THIS COMMENT PROVOKES AND WARRANTS A DEBATE. HAVE AT IT.
The real issue is not about sin or other claims, it is about personal leadership and the demand by Ms Martin for such. One that aspires to a positon of leadership in our community, does not need to invoke a false claim of casting the sin word about, they lead by doing the right and proper things. The issue brought up by others who felt uncomfortable by politics in church are right to express what they felt. If Ms Martin were the leader she says she is, she would not intrude into the sabath with her poliotical demands and agents. This is but another issue that shows how little Ms Martin understands about Suffolk and the people who have lived here.
I was at first inclined to support her over Mr. Duman, but her actions and stratagies to gain office have shown her to be nothing less than a "carpet bagger" with all the negatives that term brings forth. I too do not want to see my church over-run by those who would champion a candidate, over observation of the little time we set aside to attend church.
So in response to the unkind and surley statements comments of note, get a life and attend church for what it is supposed to be for, not what your political agenda demands. You do your candiate no good on both counts. Attending my church and then demanding that you were right to intrude for your political need!
49 comments:
Very well written. I not only agree with your sentiments but also wish I could have expressed them as well as you have.
I left my own local church for the same kind of political activism. The Catholic Church likes to refer to it using the focus group tested term "social justice" but it's socialism and wealth redistribution under the power of big goverenment any way you look at it. And it enslaves millions to a life of lesser productivity, lower expectations, and lifetime class warfare, topped with helpings of envy, greed, and hatred of anyone else who worked hard and ended up with more. Keep the politics out of churches people and don't trust ANYONE not smart enough to figure out why it's so wrong to mix politics and pews!
Very well said and it defines all that is wrong with these local elections. I must say I am disapointed in Mrs Martin not to know better than to let this happen. Yes, I do know that some do this, but that does not make it right or wise. I can only hope that this little knock on Mrs Martin's door concerning what is right, will make a mark on her further actions.
Caroline Martin is a good woman that has done so very much for her community that she would make a great councilwoman. We need her wit and charm to counter the dry and bambasticly dry outlook from Mayor Johnson all the time. Mayor Johnson has been the very worst of Mayors in our city since its founding. Our last real mayor was Mayor Dana Dickens who lead the city with honesty and style that has yet to be bested. He even knew how to throw-out those who abuse the system, as he did one night ehn a heckler got to much.
I hope that all these hard and vile comments about Caroline can be put into perspective and people can see here for whom she really is. A kind and warm person of unlimited hope for our little hamlet. She has done a great job guiding the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and her other community positions. She is a good woman that deserves better than the vile comments found here. That is why she will not comment here on this complaining and sorry site that has so much to say about her. I do not wish Mr. Mike Duman any harm, but he is not up to the levels of achomplishment that Caroline Martin has attained. She should be our next councilwoman and in two years hence, our new Mayor.
@Anon 8:31 -
So is Caroline running for Mayor or City Council? If she plans on running for mayor in two years, she would be doing a disservice to the citizens of the Chuckatuck Borough by serving for about a year, and then gearing up for another campaign.
If she wins, can we expect more Dana Dickens? You know, with City Council retreats out of town, with expensive meal and hotel bills for city staff and council members? Can we expect Northern Suffolk to again grow recklessly without a point? Will the city spend more on the SCCA?
Do you remember the dark days of the Dickens/Herbert administration?
Say what you want about the current council, but at least they have tried to direct the growth toward the defense industry. At least they have tried to make the growth meaningful and somewhat controlled.
The out-of-control growth in North Suffolk began with Dickens and continued under Ralph. Caroline wants to start this up again.
Before you know it, downtown will look like Franklin and North Suffolk will be like Greenbrier.
We don't want more of Dana Dickens because when he didn't get his way, he quit. If she is allying herself with that kind of leadership, then Duman is the better choice.
