Herald Leaders Delusional Analysis of the Water Company Vote

If you read Andy Mead's analysis of the water vote in the Herald Leader today, you'll be reminded a lot of the kinds of statements that Teresa Isaac has made over the last four years -- statements that have no connection to reality.

The article insinuates that voters' attitudes about the Herald Leader's condemnation push have changed over the past year, and that those changing attitudes led to an overwhelming, lopsided vote for "No" on the eminent domain issue. For example, he brings up the storm drain deaths and the fact that the referendum was this year rather than last year. He speculates that "The one-year delay produced a radically different campaign, and perhaps a different outcome."

What Mead fails to mention, which shows a clear pro-condemnation bias, is that Lexington voters in 2004 clearly expressed their "No" opinion on the water company takeover by throwing out a number of Herald-Leader sponsored, pro-government-condemnation, city council incumbents.

When will the Herald Leader realize that their values are not the mainstream values of this community?

Herald Leader Feature on Newberry Campaign Manager

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15992620.htm

The Herald Leader has a nice profile on Shaye Rabold, a former UK Martin School student who was the campaign manager of Jim Newberry's campaign. The newspaper notes that "Newberry's victory has thrust Rabold into the spotlight, catapulting her from a little-known, first-time campaign manager to a rising name on Kentucky's political scene."

I agree. Rabold worked very hard during the campaign to build bridges with voters of varied political philosophies. Of course, I noted all of this a few days ago in my blog on the reasons why Newberry won by such a large margin.

Rebuke of Teresa Isaac & Lexington Herald Leader

On an election night that was decidedly positive for liberals and Democrats, Lexington voters thankfully chose a more moderate direction. Within minutes of the polls closing in Lexington, LEX-18 called the mayoral race for challenger Jim Newberry. He trounced Mayor Isaac by a 63%-37% margin. You would have thought that he was the incumbent. I think yesterday's vote shows that virtually all Farmer & Martin voters in the May primary crossed over to Newberry. That crossover shows just how little influence Bill Farmer's endorsement of Teresa Isaac had on this race. Farmer's political career is finished.

Newberry's not a conservative by any means, but he's certainly not the crazy liberal that Teresa Isaac is. Newberry voted no on the water company issue and opposed -- as many did -- Teresa Isaac's weird suggestion to take over Lexington Mall. Hopefully he won't become a tax & spender over the next 4 years.

Why did Newberry win so convincingly? First, it didn't hurt that everyone was sick of Teresa Isaac. She continously made statements that were at odds with reality and was arrogant about her own performance. The reason I started this blog back in March was because Newberry & Farmer were sniping at each other, but no one was talking about Isaac's record. Second, Newberry ran a very smart campaign. His campaign team, headed by Shaye Rabold, reached out to Farmer & Martin voters and listened to their concerns. Mayor Isaac basically catered to the 51% who elected her four years ago, and ignored everyone else. Third, Newberry is a good candidate in his own right. I think he'll do a good job.

Voters rejected the forcible takeover of a well functioning private water company by almost equally large of a margin - 61% to 39%. The Herald Leader editorial today "Water Under the Bridge" claims a distrust of city hall and money spent by Kentucky American Water defeated the takeover attempt. They go on to portray the fight as one between a big money, for-profit corporation and a grass-roots movement. Huh? The Herald Leader and some liberals invented the water company takeover issue a number of years ago. Then the editorial board kept hammering away. Voters said no two years ago when they threw out a number of incumbents on the city council, including Gloria Martin in my own district. The Herald Leader persisted in pushing the issue, and endorsed a "Yes" vote on the ballot. The lopsided vote yesterday is a huge rebuke to the lopsided, unbalanced, liberal Herald Leader newspaper. Today's editorial doesn't mention anything about that. I wonder if the editorial board at the Herald Leader gets it - they don't speak for this community.

Last-minute desperation

Three desperate candidates: Teresa Isaac, Jamie Millard & Justin Dobbs

The Herald Leader (http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/15947437.htm) reports that Teresa Isaac officially opened the Veterans Park fire station yesterday, even though it most likely won't be operational until the first week of December.

Isaac was campaigning door-to-door in Cumberland Hill (my neighborhood) last Friday. The signs in Cumberland Hill are overwhelmingly pro-Newberry, and in the May primary, Teresa Isaac did very poorly in our precinct.

