THE TRUTH COMES OUT

Bill Smith has met his match in higher education and suddenly became Rodney Dangerfield.

A Democrat & Chronicle article on April 29 brought an instant smile to my face.  The headline read "Smith gets no support from MCC."  Strangely, it was not the voices of progressive activists stating their opinions; it was the students and faculty of MCC.  They simply were not impressed at all with Bill Smith.  It seems the students and faculty have higher standards.

The president of MCC's Faculty Senate said the interview committees found "most of his [Smith's} answers to be wordy and he did not directly or substantially answer their questions."  Do you know what this statement describes--a slick politician and a man clearly not qualified to be a community college president.

ON A RELATED NOTE

As soon as Bill Smith became a hot topic as the presumed future president of MCC, I contacted my county legislator Steve Tucciarello with two very simply questions.  Because he was elected to represent me, I thought it was fair that he answers my questions about the MCC president search.  My two questions were:  1.  Do you believe Bill Smith is qualified to be president of MCC? and 2.  Do you believe Bill Smith is the best candidate (among the four at the time) for the presidency of MCC?

My email to Tucciarello's county legislature email address has received no acknowledgment or response.  As my representative and someone employed by me, I believe I deserve answers to my questions.  (If you're reading this Mr. Tucciarello, please email me at t.janowski_at_att.net.)


LAST, BUT NOT LEAST

Let me sadly say that Tucciarello's lack of response to my email is far too commonplace among elected officials.  Shortly after the November 2007 election, I emailed most of the local state senators and state assemblypersons, both Democrats and Republicans, about an idea I had.

With voter turnout shockingly low year after year, I wrote to our local state representatives with the idea of using those awesome new variable message/Amber alert road signs to flash reminders to vote on election day.  Not one representative has responded and it's been 6 months.  Obviously, few of those in office feel accountable to us.


Thomas R. Janowski
dfaROCHESTER

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