Embattled Milton City Councilwoman Tina D’Aversa ran unopposed in her first council race in 2006, when the city of Milton was first formed.
By John Fredericks / Beacon Media
Embattled Milton City Councilwoman Tina D’Aversa ran unopposed in her first council race in 2006, when the city of Milton was first formed.
Up for re-election in November, she apparently didn’t expect to draw competition this time, either.
When she found out she had an opponent, one Joe Longoria, a software engineer and Crooked Creek Homeowners Association official, she decided to try to retain her council seat the old fashioned way – by using Tammany Hall tactics – with no results.
Her feedbag ploy having fizzled, D’Aversa is likely to face ethic charges, or worse. Now, winning re-election may be the least of her problems.
The D’Aversa debacle began to unfold on Tuesday, September 1, the day Longoria decided to exercise his constitutional right, and filed to run for her District 5 city council seat. Milton’s electoral charter mandates that city council candidates can only run for the district seat they live in, although all council members are elected at large, by the entire city’s voters. Both Longoria and D’Aversa live in Milton’s Electoral District 5.
“Tina was livid when she found out she would have to run a campaign to keep her seat,” said one city official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “She was not prepared for a race, and she tried to do what she could to avoid one. She thought her re-election was a right of passage, and hoped to run unopposed, like she did in 2006.”
LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE?
In an interview with The Beacon just last week, D’Aversa said she never met her opponent, let alone talked with him. “I tried to reach him to no avail,” D’Aversa told The Beacon. “All I know of him is his name is on the ballot.”
But a series of emails from D’Aversa’s city email account to Longoria, copied to Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood and City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom, obtained by The Beacon this week through an Open Records Request, confirmed that at least one in-depth conversation indeed took place. An email dated September 3, states, “Joe, thank you for calling me last night. I enjoyed our conversation…”
According to Longoria, D’Aversa reached him by phone on Wednesday, September 2, ostensibly to ask him why he was running against her. “I told her that it was nothing personal,” said Longoria. “I had applied for six different volunteer positions through the city’s website, all of which I believed I was qualified for, and never heard back from anyone.” Longoria added. “I believe my experience, ideas and vision for Milton would add value to the city council, and I decided to run. Tina represents my district, so I had to file to run against her. It’s that simple.”
D’Aversa then changed her story and said she in fact had “two or three” conversations with Longoria on the topic. But Longoria denied all conversations except the one referenced above.
Longoria said that D’Aversa urged him to reconsider his council bid in their telephone conversation, and indicated that she had some ideas that might make him think about withdrawing his candidacy. “She offered to email me her plan, and we left it at that,“ commented Longoria. “I had no intention of abandoning my campaign.”
When questioned about the authenticity of the dialogue, D’Aversa disputed Longoria’s version. “That’s a bold-faced lie,” D’Aversa claimed. “He said he would consider getting out.” Not true, says Longoria.
D’Aversa said she had other emails from Longoria supporting her position, sent to her personal email account. When asked to produce the emails as proof, D’Aversa refused to do so. Longoria claimed he had no email correspondence with D’Aversa, other than the ones The Beacon has obtained.
D’AVERSA’S ALLURING EMAIL BAIT A BUST
In the same September 3 email, D’Aversa outlined her proposition to entice her opponent to drop his bid and withdraw his election application, so she could run unchallenged. “We have a number of boards that you may be qualified for, and I would like to explore this with you so we can avoid a costly election campaign seeking the District 5 council position,” her email to Longoria reads. “Presently, I have appointees serving on the Highway 9 board, but I believe I can place you on this board without a challenge. I am going to ask that a developer who serves on the board step aside so that you can become a member…he will be accommodating.”
The Highway 9 board is recommending, among other things, what the look and feel of the Crooked Creek subdivision entrance should be. D’Aversa states in her email, “…you can specifically reach your goal of serving Crooked Creek.” Longoria was mystified by the offer. “To think that I am running for city council just to gain influence of what style and color our gate entrance would be was a little odd,” Longoria responded. “That would take a lot of energy for something that is insignificant.”
When asked if he interpreted D’Aversa’s email as a quid-pro-quo deal to get out of the race, Longoria answered yes. “What jumped out at me was how anxious she was to talk me out of running, after I had filed as a candidate. I never considered doing that,” he clarified.
