Saturday, October 20, 2007

Fort Wayne Left Gets Some Ink

Kathleen Quilligan of the News Sentinel noted my contribution to Mitch Harper's campaign and asked me about it. She could've easily identified me as simply a member of the Democratic Party but chose instead to point out that I'm an author here at Fort Wayne Left. I think she made the right choice and I hope the relationship between traditional media and blogs will continue to grow:
For example, Mitch Harper, a Republican running for the District 4 City Council seat being vacated by Democrat Tom Hayhurst, received a donation from Jeff Pruitt, a Democrat who contributes to the Fort Wayne Left blog.

“I consider Mitch a friend, and he’s a blogger,” said Pruitt. “More than those things, I think he’d make a great City Councilman.”

The other half of the quote was why I think Harper will make a good councilman - something I've shared privately with many readers of this blog. Harper has experience in government and is also an advocate for open government - he supported my letter to the Public Access Counselor for example. He also wants to get more people involved in the various boards and commissions that make up local government - especially younger people. I have nothing negative to say about Chris Stewart and I have a lot of respect for the guy since he took up the seat left vacant by Charles Langley.

But since the blog was brought up, by name, in the local paper I thought I should post something about it...

7 comments:

J Q Taxpayer said...

Congrats on you taking part in the system.

Here is a point I disagree with you on and that is Mitch Harper. Mitch Harper claims his years of service to the state would allow him to get things done. Then he posts about US 24 (Fort to Port) issue of grade level intersections. Those design plans just did not happen. They where known about for some time. I heard about them maybe four or five months ago (I am not even in the loop). Why didn't Mitch pick up this battle and make noise about it? With his skills he may not have gotten then changed but our good old Gov "we lease everything" Mitch would have heard the word from Northest Indiana. He could use a page from your blog in rasing hell about something that is wrong.

Second, Harper elects to decide whose comments are posted on his site. His actions could tell one that he will be selective in who he listens to if he is elected.

Is Harper a bad guy? Heck no. Just one I will not be voting for.

John Good said...

Jeff - I'd like to take a moment here to express my gratification that you reside in the 3rd district. . . ;)

sigmund5 said...

yea! you got mentioned. What about removing angry white boy aka fort wayne news from your list of blogs? He not only blocks posts, but blocks access. I know you like to get along, but come on.

Jeff Pruitt said...

Otto,

It's really John's decision as I am merely his guest. For some time he refused to link to him and just recently changed his mind, but I will admit that I did ask for him to be linked. We try to set a good example by not sensoring any dissenting viewpoints or blocking access.

More importantly I want the blogroll to be a list of blogs that John and I read on a daily basis...

Craig said...

I agree Jeff. We as Americans need to be more tolerant of the views of racist plagiarists.

For instance, when Dan told Credo to "Go back to Africa", and then refused to honestly address his bigotry. It's important to give voice to ignorance, especially when it has such influenced in the local GOP

Jeff Pruitt said...

Giving a link is not giving voice. And nobody is asking you to be tolerant of anybody. I simply said we try and set a good example here at FWL...

John Good said...

Allow me to state the facts here as the "editor" of FWL:

Jeff asked for a link to Turkette from this blog. I initially refused, due to the "history" between us. While I still disagree with most of what gets posted over at Fort Wayne News, I am USUALLY treated civilly there today. So I decided to add the link, primarily for Jeff.

On the other hand, the old saying goes "keep your friends close and your enemies closer". . .I do check in on Dan-O on a regular basis. As he well knows (when he reads his logs correctly). ;)