Please check what some people are smoking. Hiring Mrs Martin for council would be a terrible mistake. Some have already said it better than I can but she is an elitest that is incpable of walking past a mirror as she is to involved with herself.
Duamn is a regular guy that will be the best pick on council. He is humble and capable of being a good councelor. I support him over the fluff and stuff.
Did I hear correctly that Caroline Martin was accepting an advisory position with the Hampton Roads Partnership directed by former mayor and now CEO Dana Dickens. I see in anon 8:31 that a strong supporter of Martin dislikes both our Mayor Johnson and Dana Dickens. Does Caroline feel that way? Maybe she just needs to feel important as a Council member until she finds an even loftier goal to shoot at. For now it appears she just wants to muzzle our Mayor. Is it important to also note that Doug Naismith has endorsed Caroline, treasurer of the SCCA. That would make me leery of her in any city position. I’ll stay with Duman.
I don't know if Mr. Naismith supports Martin or not, but it would be logical since he was paid for several months last year to be the director of the SCCA by the SCCA officials, and Mrs Martin (in spite of her selective memory on this point) is the Treasurer of that organization.
This Martin campaign is very distatesful and reeks of conflicts and may be the first in Suffolk's history where even "church goers" have been attacked for not backing a candidate.
Ah, ah, ah 11:29 that was a violation of rpock rule #1:
"When a comment is rejected there is good reason for doing so. Too often there are unsubstantiated statements of "fact" that could be misunderstood. To indicate that one knows what another person will say or do, or believes, is foolish if based on conjecture. If the person commenting includes an e-mail address we (IS) can double check."
Your comment was not rejected indicating a very slight bias on the part of the IS administrator for Mr. Duman. After the election there will another excuse for rejecting comments.
I also agree that Duamn is my pick. Mike is a nice fellow that will simply do the right things on council. He is not beholden to anyone and will work for the people.
Ms Martin seems to have her focus on other paths and as such may not be a very good pick. I am concerned that she does not support anything but the failed past with Dana Dickens. This guy about destroyed our town and we all know that. I understand from many neighbors that she is closely aligned with Mr Dickens and that is reason enough not to support her run for the job on City Council. She may have a good resume, but that is not all it takes to get the vote. You need to have good character and the ingrained will to support the people's needs. It does not look that, that is how she would conduct herself with Mr Dickens calling the shots behnid the curtins. I also think she is trying to neddle the Mayor as a major point of running. We do not need that either as the Mayor has done a very good job keeping us out of the ditch. Remember how Mr Dickens hide the facts and allowed our Kings Highway Bridge to be closed, to satisfy a vocal minority that did not want the traffic? How is that for bad government?
My vote is for Mr Duman and good government in Suffolk.
I received a mailer from the Martin campaign and yes, Doug Naismith is endorsing her.
I am not connected with IS or Mr. Pocklington, although I strongly admire what I have heard about his family and especially admire his service to our country and now our community.
That said, I think Mrs. Martin's thinly disguised pit bulls should stop adding IS and Mr. Pocklington to their list of "uneducated rednecks and hypocritical church goers" if the bulls even suspect or are paranoid about fear that someone will vote for Mr. Duman, whom they have also added to their huge list of enemies and traitors to the "elite" people who know what's best for Suffolk and is "culture."
A good question to ask is why there are so few recommendations of Mrs. Martin from professionals with whom she has worked before. These people seem in most cases only to remember the word "elite" when describing her.
ANON 11:54
Doug Naismith endorsed Ms.Martin on her mail piece last week. Picture and all.