D’Aversa, however, insisted the email was taken out of context.
But her next line in the same email was revealing. “My intention is for you to join a board committee and to withdraw your [council] application to seek my council position serving from District 5…Let’s save the city money and move forward without a costly campaign for the council position,” it reads.
LONGORIA’S RESPONSE
Longoria responded to D’Aversa’s pact plea in succinct terms in an email the next day: thanks but no thanks. “…diversity is directly related to the number of citizens who step forth and seek to play an active role in the community…This is the reason I decided to run for a council position…thanks for the email follow-up.”
But D’Aversa said Longoria agreed to a subsequent meeting with her and then didn’t show. Longoria asserted that once he understood D’Aversa’s intentions – to offer him a board position to get out of the race, “there was no reason to meet to discuss her offer further.”
ADAM ORKIN NOT PRIVVY TO D’AVERSA’S DEAL
The “developer” in question that D’Aversa promised to jettison from the Highway 9 board appeared to be Adam D. Orkin, CEO of Orkin and Associates, a local real estate investment firm. When contacted, Orkin said D’Aversa’s deal was news to him. “I had no knowledge of it,” Orkin said. Orkin added that he would be happy to step down for another applicant, provided the city sanctioned it, the council wanted it and a majority of his committee peers were in favor of it – a long way from D’Aversa’s solo proposition. Orkin elaborated that the Highway 9 board has worked together for better than nine months, and maintained that they are one meeting away from presenting their recommendations to city council. “We have made a tremendous amount of progress,” Orkin said.
When questioned, D’Aversa said that the board member she wanted to replace was Vic Jones, not Orkin. But Jones is not a developer, and he serves on the Transportation Advisory Committee, not the Highway 9 board, which is stated in her email. When made aware of the exact wording of her email, D’Aversa promptly changed her account again and said it was another developer she wanted to replace, not Orkin. D’Aversa refused to reveal the identity of the member she claims she really meant to have replaced on the board.
The other developer on the board in question could be Councilwoman Karen Thurman appointee John McMillan. When made aware of D’Aversa’s email, Thurman said she would not entertain the idea of replacing McMillan, who she classified as an “outstanding contributor who is well qualified.” Thurman said that D’Aversa would have to get a majority of city council to approve any appointee brought forward.
ILLEGAL, UNETHICAL OR JUST PIOUS INDIGNATION?
Questions that arise from D’Aversa’s desperate expiation to coax her opponent out of her council race with a blatant promise of an appointed position are three-fold. Was it illegal, unethical, or just plain dumb?
Milton’s lawyer, Ken E. Jarrard, of Jarrard & Davis, LLP could not be reached for comment by press time and City Manager Chris Lagerbloom was not available on Friday. When contacted, Mayor Lockwood withheld comment on the matter until he looked into it further. He said he recalled the email, but may have only glanced at it in cursory fashion when it passed his desk. Lockwood did reiterate his electoral support for D’Aversa, regardless.
Another city attorney from a Fulton County municipality doubted D’Aversa’s attempt at horse-trading broke any state laws, but thought it most likely violated the city’s ethical standards, depending on their ordinances regarding the matter.
No financial gain was at stake for her, other than the money she may have had to invest in her re-election bid to win, but certainly she stood to gain politically. “Using your office as an elected official to effectively [cajole] an opponent to withdraw their campaign application in exchange for an appointment to a city committee is highly irregular, probably unethical and really dumb,” the veteran city attorney said. “I would advise against it.”
One Milton city official was not amused by the episode. “It exhibits a lack of intelligence,” the official surmised. “It’s surprising that someone could stoop to that level.”
Longoria supporter and one-time Milton Council candidate Gordon Hunter described it as a pattern of behavior. “I’m not at all surprised at Councilwoman’s D’Aversa’s tactics,” Gordon admitted. “It fits with her persona as far as I’ve experienced.”
But Lockwood countered with his support. “I will continue to support Tina in this race and I am committed to her re-election,” Lockwood said. “She has been a very effective member of Milton’s City Council.”
D’Aversa maintained that she did nothing inappropriate. "I did everything above board,” she declared.
As for Longoria: welcome to politics, Joe. Milton politics, that is.
By John Fredericks / Beacon Media
Embattled Milton City Councilwoman Tina D’Aversa ran unopposed in her first council race in 2006, when the city of Milton was first formed.
