I don’t know what she means by “wanting things more
discussion oriented” as she complained that the meetings were too long in recent
years.
But, no more sour grapes. She won and we’re going to have to live with the
consequences for at least two years as Bernie’s seat is the next up for
re-election and we’ll have a chamber slanted board for that time.
I know it’s a difficult thing to consider in the face of defeat but now
more than ever we need a presence at the Select Board meetings.
2 comments:
I wonder why Josh O'Gorman reported on this election, when Cristina Kumka is the Rutland Herald staff member who regularly attends the Select Board meetings. In this article Mr. O'Gorman says, "Haff, who has exhibited volatile behavior at Select Board meetings as both an audience member and a selectman,..." I find the use of the word "volatile" to be excessive and misleading. Here are some definitions of volatile: Unstable and potentially dangerous; Apt to become suddenly violent or dangerous; Tending or threatening to break out into open violence; Explosive.
Mr. O'Gorman used the word "inflammatory" in his report on the Candidates' Forum the week before the election. Definitions of inflammatory: Rousing or likely to rouse excitement, anger, violence, rioting, etc.; Provocative: liable to arouse strong emotions, especially anger.
I attend many Select Board meetings. I would never use the words volatile or inflammatory to describe Jim Haff's behavior. The word I would use is passionate. Jim was there to do a job and he did it well.
I sincerely hope that Mr. O'Gorman's unfair characterization of Jim Haff did not cost Jim votes. Journalists are supposed to be unbiased.
Linda,
Cristina left the Herald a while ago. I agree with you his reporting is really slanted and he’s more than likely reporting hearsay as he has not been around long enough to witness any objectionable behavior on Jim’s part. Yellow journalism surely.
Vito
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