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LTE – Mike and Carla Benson – 4-19-2017

Dear Editor,

I am uncertain how to best approach this subject but would like to address the fact that my husband Mike and I did not receive the questionnaire for the Tiffany Township Elections, at all, ever… I am thinking they were sucked up by the vortex of the internet, forever lost to all, tossed out into cyber space never to return, as it did not bounce back to the Tribune nor did it show up in my junk mail or my inbox!!

There was an attempt made via a phone call by the reporter at 5:30 pm on the Sunday evening prior to press time to obtain our email address to email out the offending questionnaire. No questionnaire was forthcoming. The next phone call I received from the Tribune office was Monday afternoon, which my husband Mike did return that call, did leave a voicemail with the reporter to make it known we had not received our questionnaires but that call was not received until it was too late as the reporter was not in her office until that afternoon but the paper had already gone to press. Mike was running for Tiffany Town Supervisor and I, for the Town Treasurer. Our call was returned by the reporter, only to say she was sorry but the paper had already gone to press and we were not included as she had been out of the office that morning and did not receive our call in time to help us. Which I accepted as an unfortunate event in our very short lived political careers. I was ready to let the fiasco go, until I read the statement in the paper regarding said questionnaire. Thus began our downslide into the mucky mire of political quagmire on the unpopular side of the press making us sound like horrible candidates for the upcoming positions. The statement in the paper did not reflect this untimely procedure, it merely stated “After making telephone contact, a questionnaire was e-mailed out, but the questionnaire was not returned prior to press time. A voicemail left March 27 asking about the status of the questionnaire also was not returned prior to press time.” Which seemed harsh as there was no explanation that this all transpired barely 2 days prior to “press time!” It occurred to me that the press had the power in this interaction and they certainly didn’t care that it made us look like buffoon’s or at the very least irresponsible persons, possibly not fit to hold any office ever and maybe not even jobs!! Ok, I may have gone to far with that statement. I am laughing as I write this as I do find it humorous but can see how in a more serious venue such as running for any public office one could really end up in a world of hurt at the words of the “press”!! Fortunately I have this medium to give explanation to our misadventure.

After pleasant conversations with Mr. Carlton DeWitt the editor and then his son Shawn, I realize that everyone’s questionnaires were sent out Sunday evening as they did not receive the information from the Town Hall due to circumstances seemingly beyond everyone’s control.

At this time I feel the need to apologize to the voters of Tiffany Township for our seemingly careless attitude in regard to our questionnaires. I should only speak for myself. I did care about my political adventure and I believe that Mike did as well. However I shouldn’t put words in his mouth but having been married to him for 40 years I’ve done it before so I will do it again, ladies in long term marriages you understand this and I am certain there are ladies in short term marriages who can also attest to this as well…or I should say the husbands can attest to this!! We would have loved to introduce ourselves to the community so that others could have insight into our thoughts and opinions of such!! At this juncture I find this rather humorous and can see how the media and a string of events beyond my control can reflect negatively on our integrity as a persons It was not mine or Mike’s intention to carelessly disregard our responsibility of filling out our questionnaires. In the future I will know to be proactive and ask for our questionnaires and get them back in a timely fashion so as to not go down in history as a “slacker” as our niece, laughingly, called us after reading the sentence in the paper regarding what happened with our questionnaires!! I will forever be cautious of the “media” and its effect on our future endeavors to run for public office. Our 5 minutes of fame is over for now and our one sentence of recognition in the Glenwood paper will be laughingly referred to from this point on, as the demise of our integrity in the Glenwood City Tribune!! 

Respectfully,
Mike and Carla Benson