Up for re-election in November, she apparently didn’t expect to draw competition this time, either.
When she found out she had an opponent, one Joe Longoria, a software engineer and Crooked Creek Homeowners Association official, she decided to try to retain her council seat the old fashioned way – by using Tammany Hall tactics – with no results.
Her feedbag ploy having fizzled, D’Aversa is likely to face ethic charges, or worse. Now, winning re-election may be the least of her problems.
The D’Aversa debacle began to unfold on Tuesday, September 1, the day Longoria decided to exercise his constitutional right, and filed to run for her District 5 city council seat. Milton’s electoral charter mandates that city council candidates can only run for the district seat they live in, although all council members are elected at large, by the entire city’s voters. Both Longoria and D’Aversa live in Milton’s Electoral District 5.
“Tina was livid when she found out she would have to run a campaign to keep her seat,” said one city official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “She was not prepared for a race, and she tried to do what she could to avoid one. She thought her re-election was a right of passage, and hoped to run unopposed, like she did in 2006.”
LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE?
In an interview with The Beacon just last week, D’Aversa said she never met her opponent, let alone talked with him. “I tried to reach him to no avail,” D’Aversa told The Beacon. “All I know of him is his name is on the ballot.”
But a series of emails from D’Aversa’s city email account to Longoria, copied to Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood and City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom, obtained by The Beacon this week through an Open Records Request, confirmed that at least one in-depth conversation indeed took place. An email dated September 3, states, “Joe, thank you for calling me last night. I enjoyed our conversation…”
According to Longoria, D’Aversa reached him by phone on Wednesday, September 2, ostensibly to ask him why he was running against her. “I told her that it was nothing personal,” said Longoria. “I had applied for six different volunteer positions through the city’s website, all of which I believed I was qualified for, and never heard back from anyone.” Longoria added. “I believe my experience, ideas and vision for Milton would add value to the city council, and I decided to run. Tina represents my district, so I had to file to run against her. It’s that simple.”
D’Aversa then changed her story and said she in fact had “two or three” conversations with Longoria on the topic. But Longoria denied all conversations except the one referenced above.
Longoria said that D’Aversa urged him to reconsider his council bid in their telephone conversation, and indicated that she had some ideas that might make him think about withdrawing his candidacy. “She offered to email me her plan, and we left it at that,“ commented Longoria. “I had no intention of abandoning my campaign.”
When questioned about the authenticity of the dialogue, D’Aversa disputed Longoria’s version. “That’s a bold-faced lie,” D’Aversa claimed. “He said he would consider getting out.” Not true, says Longoria.
D’Aversa said she had other emails from Longoria supporting her position, sent to her personal email account. When asked to produce the emails as proof, D’Aversa refused to do so. Longoria claimed he had no email correspondence with D’Aversa, other than the ones The Beacon has obtained.
D’AVERSA’S ALLURING EMAIL BAIT A BUST
In the same September 3 email, D’Aversa outlined her proposition to entice her opponent to drop his bid and withdraw his election application, so she could run unchallenged. “We have a number of boards that you may be qualified for, and I would like to explore this with you so we can avoid a costly election campaign seeking the District 5 council position,” her email to Longoria reads. “Presently, I have appointees serving on the Highway 9 board, but I believe I can place you on this board without a challenge. I am going to ask that a developer who serves on the board step aside so that you can become a member…he will be accommodating.”
The Highway 9 board is recommending, among other things, what the look and feel of the Crooked Creek subdivision entrance should be. D’Aversa states in her email, “…you can specifically reach your goal of serving Crooked Creek.” Longoria was mystified by the offer. “To think that I am running for city council just to gain influence of what style and color our gate entrance would be was a little odd,” Longoria responded. “That would take a lot of energy for something that is insignificant.”
When asked if he interpreted D’Aversa’s email as a quid-pro-quo deal to get out of the race, Longoria answered yes. “What jumped out at me was how anxious she was to talk me out of running, after I had filed as a candidate. I never considered doing that,” he clarified.
D’Aversa, however, insisted the email was taken out of context.
But her next line in the same email was revealing. “My intention is for you to join a board committee and to withdraw your [council] application to seek my council position serving from District 5…Let’s save the city money and move forward without a costly campaign for the council position,” it reads.