I just found this site on my Suffolk election search and really, really like it. I don't know the candidates well but reading all what's been said about Ms. Martin and her ways including going to church and all, makes Mike Duman look more like a saint (Maronite Catholic I hope). I don't like the Suffolk Cultural Arts spending, fairgrounds and Housing Authority people at all and her knowing the mayor and having her elite friends and family help her get elected. She should not running and giving out handouts at the P-nut festival. That's for families to enjor not play politics. I don't even like her signs with her leaning back with a red, white and blue background and smiling like she's friendly and important and all that. She likes to starts cat fights and sends out her hit men to do her dirty work and what does she know about doing business or even about her 44 years in Suffolk. She's not one of us like Mike is. Worse of all she is backed up by the rich Republicans and they have no interest in keeping us safe at home from the others less fortunate. This November when we Democrats vote mine goes to Mike Duman. I even like his commercials with the cute little traffic girl from Channel 3 news. Yes sir, the car man, is my man!
I attend my church to spend a few momoents with my family and to reflect on being a better person and I wish more would do likewise. I feel as if I am in the company of family and do not appreciate the intursion by those demanding notice for a political campaign. There is enough of that in normal everyday life, so please leave my church time alone and I might consider voting for you. If not, you do so at your own political peril.
Pocklington, you are right, this is a good comment that we all need to talk on and I thank you for your insite. Good job my good man.
Can anyone say truthfully that Martin is actually asking her suppoters even its only one or 500 or more to "campagin" in a church service? How can Martin be accused of this because some numbskull decides to act cross the line? Can anyone actually provide proof? Or could Duman be behind this? I would hope not just as I hope that Martin isnt behind it.Maybe the mayor could be involved. Maybe it was one of supporters who under instructions from her put the politicl sign on public property. You and I don't know know one way or the other. If there is proof it was planned by Martin, lets see some evidence. God Bless
I am proud we have someone who's name is all over the area running for my borough. Mike Duman's name is on the back of more cars than President Obama's. He runs a tight business and is even more tight about spending. He even has time to spare to sit on the economic authority to help other struggling businesses succeed. He understands our city's problems and will make sure they are fixed right like the city hall building. He leads his people at work and will lead Suffolk council to do better and not make us pay more. What a friend we have in Mike Duman and how lucky we are to have him onour side.
Mike Duman is like John Brown willing to make sacrifices to help the poor folks live a better life. How I prayed we have someone like him to turn the city council around. He is a good man with a head on his shoulders, two arms to write the wrongs and two legs to get around and see for himself. He drives a regular car like the rest of us, not like the BMW and Mercedes like the others,like the mayor and city manager drive. When I drive I am so proud to see his name. We have a champion in Mike Duman and maybe after we elct him our side of the city will change for the better and away from the hands of the elite people living in expensive private neighborhoods. Since the bridge was lost living in Chuckatuck has been hard to get around to work, schools and church, I hope the Du-man can understand how we think.
I have read the post and all the comments and am still in the dark about what it is that Mrs. Martin did that has everyone ranting. Can someone enlighten me.
I find Msr Martin's supporters askin gto prove the impossible and proposing all sorts of conspiricies by the Mayor and others to what she should be controling. If Mrs Martin cannot manage her own campaign, how can she be a leader in our city? Seems like some want to give her a pass, everytime she makes a gaff like the campaigning in church thing.
I say that it is best to keep it simple and honest. Mr Duamn is my candidate and that is even more the case after seeing just a few manners that Mrs Martin does things.
Go MIKE!
When I think about Mike Duman being elected I get so excited I have to change my depends. Its like standing in front of a dollar slot when it pays out or getting a $100 scratcher at the 7Eleven. As I go through the television stations between Oprah and The View, I look for his commercials and cheer for him. I'm not crazy about Monday night football but Mike even has commercials there. I know he will work hard for us on the city council and we won't pay taxes like before and our schools will have more to give away to our kids. He's a clever man that has people around hiom that know alot more than just cars too. Having Mike Duman as my council man is like winning the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes but without the baloons and the cameras.
I think your "why blame Martin" inquiry is disengenuous. First, at the end of today's IS listings is one showing HER INFORMATION as to qualifications, experience. What more did you want this listing to do for her?