Another desperate candidate is Jamie Millard, who is running for city council. He doesn't have a shot of winning, and even the liberal Lexington Herald Leader endorsed his opponent, incumbent Ed Lane. When I voted at Veterans Park Elementary school early this morning, I saw the following sign on the school property -- at the top of this post -- no more than 25 feet away from the voting booths. Folks, thats a big no-no! Don't you think you'd see all the candidates posting their signs if this were allowed? Not a good start to the day for Jamie Millard.

Note that I didn't take down Millard's sign, but I did take a picture of it with my camera-phone ...

One candidate for city council - Justin Dobbs - seems to be in some trouble for doing just that to his opponent, KC Crosbie. Jillian Ogawa and Cassondra Kirby report in their blog (http://polwatchers.typepad.com/pol_watchers/2006/11/dobbs_accused_o.html ) that District 7 Urban County Council candidate Justin Dobbs could face a third-degree criminal mischief charge for pulling campaign signs belonging to opponent K.C. Crosbie. From what I understand, Dobbs has no shot of winning, but this is as classless at it comes. What scum. Dobbs was the genius who was behind raising your taxes with the inefficient LexTran tax.

Teresa Isaac, Plagiarism & A++

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ... http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/politics/15870622.htm
Posted on Sat, Oct. 28, 2006

ISAAC CAMPAIGN AND PLAGIARISM
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

An opinion piece submitted by Mayor Teresa Isaac's re-election campaign was plagiarized, Business Lexington told its readers yesterday in an editor's note on its Web site. The letter in question, titled "Everyone pays, few benefit from Newberry's education subsidy," was published under the name of Ralph Brown on Oct. 20. It was actually written by Doug Alexander, a Lexington-based public relations consultant, for Urban County Councilman Bill Farmer Jr.'s mayoral run, wrote Tom Martin, Business Lexington's editor. The letter was "submitted to Business Lexington without Alexander's knowledge or permission," Martin wrote.

[...]

Susan Hammond, Isaac's campaign manager, says the letter was ghost-written, not plagiarized. "Ghost-writing has been an honorable profession used by honorable people like John F. Kennedy over the years," she said.
[...]

The letter criticizes mayoral candidate Jim Newberry's proposal for the city to provide scholarships for high school graduates majoring in science, math, technology or engineering, or in teaching those subjects.

[...]

Brown, who yesterday said he wasn't sure what kind of publication Business Lexington is, said the Isaac campaign called and asked if he would submit the letter.

[...]

Newberry's campaign manager, Shaye Rabold, said this is another example of Isaac's lack of original ideas. "All campaigns should be about discussing, in an open way, the issues that matter to people," Rabold said. "And when people speak, you expect them to be doing so truthfully. Any kind of perception that something has been done to mislead people is just sad, disappointing and inappropriate. There's really no place for it in civic discourse."

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I guess my take is the same as Rabold's. Can't Isaac come up with her own ideas? Her campaign web site has barely been updated in the last 3 months. Why is she using the ideas from Bill Farmer's failed candidacy? You can see editor Tom Martin's clarification of this issue at http://www.bizlex.com/story.php?id=155 . You can see the original, plagiarized letter here: http://www.bizlex.com/story.php?id=140. Why the A++ in the title? Teresa Isaac likes to grade herself. She's pretty generous, giving herself an A+ or A++ for her performance. I don't know any teachers who would give an A+ for plagiarism.

Teresa Isaac's Meltdown

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15742251.htm

Posted on Thu, Oct. 12, 2006
Isaac accuses Scanlon of trying to buy mayor’s seat for Newberry
By Sarah Vos and Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS

[...]

Isaac said Scanlon couldn’t get elected mayor himself, so he was trying to buy the election for Newberry.

[...]

Newberry’s campaign manager said after the debate that the attack was desperate and false.
“The reality is she has absolutely nothing to say about the future of this community,” Shaye Rabold said. “And her choice of words is highly inappropriate, especially in front of a group of high school students.”

[...]

Scanlon said that he and Newberry have known each other for about 10 years through their wives and their affiliations with Georgetown College. He is financially supporting Newberry, but he is not an advisor and is not active in Newberry’s campaign, Scanlon said.

[...]

After the debate, Isaac revisited the issue of Lexington Mall. Two weeks ago, at another candidate forum, she said the city should use eminent domain to take control of the property and turn it into softball fields.

Thursday, Isaac said she “absolutely” did not support using eminent domain to get control of the property.

[...]

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I'm not sure that this election was ever truly a contest, given Teresa Isaac's weak showing in the May primary, but this race is over. Get prepared for Mayor Newberry.

