Editor’s note: A previous version of this letter incorrectly spelled Mali Hinesley. The letter has been corrected.
Ok, so this is just what I hate about party politics: The silly season has begun.
By that I mean the election/politics cycle in Coronado. I read with dismay the article in The Coronado News about the ethics complaint Mali Hinesley filed against Mayor John Duncan titled, “Community activist raises ethical questions about mayor’s support for his wife.”
Now is about when the local political parties start scheming and throwing mud at each other’s candidates to ‘win’ the local vote.
I hope we as constituents are smarter than either party’s attack tactics. We are still a small enough community to actually know something about the public service and community commitment of each of our local mayor and council members. Base your vote on that please, not the headline mud-slinging accusations that have now begun.
So let me get this straight: Ms. Hinesley (who is a Democratic Party player) strikes out at Mayor Duncan and she files an ethics complaint against him. (He is a Republican). She accuses him of alleged ethics egregiousness for actually supporting his wife, Peggy, who is running for the local school board. Where is the conflict of interest in that? I don’t know Mrs. Duncan personally, but I think her husband has a right to say publicly whether he supports her or not. And, oh yeah, maybe even Peggy had the temerity to stand up in support of public grant funds for the FOCUS nonprofit in town at a City Council meeting?
(Last time I checked, the FOCUS nonprofit organization has done a lot of good for this town…)
Well, it is rather apparent the Democrats are maybe going after seated Mayor Duncan and also maybe Council member Steward (who is neither a Republican nor a Democrat) as an election issue to benefit ‘wannabe’ Council member and mayor Democrat-slated candidates who will no doubt appear soon on the horizon.
(Ok Democrats, it’s not all on you. In my mind the Republican Party itself does not hold claim to any great ethical high ground either.)
But I will say this: Mayor Duncan is, in my opinion, one of the most ethical politicians I’ve ever met. If his wife wants to stand up in public comment and support the FOCUS non-profit group in a City Council meeting, then I say that is what free speech is all about. In my opinion it is no reason for Mayor Duncan to recuse himself in that vote.
So, get over it Ms. Hinesley.
This is a small town, and we respect each other’s right to an opinion especially if it is freely and openly expressed in public. I also agree with Mayor Duncan that he does not need to divorce himself from his relationship with his wife to be able to say he supports her either. Yay, freedom of speech.
In conclusion, I ask that you please use your common sense in looking at these political attacks. Don’t let them play politics with your vote. We know who our mayor and council members are and what they do for this community.
Look at the record of their service in public office, then vote when the time comes accordingly.
Tina Christiansen is a Coronado resident.