Then, if you read the over-90 comments posted today as of when I'm writing this, most are negative about her and range fron allegations of arrogance to "elitism" and almost 100% refusal to respond to inquiries (compare this to Mr. Martin who has been more open than any recent candidate).Additionally, questions of conflict of interest have been ignored by Mrs. Martin.
The pattern has been simple and consistent: A pit bull supporter or someone very close to Mrs. Martin launches an attack (e.g., the city "favored" the "used car salesman" by allowing him to have a customer highway access to his business; the church goers who didn't endorse unexpected and new Martin supporters during their church service were "hypocrits") only to have the other pit bulls immediately challenge everyone to "prove" with absolute certainty that Mrs. Martin knew what these "misguided" and overly zealous pit bulls had done to help her or to "prove" that her silence in condemning them resulted from anything other than ignorance of what had been said or done on her behalf.
The question is whether we need a council member who feigns naivity and ignorance of what's being instigated by the "unknowns" who seem to defend her anonymously with language one viewer her referred to as just repeating her "stump speech," ommissions about the SCCA and SRHA all included.
There is the possibility that she still has friends she hasn't used yet, but hopefully they will at least use facts and explanations to defend her rather than broadcasting that she shouldn't be held accountable because of lack of "proof" that she knows what's going on around her.
Oh yes, it looks as if Duman has a Chris My leg tingles Matthews supporter. And yes, he is so clever his connections are a part of the city from other politicans and they can be found in other offices in the city as well.I have only seen one candidate who has a backbone, who questions, who appears to be the best person that Suffolk needs.Its a shame that Varney isnt running for the seat that Martin and Duman are seeking. If he was and they were to debate Duman would be crushed like a car in a junk yard and Martin would try and seek a hiding place on he other side of he KHB..sarc
Where in the world did the Varney stuff come from? While I don't doubt that he would make a good candidate, but one that will lose to big Jeffery Gardy, he has nothing to do with this thread. Seems like a sprout that has no where to go.
In this race we are talking of, I agree with the overwhelming majority that Mike Duman is the man to put on council. Caroline Martin seems to lack the support necessary to get anything done, muchless get elected.
Voting for Mike Duman gives me goose bumps all over. He gives me hope for change and the belief that a used car salesman can rise to city council man. His business knowledge will get back all those jobs lost and help start new ones for our kids leaving school this year. They will need jobs, lots of jobs, and Mike will get them work.
Everywhere I look I see his signs on the back of cars, on television and on the roads. He even has the most support from the media. Thats should be reason enough to know he has themoney and support to be our next leader. I don't know Martin but she isn't from around King's Fork. She's from the the rich area up by the James River. Mike doesn't have a big river behind his small little house. Let's do the right thing and help Suffolk get back on the road to recovery with the Du-man!
a friend of mine just let me in on this blog. what a purge of information about the candidates from chuckatuck. this is like the movie the crucible, when does the witch burning begin?
While there do seem to be some comments here that are harsh, I still have no theard what Mrs Martin's stand is on the issues. What does she think about making local government more open. Does she agree we need a FOIA and communications department that costs over $500,000 a year in salaries? Does she believe that there are no other areas of efficencies to save mor etax dollars in th eupcoming budget? If so, what would she cut and where? Would she cut the funding for do nothing groups like the Hampton Roads Partnership? What does she think about our present economic development efforts and how can we do more with JIFFYCOM closing? What does she think we sould do with the Suffolk Airport now that the othe airport near town is being expanded? What is her position on buying water from Norfolk under the new contract?
So many questions, so few answers and statements.
Non 2:13
Are you asking Duman these same questions?
The Du-man has already answered enough questions here on the blog. If you want to reach him you know where to find him. Do not annoy him with questions like city employee spending, the airports, HRP and economic growth. He will answer the tough ones that the others on council are reluctant to address.
I am the great a powerful Du-man speaking to you like other comments recently, in the third person tense. Pay no attention to the man hiding behind the curtains, the Du-man knows what's best. Now Go!