LONGORIA’S RESPONSE
Longoria responded to D’Aversa’s pact plea in succinct terms in an email the next day: thanks but no thanks. “…diversity is directly related to the number of citizens who step forth and seek to play an active role in the community…This is the reason I decided to run for a council position…thanks for the email follow-up.”
But D’Aversa said Longoria agreed to a subsequent meeting with her and then didn’t show. Longoria asserted that once he understood D’Aversa’s intentions – to offer him a board position to get out of the race, “there was no reason to meet to discuss her offer further.”
ADAM ORKIN NOT PRIVVY TO D’AVERSA’S DEAL
The “developer” in question that D’Aversa promised to jettison from the Highway 9 board appeared to be Adam D. Orkin, CEO of Orkin and Associates, a local real estate investment firm. When contacted, Orkin said D’Aversa’s deal was news to him. “I had no knowledge of it,” Orkin said. Orkin added that he would be happy to step down for another applicant, provided the city sanctioned it, the council wanted it and a majority of his committee peers were in favor of it – a long way from D’Aversa’s solo proposition. Orkin elaborated that the Highway 9 board has worked together for better than nine months, and maintained that they are one meeting away from presenting their recommendations to city council. “We have made a tremendous amount of progress,” Orkin said.
When questioned, D’Aversa said that the board member she wanted to replace was Vic Jones, not Orkin. But Jones is not a developer, and he serves on the Transportation Advisory Committee, not the Highway 9 board, which is stated in her email. When made aware of the exact wording of her email, D’Aversa promptly changed her account again and said it was another developer she wanted to replace, not Orkin. D’Aversa refused to reveal the identity of the member she claims she really meant to have replaced on the board.
The other developer on the board in question could be Councilwoman Karen Thurman appointee John McMillan. When made aware of D’Aversa’s email, Thurman said she would not entertain the idea of replacing McMillan, who she classified as an “outstanding contributor who is well qualified.” Thurman said that D’Aversa would have to get a majority of city council to approve any appointee brought forward.
ILLEGAL, UNETHICAL OR JUST PIOUS INDIGNATION?
Questions that arise from D’Aversa’s desperate expiation to coax her opponent out of her council race with a blatant promise of an appointed position are three-fold. Was it illegal, unethical, or just plain dumb?
Milton’s lawyer, Ken E. Jarrard, of Jarrard & Davis, LLP could not be reached for comment by press time and City Manager Chris Lagerbloom was not available on Friday. When contacted, Mayor Lockwood withheld comment on the matter until he looked into it further. He said he recalled the email, but may have only glanced at it in cursory fashion when it passed his desk. Lockwood did reiterate his electoral support for D’Aversa, regardless.
Another city attorney from a Fulton County municipality doubted D’Aversa’s attempt at horse-trading broke any state laws, but thought it most likely violated the city’s ethical standards, depending on their ordinances regarding the matter.
No financial gain was at stake for her, other than the money she may have had to invest in her re-election bid to win, but certainly she stood to gain politically. “Using your office as an elected official to effectively [cajole] an opponent to withdraw their campaign application in exchange for an appointment to a city committee is highly irregular, probably unethical and really dumb,” the veteran city attorney said. “I would advise against it.”
One Milton city official was not amused by the episode. “It exhibits a lack of intelligence,” the official surmised. “It’s surprising that someone could stoop to that level.”
Longoria supporter and one-time Milton Council candidate Gordon Hunter described it as a pattern of behavior. “I’m not at all surprised at Councilwoman’s D’Aversa’s tactics,” Gordon admitted. “It fits with her persona as far as I’ve experienced.”
But Lockwood countered with his support. “I will continue to support Tina in this race and I am committed to her re-election,” Lockwood said. “She has been a very effective member of Milton’s City Council.”
D’Aversa maintained that she did nothing inappropriate. "I did everything above board,” she declared.
As for Longoria: welcome to politics, Joe. Milton politics, that is.
54 comments:
WTF?????? Very Sad.
Has anyone considered that maybe Tina is just plain stupid?
Just mis-guided.
If true, I wonder how much business Vic would require this time?
For those of us that know Tina,
this is no surprise. As Joe Wilson would say, " she lies."
Obviously, the apple doesn't fall far from the mentor's poison tree. Our Tammany Hall is on Dorris Road, sad to say.