Her comments about eminent domain are amusing. Even Teresa Isaac disagrees with Teresa Isaac! I wonder how Bill Farmer feels, having endorsed the wrong candidate.

Kentucky Progress: Lexington Jail Scandal Update

Kentucky Progress: Lexington Jail Scandal Update

My friend at Kentucky Progress, David Adams, has a new post about the conditions at the Lexington jail and how Mayor Isaac's comments about the situation seem to deviate from reality. Its a good read, as is David's blog.

Mayor's Budget Priorities -- Not Tax Relief

Snippets from Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/15673264.htm

Posted on Wed, Oct. 04, 2006
Mayor proposes $7.3 million for storm water projects, pay
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Mayor Teresa Isaac wants to spend $7.3 million of the city's budget surplus on storm water projects and pay equity for city employees.

[...]

Much of that surplus is already earmarked, but Isaac wants to use all of the $7.3 million that will be available on what some consider to be a last-minute attempt to curry favor with voters before the Nov. 7 election. Isaac will square off against challenger Jim Newberry.

Isaac's spending recommendation is clearly an attempt to sway voters, said Councilman Kevin Stinnett.

[...]

Councilman Dick DeCamp said it's the nature of things for Isaac to recommend that the money be spent in a way that could benefit her re-election run. "There's a lot of election posturing around the whole council. It's election time. ... We're all politicians."

[...]

Isaac's spending list doesn't take into account any appropriation requests from council members or any other departments in government.

[...]

After a mayoral campaign forum last night, Isaac declined to answer questions about whether her surplus spending recommendations were politically motivated. She referred questions to her press secretary, who did not return a phone call late last night.

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Is there any question that Isaac's budget is politically motivated?

Is Davis Right About Mayoral Leadership?

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/living/15673269.htm

Posted on Thu, Oct. 05, 2006
COMMENTARY
Mayoral race lacks leadership
By Merlene Davis
Herald-Leader Columnist

[...]

Mayor Teresa Isaac and her opponent, Jim Newberry, have generated as much excitement with voters as a sleeping pill.

[...]

But I'm not convinced that she knows how to run a government.

[...]

When she did suggest something new and innovative for the first time in years, it was to take over the abandoned Lexington Mall through eminent domain and build a softball field.

[...]

Does that mean I'm suggesting we all go out and vote for Newberry? I wish I could, but I don't have the slightest idea who the man is.

[...]

I see Isaac, a consummate campaigner, everywhere. She'll pop up at a 2-year-old's birthday party if there are enough voters there.

Where is Newberry? Certainly not on the north side, where I live. Has he conceded the north side to Isaac?

[...]
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If you go to the 2 candidates web sites -- www.NewberryForMayor.com and www.MayorIsaac.com -- there couldn't be more difference in terms of their visions, and I'm surprised that Davis didn't comment on that. For example, Newberry has an Issues page -- http://www.newberryformayor.com/issues.html -- where he talks about governing, creating jobs, education, protecting the community, uniting the community, conserving the environment, fixing traffic, enhancing neighborhoods, and growth.

See for yourself at:
http://www.newberryformayor.com/issues.html

How about Teresa Isaac? On her front page, the "latest news" is an endorsement from Bill Farmer in the middle of July. As for her "results" she list 4 results during her tenure, each with a short paragraph. It isn't even clear how many of those results were due to her leadership. The latest "news" was the Farmer endorsement in July. The latest campaign event are pictures of a St. Patrick's Day parade.

As for Teresa Isaac's vision for the future ... there's nothing on her web site about that.

How Teresa Isaac is spending your surplus

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/15673259.htm

Spending the city's $17.8 million surplus

[...]

$5.5 million: could go into storm water projects as recommended by Mayor Teresa Isaac. The exact project list has not been developed by city staff yet.

$1.8 million: could be used for back pay for some city employees as recommended by Isaac.
On Kentucky.com: Comment on this story.

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I'll bet that if the tragedy involving the UK students and storm drains didn't just happen, hardly any money would be going to storm water projects. That hasn't been Teresa Isaac's priority -- condemning private businesses is her mantra.

$17.8 Million Surplus - How about lower taxes???

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15669881.htm

Posted on Tue, Oct. 03, 2006
City finds itself with budget surplus of $17.8 million
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

The city is expected today to announce a preliminary budget surplus of nearly $17.8 million from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

[...]