The candidates' job is to develop planks and platforms, seek out the constituents, and deliver the message. If the constituents are sitting in pews, and a pastor, a vestry or elders, and the parishioners themselves allow (invite?) the candidate to speak, then perhaps this is OK. Perhaps a church or temple is the best venue for the citizen who doesn't make it out to the Ruritan fish fry or Rotary oyster roast because holding down two jobs and raising a family leaves little time for these kinds of social diversions. Perhaps the willingness to seek out and address the citizen whenever/wherever the citizen wishes is a good trait that we should expect (demand?) from our elected officials. Serving the citizens as the citizens wish to be served is (in this Chuckatuck voter's opinion) a good thing.
Concerns regarding separation of church and state are misplaced in this instance. Any attempt at undue control or influence over a place of worship by an elected official should generate criticism and a recall vote.
If a candidate (one) stands in front of a congregation (dozens, perhaps hundreds) and delivers an unwelcome message, the candidate would most likely be shown the door and we would most likely have heard about it.
anon 9;15
You were asking specidic question of Martin. My question was will you be asking him the same questions of Duman either here or by direct contact. But then again why would you ask questions of Martin and not Duman. It makes no diffrence even to ask her. You going with Duman and that is your choice.
I wonder if your readers realize that virtually each one of the pro-Martin comments you have allowed to be posted has been an attack back on whomever asked any question of Mrs. Martin and/or a denial that she was aware of (or could be "proven" to be aware of) the dirty tricks and innuendos being used by her supporters.
While it is possible that this lady who can't even remember her past civic entanglements may simply be delusional ala Joan of Arc, it appears she is just wallowing and walking barefooted in her self created pig sty while bragging of and believing she is walking on water.
Why won't the Duman supporters resort to some of the tactics being used against them as they are challenged to "prove" Mts. Martin knows what her supporters are doing/saying?
Can she "prove" she wasn't born on the Moon? Can she "prove" she wasn't responsible for some of the fiscal uncertainty st the Cultural Arts Center since she is whispered by her supporters to be the "voice" of "culture" in Suffolk. Can she think of a word that rhymes with "orange?"
Two of these three may be silly, but no more than the allegations that Mrs. Martin is free of the dirty tricks pulled or attempted in her name unless Mr. Duman can "prove" otherwise.
I'm so proud to support Mike Duman I put one of his stickers on the back of my Scooter wheelchair and on the sides I have two of his big blue signs. The next time I'm rolling down to the 7-Eleven in Chuckatuck for a smoke I think about running over that smiling pickture of Martin, then back up and roll over her again. It won't be easy in my condition and I hope the wheels don't sink down to deep but I'm going to do it anyway. If you see me sunk in the ditch call Mike to pull me out. When other won't, the Du-man can.
On Sunday I prayed for this election to be over soon, like Tuesday. Then we can go ahead in our lives knowing the city is in goods hands with Mike Duman. I know he can't do anything until he's sworn in and all that, but in the end he will make a fine leader that we can like and respect. My neighbors and I would like to visit him wih our wish list. The first is to turn the mayor around she's only interested in people living along the river. Over here we can get over to the other side by Driver because there's no more bridge in Chuckatuck. The second is to cut our taxes, last week I got my notice in the mail and had to change my clothes again in a hurry. The next is somebody has got to get our kids back to work. They are running wild with no place to go but get into mischief or worse. I'm routine for you Mike to do us right.
Cant you just feel the love and the tolerance of the anti Martin folks?
I am quite dismayed at the forocity of the negative comments placed here by those who think they are speaking for Mrs. Martin. They may think thye are doing her a foavor, but they are only hurting her caue with those of us that might have voted for her, with such venimous and vile comments about Mr. Duman. I would like to see a stronger candidate than Mr. Duman, but it seems clear that he is the more honest and sincere candidate. My wife and I will vote for this fine man and much of that claim can be laid at the feet of those who purport to represent Mrs. Martin, because we are discussed by your petty and smug comments that show her camp undeserving of our consideration.