Tina must still be wondering what she did wrong and if she should have offered more.
It will be interesting to see what comes of this. That board seat wasn't hers to barter: she swore an oath to delegate it in the best interests of Milton families, not her future as a political hack.
Servant's heart my a$$
Unfortunately, Tina just doesn't have the skill set and intelligence to contribute at this level. Obviously, she also lacks an ethical foundation.
Time for this Diva to check out!!!
She constantly brags about her "High Morals".....and she is a "teacher" in one of our local schools !!!
Flash forward a while, and Tina will just be the fading cougar at the end of the bar, sipping cheap chardonnay and grading papers.
The thought that my friends children are being "taught" by TD & JZB is nauseating.
If any others on council knew and looked the other way, they are just as guilty. Enough of the rich elitists talking down to us, but cutting deals with our money for their own benefit.
I hope that the people of Milton become informed and do their research before they place their votes for city council members. Having a few "elite" run our city, apparently anyway they want, is wrong. It magnifies what is wrong with American politics all the way down to the grass roots level. Where are the morals and respect for ethics. Be honest and take responsibility for your actions. Don't these adults know they are setting the example for the generations that follow? "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"...stand up and do the right thing. It's the harder path to take.
Poor Tina has yet to learn the in's and out's of lying and political correspondence. Everyone knows if you're going to lie, don't do it in writing.. This, too, shall pass and the people of Minton will realize (through Tina's ignorance and arrogance) who the true moral character is in this election.
Sounds like a witch hunt. Why would anyone want to run for anything in Milton. U-G-L-Y! The local press, the dysfunctional council, and telling from this blog, neighbors too. Do Johns Creek and Sandy Springs have such nasty elections?
“Tina was livid when she found out she would have to run a campaign to keep her seat,” said one city official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “She was not prepared for a race, and she tried to do what she could to avoid one. She thought her re-election was a right of passage, and hoped to run unopposed, like she did in 2006.” That sounds like that Blow lady or someone else on staff making a stupid comment like that, how would she or they know and why on earth if she was so called livid would she even share that with someone who would make a comment to the press on such, Duh.
This is obviously nothing but a full blown attempt to discredit practically the only one on council that has any sense at all.
Either everyone is all in on Development such as Karen Thurman and Bill Lusk, or they are behind Julie in preventing anything from be developed if sewer is involved. If we lose Tina due to this full blown article of lies, then this city doesn't have half a brain.
The full blown liar is Longoria and this reporter that thinks he can wield the votes of people in this city by slinging this kind of trash. The Beacon just lost me as a reader period, not that they care. How more obvious can you get that Freedericks is in certain people's corners. Why is that?
Longoria appears to be running because their HOA is pissed off that they didn't get the gates they wanted, eventhough council voted unanimoulsly against it. They wanted the city to spend $600,000 to fix their roads then close it off to the public. I read that in a Jason Wright article. It is pure vindictiveness which is illustrated in this article clearly. Too bad he's not running because his heart is really in it for the rest of the city, he's running because he was pressured into it by the HOA and the members on that board and others in the city that wanted Tina removed ss they can move forward with developing the crap out of Milton, and it wouldn't surprise me if Thurman wasn't behind it in some way.
How does this reporter know that she "apparently didn't expect to draw competition this time" is that his opinion. Ask Bill and Karen if they thought anyone was going to run against them. Karen is pulling out all the big dogs, big names, with deep pockets in hopes of getting her re-elected. I dont know about the rest of Milton, but I'm not impressed with her who's who of Milton. What the average person in Milton doesn't count because we aren't rich or need her on council to influence something we want downt the road. It will be up to the real citizens of Milton to see through her facade, which is easy.
That's why Bill Lusk doesn't want to acknolwedge that Al is an opponent since he didnt' register the same way as everyone else, so what, what a baby. He truly wasn't expecting an opponent.
This Beacon newspaper isn't good enough for toilet paper. Print the news, don't make it up already. Your paper is a disgrace.