The city had budgeted $7 million from the surplus to balance this year’s budget.
After that and the rainy day fund money are subtracted from the surplus, the mayor wants to use almost all of the remaining money for stormwater projects and pay equity.

[...]

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The sewers should have been upgraded years ago. Too little, too late. Rather than "pay equity" -- which are payoffs to city employees for being loyal to Isaac -- how about cutting taxes? Lower the 2.75 city income tax? Or reducing the taxes we pay for LexTran? Or cutting taxes to compensate for the cut in garbage service & quality?

What is the world coming to when I (occassionally) start to agree with LHL?

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/15645547.htm

Posted on Sat, Sep. 30, 2006
Tracking in mud
Isaac should lead, not blame flood victims

In the days after a flash flood took two lives near the University of Kentucky, Mayor Teresa Isaac slung blame at almost anyone.

She even blamed the victims, rather than shoulder responsibility for leading the repair of Lexington's flood damage and solving the long-term problem.

[...]

As Lexington residents mopped sewage out of their basements or fled apartments that lost electricity because of flooding, they deserved to hear something that sounds more like leadership, something like this:

"The needless loss of two promising lives will strengthen our resolve to deal with problems that have been many, many years in the making. These problems can't be fixed cheaply or overnight. Fixing old sewers will be disruptive and messy. But the problems can and will be fixed.

[...]

"So the burden of paying must fall on the residents and property owners of Lexington. It won't be cheap. But we're already paying a high price. Just ask those whose property was damaged by this latest flood. The cost of inaction will be even higher. More lives could be lost.

[...]

"And we will invite the Fayette County Neighborhood Council and the citizens who have brought a clean-water legal action against the city to join us at the negotiating table with the EPA. The neighborhoods and citizens know better than anyone where the problems are."

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You can see from my previous posts that I thought it was outrageous for Teresa Isaac to blame the victims.

Even Pro-Water Condemnation Group Opposes Teresa Isaacs' Mall Condemnation

Snippets from Lexington Herald Leader
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/15645418.htm

Posted on Sat, Sep. 30, 2006
Water group opposes condemning mall
HERALD-LEADER STAFF REPORT

A Lexington group in favor of the city's taking ownership of the water company through condemnation made a statement yesterday against Mayor Teresa Isaac's proposed use of eminent domain to take Lexington Mall.

[...]

Issac suggested Thursday that eminent domain might be used to take the Lexington Mall property and turn it into a softball complex.

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Bit of a shocker, but this just shows how out of touch Teresa Isaac is with voters. Even those on the far-left can't agree with her on condemning anything she wants.

Mayor Teresa Isaac's Bold Faced Lie

Eminent domain is a serious issue, one that goes against most citizens' notions of how the government should behave. We expect our politicians to take every step necessary before engaging in a discussion of eminent domain. Eminent domain -- if used -- should be an absolute last resort option.

The mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, Teresa Isaac insinuated that the city has contacted the developer of Lexington Mall, and hearing no response, is considering taking over the property:

Teresa Isaac: "The developer will not cooperate with anyone in town or return anyone's phone calls ... So we're actually looking at that site for a public use."

• September 28th, 2006, in a mayoral debate against challenger James Newberry

Teresa Isaac: "If what I have to do to get this developer's attention is say I'm looking at it for eminent domain, that's a pretty good way to get a return phone call."

• Reported in the Lexington Herald Leader, September 29th

This claim -- that the city has made efforts to contact the private owner before considering eminent domain -- is disputed by Saul Holdings L.P:

Saul Holdings L.P.: "Nobody (at Saul) has ever heard from anybody at the city, ... (Economic development director) Julian Beard has not called us; Teresa Isaac has not called us. ... We have never heard from them."

• Reported in the Lexington Herald Leader, September 29th

Who is lying? Is it Teresa Isaac or Saul Holdings? The Lexington Herald Leader reports that city Economic development director Julian Beard confirmed that no one from the city had called Saul Holdings. It appears that Teresa Isaac has grossly exaggerated -- or outright lied -- about the efforts the local government has made to communicate with the owners of Lexington Mall.

Source: Lexington Herald Leader, http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15635893.htm

For Once I Mostly Agree With the Herald Leader ...

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/15635940.htm

Posted on Fri, Sep. 29, 2006
Bombastic threat
Forget about grabbing mall site, Mayor

[...]

What do you hope to gain by floating a trial balloon about using the power of eminent domain to buy Lexington Mall?

