The Real Story

I have always enjoyed listening to Gary Dorall spin an old yarn, and his recent article in the Ledger about “Finding Ted” was great storytelling. Although after nine months of campaigning for Supervisor, I was hoping that people would eventually stop making excuses for two-term incumbent Ted Novelli, and fabricating stories and labels to disparage his challengers, like this latest attack by Gary Dorall depicting me as a “fast talking car salesman.” Campaigning is already difficult and costly enough, without having to deal with such mean-spirited slurs being directed toward those of us who come forward to do our civic duty. I do realize that it goes both ways, and as a challenger I admit to having been critical of Ted’s pre-occupation with all things Jackson, but have never engaged in personal name-calling, and do not even know the three people who wrote the “Where’s Ted” articles. I did know a few of the car sales people at Prospect Motors and wish they were still around to give Gary a call. Those were good jobs and good people.

I certainly agree with Gary that Ted is “not a talker” and that he is overly busy taking care of “county” business, and whatever it was that Ted did when Family Dollar tried to take over the Payless IGA Market was definitely silent and behind the scenes. However, Mr. Dorall’s story about of how Ted battled “Chicago tactics and implied threats” in order to protect an owner’s legal rights, as well as his harsh assessment of Lynn Morgan over-inflating her role in “saving the market” is no longer relevant. The real story now is that incumbent Supervisor Ted Novelli just revealed publicly at the Mace Meadow Forum that he will support the new construction of Dollar General Stores in both Buckhorn and Pine Grove! Hopefully, the thousands of residents who signed the petition during the Payless Market crisis will be voicing their interests through their votes in this election.

Mike Spence

Pioneer