If the people behind all these vicious attacks are associated with those who are opposing or running for office, then we the people better wake up. If they will stoop to this level of intimidation and flat out lies about probably the very best council person we have today representing us, then what by God will they turn this city into?? Check voting records to see how Tina D'Aversa voted these last two years, then make your decison based on facts and not what some opponent is attempting to do to defame her. Let her record speak. What has Longoria done for this City to date? How many council meetings has he attended other then the one that had his own interests involved such as the gate issue. There are more ways to serve this city and the people of this city then sitting on a board where you are appointed by an annointed one. A true servant of the people is one that serves whether or not they have a title attached to their name.
Wake up Milton, stop drinking the Longoria-Fredericks lemonade, it's sour.
Not going to bother with my name or the pit bulls will come running!
Tina defending Tina ...........
I don't think the Beacon would be stupid enough to print this article knowing the legal ramifications if it were ,in fact, false !
So you believe everything you read? and you watch CNN,MSNBC, and CBS and ABC too because they report the truth as well.
You must sleep well.
Public officials public e-mail accounts are public records.
and your point is?? spin spin spin!
Did you say you didn't think the Beacon would be stupid enough?
I line my bird cages with the Beacon.
Two lengthy diatribes in the middle are likely from Tina and her campaign manager, Jezebel.
Bottom line, who you gonna believe, Tina & Julie or those lyin' emails???
She is faced with a smoking gun and will probably meltdown before this is over. Maybe she will start crying all the time like her coach and will welcome the shrink when he shows up to help.
Why is Longoria a full blown liar? Tina has been caught red-handed trying to buy him off with her appointment, just to save her social cache.
How can anyone suggest he's lying when it is in black & white? Also, if memory serves, Freddy was a key helper in the Tina, Joe, Julie, Alan & Burt show.
Sorry, your denials don't hold up.
Tina is toast. Unless, of course, she is sleeping with the prosecutor of her ethics trial. No chance of that, though. LOL
I personally know Joe Longoria. He is a man of the utmost character, integrity and social conscience. Fredericks broke this story on his own. Joe could have reported Tina’s antics, but he took a higher road. He has no personal agenda in running for this seat, nor did his HOA push him to run. Anyone who knows Joe knows how ridiculous that statement is! I trust Joe with the future decisions facing Milton. I don’t trust someone who flat out lies, is caught with the lie in writing, and then denies it. Sorry, I’m not rich either… but that doesn’t make me stupid!
Previous poster: You say you know him personally, how the heck would we believe you when you are anonymous. You lend no credibility.
Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. But no one can make up their own facts. Whatever you think of Fredericks or the Beacon is your opinion. But the facts of this are crystal clear. D'Aversa sent an email from her city account offering her opponent a deal to get out of the race that she had no authority to broker and then lied five times over, and apparently changed her story three of four times. The Beacon regularly interviews Price, Chambliss, Isakson, Perdue, McCain, etc. so its a real stretch to the tag them as a not credible. In addition, they reported consistently in 2007 that JZB and her slate would clobber Morhrig and Santi, so they obviously have no allegience. I criticized them for that, right here in this blog.
According to Fredericks, Tina lied and lied and lied, and then tried to cut a deal which she had no authority to do, and he produced the evidence to back it up. She get caught by these guys. The Beacon takes no prisoners, regardless. They get the facts right, even when it makes me mad, which it often does. That's why this piece is so damaging and why it will end Tina's political career. So Tina has to own up to this and stop whining. She's toast, for no reason than then the press called her out. You may hate the Beacon, but they are very influential, they have loyal readers, and I have been on the down side of their sting and I have been on the down side of their coverage, so I know. Tina's history.
Yeah, you got that right. The Beacon has no allegience, they're in nobody's camp and you never know what they'll do, which is why they're so powerful -or so dangerous- in North Fulton. Everybody thought they were for Igleheart in Roswell, then they outed him with a financial scandal last week. Everybody thought they were for Debbie Gibson, then they took her out in Alpharetta two years ago when they ran two devastating stories on her DUI in the last two weeks before the election, back to back. You know they had the stuff and waited until the end to print it just to beat her, that's why you never have a clue what they'll do. Everybody in Roswell knows they killed the Charlie Brown Project. Most newspapers are predictable, you know their bias, or their agenda. Not with these guys. In some ways that makes them that much more of a force, and they probably know it. They even took on the Milton basketball coach last year and almost got him whacked. They just don't care. Now they've got a radio show every Sunday, and they get big name guests. So will they crush Tina's chances if they stay on her? Duh. No doubt they'll dig more stuff up 'cause they think she lied to them, and Tina has a history of playing loose with the facts, so its child's play for them. The Beacon plays hard-ball. Tina's history. That, you can beton.