While it is frustrating that an out-of-state owner has allowed such prime property to become a ghost town, there is no groundswell of support for building a softball complex there, as Mayor Teresa Isaac proposed at a candidate forum yesterday.

[...]

Governments routinely use the power of eminent domain -- under which a court sets a fair price -- to take private property for public uses, from roads to parks to airports to cultural venues.
Isaac's muscle-flexing certainly got the attention of the company, which has a bad record returning calls from Lexington. But bomb-throwing is not the same as leadership.

[...]

So, back to the pressing issue: What must the city do to update its aging and inadequate storm water and sewer infrastructure, Mayor?

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Other than the Herald Leader's advocacy for condemning a well-functioning private business, they hit a lot of good points. There is clearly no public-interest motivation for taking over Lexington mall, and Mayor Isaac has serious questions to answer -- rather than shifting blame -- about sewers, garages, and garage collection.

Teresa Isaac: Why Stop With Kentucky American Water When We Can Condemn Lexington Mall, Too?

Snippets from the Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15630013.htm

Posted on Thu, Sep. 28, 2006
Isaac wants city to take over Lexington Mall property
By Sarah Vos
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Incumbent Mayor Teresa Isaac wants to use the city’s power of eminent domain to take the Lexington Mall and turn it into a softball complex.

“The developer will not cooperate with anyone in town or return anyone’s phone calls,” Isaac said at a debate with challenger Jim Newberry. “So we’re actually looking at that site for a public use.”

[...]

“The idea of condemning a piece of property simply so you can turn around and give it to somebody else and develop it is not my idea of the way eminent domain needs to be exercised,” Newberry said.

[...]

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I knew that when Teresa Isaac started talking again, she'd put her foot in her mouth.

If you want a forecast of what Lexington voters will get over the next four years if Teresa Isaac is reelected, her statements from the Herald Leader show you. Big government and more government. What is suprising is that during Teresa Isaacs leadership, many basic functions of government have declined. The storm sewers are inadequate, parking garages are crumbling and trash collection is incompetent. Instead of focusing on getting these basic functions right, Mayor Isaac has pushed a condemnation agenda - first of Kentucky American Water and now of Lexington Mall.

I wonder what other private entities the Lexington mayor would like to condemn. I'm sure these won't be the only two if she is reelected.

When Bill Farmer endorsed Teresa Isaac -- to the shock of most conservatives -- he said a number of things that I wonder whether he would stand by:

"She understands our storm sewer situation

and has worked to make it better. "

This is prominently posted on the Teresa Isaac campaign site: http://www.mayorisaac.com/News_About_Mayor_Isaac.html

Bill Farmer also said:

"Mayor Isaac and I have disagreed on occasion,

but the only issue of real contention between us was the water company. "

As someone who claimed he was the "true conservative" in the mayoral race, before getting trounced, Farmer has an obligation to those might listen to him to clarify whether he still stands by those statements. Does he support Teresa Isaac's agenda of recklessly using eminent domain and condemnation? Does Bill Farmer believe the storm sewer situation is UK's fault, or Jim Newberry's fault, as Teresa Isaac has recently claimed?

Teresa Isaac: Blame Newberry for Storm Drains.

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15625000.htm

Posted on Wed, Sep. 27, 2006
Mayoral candidates spar at forum
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

[...]

Responding to a question about taxes, Isaac said her administration has provided quality services while staying within the city's means. She told the audience to visit Newberry's Web site and add up the cost of all of the programs he lists. "There's no way he can do it without a tax increase."

In response, Newberry encouraged everyone to visit http://www.newberryformayor.comand/ to visit Isaac's site (http://www.mayorisaac.com/) as well. "I welcome that comparison," he said. " ... I've got a vision for the future of this community and I've got a plan to get us there. She has no plan."

At another point, Isaac said that Newberry did not assist Lexington in improving its sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems when he served as acting secretary for the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.

"Our records are devoid of any action that he took during that time to work with Lexington. Nothing," Isaac said. "If you look at his track record when he had an opportunity to help the community, he did not do it."

[...]

During the 31/2 weeks he served as acting secretary, Lexington's sewer problems did not come up, Newberry said.

[...]
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Apparently the death of two University of Kentucky students has rightly touched a nerve in the mayoral campaign. Just the other day, Teresa Isaac tried to shift blame from the city of Lexington and her tenure as mayor to University of Kentucky, its construction activity, and UK safety officials. Last night, Teresa Isaac decided that Jim Newberry was at fault because he didn't take action during a 3.5 week stint as acting secretary.

