Does "Truth" = Trash?

Oh the deception of campaign finance. I recently pulled the campaign finance reports for MT Schneider. On his 40-day before report, he lists a $800.00 contribution from a group titled "Citizens for Truth in Government". Hmm..just the name makes my eyes roll.

Who are these citizens? The address was O'Fallon, MO. Do St Charles County citizens have a concern about honesty in our local government?

The MEC's search functions provide the whole story. "Citizens for Truth in Government" is solely funded by Allied Waste's holding company Republic Services.

All I see is a corporation. Where are the" citizens"?

And isn't it a bit ironic, let alone disingenuous, to include "truth in government" in a group name whose sole purpose is for the trash company to hide their contributions to municipal candidates?

Reviewing "Citizens for Truth in Government" 's 40-day before election report, we see Mikey-Mike is not alone. The following is a list of Overland Candidates and the amount sent per this report.

Les Dills 02/07/2010 $400.00

Ken Owensby 02/07/2010 $400.00

Lisa Ridolfi 02/07/2010 $400.00

If the trash company wants to make campaign contributions, why don't they just be direct about it? Why hide it behind dishonesty and trickery? Then again, seeing that it is Schneider, Dills, Owensby and Ridolfi involved--the deception is not surprising.

Candidates for April 6 Election

2010 Municipal Election.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Mayor
Margaret (Peggy) Jackson
Mike Schneider

City Council
Ward 1
Rich Knode
Jerry May

Ward 2
Jeffrey (Jeff) O’Connell
Lisa Ridolfi

Ward 3
Donna Lewis
Ken Owensby

Ward 4
Lester Dills
Craig A. Handley

Overland in the News: Dumb and Dumber

Just browsing through my Journal and found two stories of interest to all you Overlanders.

First, Overland proposes a Page program for the municipal court. The story talks about how the three court employees are working 12 hours a day. That means lots of overtime, which seems a bit silly. The proposal to lighten the load is to start a Page program for area high school students. But, these kids won't just supplement their work and lessen overtime, the plan is to fire one of the court clerks in favor of these kids. The article states the court is making over $100,000 more per year in increased fines. Surely--with that kind of cash flow in the courts--we can afford to keep the 3 workers, limit or elmiminate the overtime, and institute a page program. What next, replacing the mayor with Ritenour's Student Council President? File this under DUMB.

In the Dumber category, is the not so bright Courtney Cerulo. This friend of Ann Purzner and pal to Owensby is complaining to Journal hack Buck Collier that the city is charging her for a DVD copy of a recent city council meeting. Having some experience in the world of multimedia, the prices quoted by the city are right in line with the local industry. Part of the high cost are the minimums and that only one copy is being made. Usually dozens, if not hundreds, of copies are made which spread the cost among the larger quantities. Surely, some of her ORT or COGG pals have access to Charter cable and could tape a copy for her. Like Cerulo's attacks on Cuminale that just make the prior Public Works administration look bad, this attempt to make the city appear aggregious only serves to make her look--well, not smart.

So there is the Dumb and Dumber. Surely, readers, you have some nomination for Dumbest in recent Overland news.

New Day, Same Council

Here are the election results from yesterday.

100% of precincts

Ward 1
JERRY MAY (Non) 225 63.74%
Rich Knode (Non) 128 36.26%


Ward 2

JEFFREY JEFF O'CONNELL (Non) 292 58.63%
Nancy R. Allison (Non) 206 41.37%


Ward 3

KEN OWENSBY (Non) 221 62.25%
Ted Frigillana (Non) 134 37.75%

Owensby the Pseudo-Teacher

Hmmm...still not buying it, regardless of what he cooked up on computer to show Fine Wine.

I need a little more proof than the word of someone who has been questionable in the past.

So, tell us...

What school district?

What subject?

What grade/class level?