I think we have to believe that in this case, the Beacon is reporting fact. If this incriminating email said anything other than what was reported, wouldn't Tina's biggest champion, Joe Lockwood, come out to tell the truth? Remember, he received a copy of the email...
Tina is just not smart enough to do anything else but throw up softballs to the Beacon.
Tina is just not smart enough to do anything else but throw up softballs to the Beacon.
Looks as if he did entertain the idea of not running, thus the continued conversation of a board appointment or position.
“I told her that it was nothing personal,” said Longoria. “I had applied for six different volunteer positions through the city’s website, all of which I believed I was qualified for, and never heard back from anyone.”
This may have led to her comment from what I see written here about asking him if he would like to be on a board or possible appointment. Sounds leading to me on his end. Not sure how that is unethical when if that was his first desire and interest in getting involved in the city which he brought up to her. If that is what he really wanted to do in the first place, I don't think based on this, unless we see all of the emails and had the opportunity to hear exactly what was said over the phone, anyone should be screaming ethics.
Where in the article does it proves she offer him money to not run? That accusation by the Beacon is pure slander.
I am not defending her, just makes me sit up and take notice when a news organization goes for the throat of something such as this, especially when they chose to ignore issues such as Acorn on TV and the newspapers, don't want to touch that at all.
Seems the Beacon just wants dirty tactics to sell their paper. I think they like that reputation, kind of like the Enquirer. It sells.
What did she have to gain by offering him a deal in the first place let alone in a City of Milton email?? If there was such a deal in an email then why didn't the Beacon go ahead and print it. She either was lookin for an understanding of why he was running against her, or she flat out put herself in harms way for this guy to turn around and file an ethics charge against her, which is it? Do you really think she would offer him a deal not to run in an email?? Are you people crazy? Did she just really not want to win the race? There is no motive to do that. It's appearing to me he has taken this entire conversation/emails and twisted it into something it wasn't to of course try and win the race. Pure politics.
If the Beacon is so unbiased why hasn't it offered up any negative commentary about Lockwood, Thurman, Lusk, Hewitt?
Hello, my name is Tina.
I'm a clueless, yet sneaky liar and self promoter.
I'll gladly nominate you to a committee in the best interests of the city, but if needed, will quickly offer up your position to protect mine.
And...when you criticize me, I'll claim no wrong doing and hide behind my religion.
Oh my God! What is it with the citizens of Milton. I agree, why would anyone ever run for office in this city. I do not know Joe and I do not know Tina very well but I would never treat anyone with such outright hostility. That fact that not one of you is willing to put your name on your actions speaks volumes. I love this city and work hard on committess to make it great. The rest of you just sit back and throw mud. Tina made a mistake. Let the 1st person who has not stand up or should I say put your name where your words are. Tina has put many hours of time and energy towards this city. Not everyone agrees with where she stands on issues, thats why we have elections. Lets try to make this election process more about the issues and where the candidates stand on them. Grow up!
Translation:
Let's ignore this blatantly unethical conduct, consistent pattern of flip-flopping and groveling for status. You are all mean and we need to change the subject, instead of addressing Tina's outrageous stupidity and official misconduct.
Signed, LH, (lives on sewer, moved here 3 yrs ago, hasn't voted in 5 elections) just kidding
Anyone else see Tina pro-tem leave the dais to chase one of her children at the last meeting? Check the video. Sure, she is always giving taxpayers her undivided attention.
...so she's a bad person because she has children?
I think they meant because she brings them to council meetings, public meetings, which is very inappropriate. Unless the children remain seated. Which evidently they are not. If it bothers the council or the citizens, maybe they should talk about protocol at meetings sometime. Don't they already have a set of rules of conduct or something like that?
Here's an unbiased opinion: The guy applied for 6 board positions at Milton City Hall, didn't get a call back, oh, so let's go run for City Council? What a moron. I'd say if you don't get a call back, there's a reason. He couldn't give Tina a reason for his running other than to say he wanted to be on a board. Now some writer for the Beacon is throwing around Ethic charges? Report fair or don't report at all.