What action has Teresa Isaac taken during her 4 years as mayor, and 8 years as vice-mayor on improving the safety of storm drains? There's nothing on her web site except hollow boasts of "Master of Disaster." It's time that Mayor Isaac stop blaming others for the deficiencies of her administration -- like taking her eye off improving fundamental safety issues like storm drains and city parking garages, -- and simply admit that she has different priorities -- like taking over the privately owned water company.

Teresa Isaac Blames UK For Student Drownings

Snippets from the Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/15617477.htm

Posted on Wed, Sep. 27, 2006
Mayoral hopefuls debate at UK
By Sarah Vos
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

The storm sewer runoff problems that led to the drownings of a University of Kentucky pharmacy student and a nursing graduate have been known for years but not dealt with, mayoral candidate Jim Newberry said at a debate last night with incumbent Teresa Isaac.

The two women who drowned were wading through knee-deep water near the intersection of Nicholasville Road and Alumni Drive early Saturday morning when they were swept into a culvert by the flooding waters.

[...]

Mayor Isaac said the city spent part of its budget every year to address storm sewer problems, but that part of the issue was runoff from parking lots.

"Each time the university constructs something new, they create more runoff," she said. "So that's something you have to discuss with them."

Isaac also said that campus safety officials need to educate students about the dangers of floodwaters.

"If you cannot drive through it, you cannot walk through it," she said.

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I recall that several years ago, the water company ran a commercial that made the point that the city of Lexington had many more urgent priorities than taking over the water company, and one of those urgent priorities was the storm drains.

Turns out they were right, yet nothing has been done, and now several innocent students -- Lauren Brooke Fannin and Lindsey Marie Harp -- have died.

I find Teresa Isaac's "blame others" political strategy to be outrageous. It is easy to say after the fact that no one should have been outside last Friday night, but according to reports, the two women were dropped off by a taxi that apparently had no problem driving in the water. This directly contradicts Teresa Isaac's statement "If you cannot drive through it, you cannot walk through it." Teresa Isaac shouldn't try to blame the victims or UK - the responsibility goes directly to her leadership. She has chosen to not make improving the sewers a priority. Some residents are prepared to sue about this, and the Herald Leader has editorialized about it (but surprisingly didn't mention that this is a more important priority than their pet project of taking over the water company).

Upcoming mayoral debates

From the Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/15560797.htm

Upcoming public forums
The fall mayoral campaign gets into full swing next week with several of the more than 10 public forums that will be held before the election. Here's a list of the public forums that will be held over the next two weeks:

• Sept. 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church, 180 East Maxwell Street. Sponsored by the Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church's Men of Maxwell.

• Sept. 26, 8 to 9 p.m., University of Kentucky Student Center. Sponsored by the University of Kentucky Student Government Association.

• Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Marriott Griffin Gate, 1800 Newtown Pike. Sponsored by the Association of Builders and Contractors, Construction Financial Management Association and the National Association for Women in Construction.

• Sept. 28, 8 a.m., Lexington Convention Center Thoroughbred Ballroom, 430 West Vine Street. Sponsored by the Lexington Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Alltech FEI 2010 Games Committee and the Bluegrass Hospitality Association. Forum questions will focus on tourism.

• Oct. 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Transylvania University Carrick Theater, 300 North Broadway. Sponsored by the African American Forum, the League of Women Voters of Lexington and Transylvania University. The event is ticketed because seating is limited. For a free ticket, call the African American Forum at 255-2653.

First formal mayoral event of fall season

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ... http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/politics/15560795.htm

Posted on Wed, Sep. 20, 2006
Muslim groups host forum
EVENT IS FIRST FOR LEXINGTON COMMUNITY
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Mayor Teresa Isaac and challenger Jim Newberry yesterday participated in the first-ever candidate forum sponsored by Lexington's Muslim community.

[...]

In addition to being the first mayoral forum held by the Muslim community, yesterday's also was the first public forum of the fall campaign.

[...]

In soliciting opinions of Muslims and other groups, Isaac said she has a program in which she goes out to every Urban County Council district and collects information from citizens.
She was also the first mayor to appoint a faith-based liaison whose job is to reach out to every religious group and address issues if they feel they are being discriminated against or if they want to be involved in community projects, Isaac said.

Newberry said he planned to be accessible to the community through a Mayor's Night Out, a quarterly event in which the public can sit down and talk with him and key members of his administration.

[...]

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As the race heats up again, I'm sure I'll have plenty to blog about.