Suffolk Voters
My Scooter wasn't working this morning and it was raining anyway so some friends and I went downtown to have breakfast and do a little good book reading. Right in the middle of Revelations I got my order of pancakes. I didn't pay much attention and poured a little syrup. Then I looked down and there in front of me was the image of Mike Duman with the syrup as his mustache and chocolate chips and whipped creme for his hair. My firends looked but didn't see him until I turned the plate around and showed them. It must be a messaeg or something, I don't know exactly why but I do know I have the right man to vote for in November.
I was at the same restaurant and saw Mrs. Martin fly through the air on a broom.
For the love of Mike, what's next reading the entrails of some poor animal, bumps on the head or tea leaves. If you want to meet the real Duman go to his showroom make him a low ball offer and see what happens. Theater is alive and well in Suffolk.
Not sure about the broom, but I know some other lies to tell too.
Mrs. Martin is just not the right candidate, no matter what her supporters say. We have enough elite persons in charge and do not need one more. Mr. Duman is just the right pick for these hard and dificult times.
You have my humble support Mike.
I also agree and so does others with me as we was driving through town and saw Ms. Martin fly on a broom. She has vexed us all with her religious fanaticism, zealous protection of the SCCA, housing authority and liberal free clinic healthcare socialism. She has even overwhelmed the will of the Suffolk GOP to endorse her. She will stop at nothing now to control even the most simple of minds found here. One man has the strength and concsious ability to stand up to her bewitching power and that is Mike Duman. What did we do to deserve the mercurial power of this humble car salesman from Chuckatuck. Please save us.
Hopefully next week Suffolk will be filled with Judy Garland and the munchkins running around town singing, "Ding, dong, the witched witch is gone."
In all seriousness, this needs to end, including her last minute effort to paint Martin supporters as delusional, blue collar hicks. The only true delusional problem here is Mrs. Martin's confusing haughtiness and pomposity for delusions of her own adequacy. No amount of yelling can turn chicken manure into chicken salad, and Mrs Martin has created enough entanglements as the new "boss lady" of the Cultural Arts Center alone to justify her spending the next four years on just fixing this problem and unwanted monster our citizens are having to fund as the programs and lack of any reasonable ticket sales appear to be tanking our new "Martin's Folly" at the SCCA.
Is the car guy a contributor and supporter of he SCCA? If so will that change your vote? No! So why the fuss about Martin's support and activity with the SCCA? When the new council is seated and the car guy is in the seat and he votes for funding, then what?
I think the criticism about SCCA problems isn't against Mike, even though I suspect he and his family have been major supporters of the SCCA and related programs in our community.
The fact remains however that he did not at first "forget" to list being the SCCA chief financial officer on the SCAA Board in some releases while playing prima donna to the more "elite" of her compatriots.
Hopefully, the SCAA will improve financially, but this season and all the less known programs (is any refund being made of the City $450,000 annual contribution?) will make it difficult for the "free cocktail party and culture" group Mrs. Martin heads to continue giving free reign to Mrs. Martin and her annual requests for more money to serve fewer and fewer citizens with less professional performances.
With all these comments, where is Martin? Looks like she has no manner to respond and in fact what is claimed here on IS. A do nothing that wants position.
Given the conduct of Mrs. Martin and her hounds, they do need to be in Church. This was a nasty election and much the worst with her in it. Time to hold them accountable.
Yes it was nasty. The letters that were sent out proved that even more and Suffolk still remains at the status quo level
True, the letters highlight what is wrong with how things are done is suffolk. Time to change this by not voting for those politicos who divide and tell untruths to sew division and fraud and voting for real people. That makes it bleak for those who will do anything for power and position. This could start with a recall of Gardy and others.
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