Silence Speaks Volumes

Shouldn't the good people of Independence hold people in positions of public trust to a higher standard? The city leaders have an opportunity to set it's legacy to be the best community and to have earned the respect and admiration of the entire country.

Who lives by the sword in Independence, Ohio?

As the saying goes, those who live by the sword die by the sword. Let's apply that to the political wranglings in Independence OH.

On September 25, 2009, the League of Humane Voters of OH, decided to approach all council candidates in the municipal election with specific questions pertaining to their ethical maturity. A questionnaire was sent to each candidate as well as Mayor Kurtz. The outcome was surprising, if not downright shocking. Not even one candidate responded. When one of our members called incumbent, Jim Riley, to ask whether or not he received his questionnaire, she was hung up on. When a member hand delivered the questionnaire to challenger, Mary Jane Horton, she handed it back saying, "I'm just too busy, save yourself a stamp" and handed it back. When pressed to answer whether or not she was supporting the bow hunting, her answer was yes.

What then is really so shocking about sounds of silence resonating from political pulpits? Consider the nature of the questions they were asked. Depending on how they might have responded to issues concerning animal welfare, truth be known that they could well have been left quivering in the wake of public criticism - helpless as the deer whose flank has been pierced by the arrow of a bow hunter. It seems, most of the candidates for public office in Independence support bow hunting. Small wonder that they should choose silence over responsiveness, even as they favor killing over compassion. When one lives in the shadows, how much safer it is to move even deeper into darkness, avoiding the glare of the spotlight that will reveal one's true nature.

Who lives by the sword in Independence? Every political hopeful who supports the suffering of animals and chooses silence as a weapon to ward off the glare of truth and justice. If the old saying is right, however, one day their political careers will die by the sword - split asunder by the seeds of insensitivity that they have sown.

Only weak leaders practice deceit. Consider the Bow Hunting Ordinance pushed through by councilpersons Grendel and Wisnieski as an emergency measure, behind closed doors, with no public input: [click here].

Only weak leaders cater to self-interests. Consider the 'due diligence' shown at this council meeting with no regard for public safety: [click here].

Only weak leaders practice deceit. Consider the Bow Hunting Ordinance pushed through by councilpersons Grendel and Wisnieski as an emergency measure, behind closed doors, with no public input: [click here].

Only weak leaders cater to self-interests. Consider the 'due diligence' shown at this council meeting with no regard for public safety: [click here].

A direct result of the misbegotten ordinance and council's due diligence has been a marked increase in criminal trespassing by hunters in search of deer they have wounded. Many residents have reported seeing deer staggering with arrows in them throughout the city. The trespassing is inevitable because of the lack of enforcement of the state regulation requiring permission from all property owners within 400 feet of the hunting site; again a regulation considered "too restrictive" by the council. Many states report a rise in deer/vehicle accidents during hunting season. This was borne out last year when a wounded deer ran into a vehicle on Brecksville Rd. Residents report that poaching has increased in the Hillside and Brookside areas. One resident who reported poachers found his dog poisoned soon after and then found himself harassed by Police officers for feeding birdseed to deer! Repeatedly, property rights are ignored while hunters roam our city with impunity. Is this how you want your community to function?

And only weak leaders support cruelty and abuse.

As stated by the Mahatma Gandhi, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Surely such timeless wisdom can be applied to municipal politics - even in Independence OH. Great leaders rule with courage, compassion, enlightenment and progressive thinking.

Ask your candidates how they feel about protecting the most innocent members of our community.

On the third of November,
Take time to remember
What matters most.

Ask your candidates how they feel about protecting the most innocent members of our community.

Ask your 'leaders' why they support this:

Here are your challengers:

Asseff, Hadaad, Zemba-Griffith, Horton
Kormos, Wisnieski

Here are your incumbents:

Riley, Crooks, Narduzzi
Togliatti, Piteo

And here are 3 others who are neither running nor responding:

Grendel, Klepacz
Mayor Kurtz

Contact information for certain politicians:

Name with email link	Phone
Mayor Gregory Kurtz	216.524.4131
James Piteo	216.573.4958
Jim Riley	216.328.1780
Jim Crooks	440.838.0833
Tom Narduzzi	216.642.8559
Anthony Togliotti	216.328.9253
George Klepacz	216.524.3389
Dave Grendel	216.642.0632