It's sad when you're so insecure Joe Longoria that you have to start a nasty campagin! Go TINA!!!! You're the best!!!!! We're grateful for what you have done in Milton! Keep up the great work!!!!!
Joe - I am sorry. You have no experience. You applied for 6 board positions and nobody called you. Take a hint.
No worries. He's got Gordon on his team.
If he has Gordon.....you know he is just another puppet for the Lusk/Thurman team. Stand back, we have development to do here.
Do you idiots really think that council considers applicants for committees that they don't know?
Really?
Are you stupid?
You must be...
They select people that they already know...duh...thats why you see the same people on various committees / boards.
Do you think that council members even see the people's names that apply on the city website?
It's unbelievable how ignorant some of you are.
How is any of this Joe Longoria's fault? He must have tricked Tina into lying about speaking with him, then he tricked Tina into offering him a board position in writing from her Mitlon email account and then he tricked Tina into lying about who the appointee was. That Joe Longoria must be a wizard of extraordinary talents. Maybe he could work some magic for Milton.
Yes, some council folks appoint people they dont know. If you only use the alumni list from your fraternity or like-thinking zealots like JZB, you get corruption. Bert & Ernie couldn't even get any appointees. To suggest that it is absurd anyone goes outside their circle shows how corrupted the koolaid crowds' expectations really are.
Can the discussion get back to the topic at hand? What happens to Tina for an apparent attempt at influence peddling and election fraud? Does anyone care out there?
Thanks for getting us on back on point.
Lets start with the "shoot the messenger" emails. Is the Beacon biased? I follow these guys pretty closely. The short answer: no. Why? Because they piss everybody off over time. I had a friend who worked there and gave me the skinny. The sales team is very good, highly professional. They have loyal clients -big ones- who run week after week. We know they get results, my friend was in customer service, and talked with most of them.
The company is editorially driven, however. That's what apparantly drives them. I hear Fredricks runs the editorial board, and he's old school, like a throwback from the media glory days when newspapers had real influnece and clout. He's from Philly-he worked up there, he's a chain smoker, and he got his old cronies to come to paper,two guys, Kaplan and Levine. They say Fredricks and Kaplan call the shots. They have some young talent, who they groomed. They call themselves first ammendment
radicals. They got a basketball coach in Roswell fired, they have no regard. They got the city legal ad contract from Roswell, worth a fortune, then they promptly launched 2 investigations on the city and lost it! How stupid is that? So it shows where they are coming from. Their editorial people is like a cult, they sleep there several days a week and work all night. So they're basically not what we are used to. But they say Fredrick has relationships that go back 30 years, he knows everybody, and the big names trust him, so he gets what he wants, and my friend says the Wash DC crowd loves the guy, go figure. So they write what they think is the truth, and they have no agenda, which as a guy said earlier, makes them so unpredictable. So one day you think they are your friend, the next day they dig up stuff.
So this whole debate has not a damn thing to do with the Beacon.
As for D'Aversa: she is an elected official. She gets a challenger, and then she sends out city emails trying to get this guy to withdraw. Its arrogant, its stupid and its sad. Just go run your race and win. She had all the backing, she had Lockwood and Julie. But she thinks she's special -too good to bothered with a "race." This is the real issue. Personally, its insulting to my intelligence as a voter in Milton. I want a choice on the ballot. Without this display of immaturity and nonsense, I would have voted for Tina. Now I may not. I will consider Longoria today, where I would not have if she just went about her business. More to the point, I am now pissed at Lockwood for defending her. I thought he was better than politics as usual. I may be stuck with Joe, but I am not stuck with Tina. Ethics charges? Who cares. She is just plain dumb and arrogant, and that is the real story here, in my view.
The last comment is written like a Mickey Spillane novel. John Fredericks, snap out of your literary daze. You are no Mike Hammer, private eye.
If he emailed the city to get information to be on a board 6 times and got no response, then pull up the emails, who they were sent to, and see who didn't respond. Open records right? If staff didn't respond, that would be a real eye opener, given the city's CMH2Hill staff's excellent reputation of customer service!! (sarcasm)
The man has a right to run for office if he so chooses. He is not challenging the city to find out the reasons that he received no response.
You sound like a present board member trying to hold on.
" If you give a horse enough rope he ( she) will hang himself."
Tina's response to anything negative is that it is always someone else's fault, never hers ! This article is about what SHE did !!
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