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Don't Get Mad, Get Elected
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May
28
I mentioned the alleged solicitation case involving Lorain Councilman Dennis Flores here (see #5). Today, the Morning Journal’s editorial says Flores should resign:
On Friday night, along a stretch of Broadway in Lorain, Dennis Flores allegedly solicited sex from a police decoy prostitute and was arrested. That is when Flores went from being part of the solution to being part of the problem in Lorain.
Now, the only way Flores can begin to undo the damage he has inflicted on Lorain is to resign as 2nd Ward councilman.
Unfortunately, Flores seems to think that he can get away with just an apology, a nod to counseling and a big dose of denial. Sounding strangely like the pre-resignation Marc Dann, Flores told our reporter yesterday, ”We’ve got lots of work to do at City Council, and that’s what I’m concentrating on. I’ll deal with my personal problems as I go along.”
Strange is right.
I’d recommend keeping an eye on The Word of Mouth Blog (check out this post on the topic) for community reaction and thoughts.
Again, for me, the issue is how case after case demonstrates such wretched lack of respect for women. I don’t want to hear about the choices the women made - no amount of liberation excuses other people’s bad behavior and we all know that.
I don’t live in Lorain so I’m not sure whether I’d demand his resignation. But if any folks from there can shed some light on how clear or unclear this case is, I’d love it.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:15 am May 28th, 2008 in Scandal, Women, Ohio, Cleveland+, Politics
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9 Responses to “Update: Lorain Morning Journal says Flores should resign”
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…..It seems that the WoM post is directed at Mr. Giardini, the head of Lorain’s democratic party, as has other post’s on that blog.( http://thewomblog.com/?p=960 )and ( http://thewomblog.com/?p=1189 ) Sound like a pissing fight? This isn’t about Tony Giardini, it’s about a councilman with no brains for claiming to clean up his ward in his campaign, but doing just the opposite after he’s elected. But what really needs to happen is for him (Flores) to resign and seek the help that he needs, just as the Morning Journal reported in their editorial. As a public official, in a city like Lorain with a history of misdeeds by public officials, Mr Flores needs to step aside immediately to save our city from further embarrasement.
This is a person who is a Block Watch captain, an advocate for Neighborhood Watch Council, a regional co-ordinator for the NFL’s punt, pass and kick program, is a volunteer for Lorain City Schools Athletic Council and a mentor for Big Brother, Big Sister of Lorain County. Clearly someone involved with the city’s youth as Mr. Flores is, should resign immediately, IMHO.
Wonder how long this will stay up?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/conchitacruz/gGgVKW/commentary
Muley and Sorry -
I keep wondering how I would feel if it were my town. I don’t know that I’d be very tolerant - don’t we need to apply certain standards the same no matter what? Sometimes there are circumstances, but I just don’t know enough about this case. The voters of Lorain are the ones how have to make their voices heard - and from what I’ve seen, you are very good at that!
…..well Jill, it’s a part-time gig, he’s had many traffic violations, I don’t think he even has a full time job. We deserve better, and I expect more from our elected figures, some who are not “the brightest crayons in the box”. Mr. Flores has way too many connections to youth organizations to be commiting these crimes. What message are we sending to our youth with these kind of shenanigans? Thanks for showing an interest in Lorain. We’ll get better here sooner or later
The newspaper shouldn’t even have to suggest this. It should have been a fait accompli at the time of the bust, had the politician any decency, shame, minimal standards, or the remnants of class.
….Dennis Flres has none of the above, Tim. None of the above at all.
Well Lorain is my city (although adopted), and Dennis was my councilman. I voted for him. And I am furious.
Lorain has a long history of tolerating bad behavior from our politicians. And now the Police Department is plagued with problems. It’s truly a culture of bad behavior and tolerance for it.
I am the eternal Lorain optimist — always convinced that Lorain is on the cusp of something great. Unfortunately that “great” keeps moving out of reach. Possibly because the people we put faith in to turn the city around are as big a part of its problems as the hookers and drug dealers.
If Flores had a long successful career as councilman under his belt and did this, I might be (just slightly) more willing to buy his defenses. But he’s done nothing for me yet. He’s been in office five months and has only succeeded to drag Lorain through the mud and ruin the efforts of those of us who try so hard to improve the city’s image.
I would like to consider Matt Barret our turning point.
He goofed up big time, and once it came out, he was out. Out as a politician, and also out of his job in the family law practice.
Let’s end this culture of allowing our politicians to do as they please. And if they don’t do the right thing VOTE THEM OUT!
If we set the standard, it will be a deterent.
Tomorrow The Plain Dealer will join the chorus calling for his resignation.
Rona, thanks for that comment. It cannot be easy to feel that way, but thanks for expressing it - I think it helps other people realize that it’s okay - to feel that way that is - even about someone for whom you’d voted.
Let’s get a few things straight. First, Flores is not, nor was he ever a block watch captain. He was a self appointed captain, never had neighborhood participation from any neighbors except his family and used it in his political campaigning to “appear” he was involved in his community.
As an update to this story, a meeting of block watch captains was held, and prior to it, Dennis was advised not to keep calling himself a block watch captain or remain involved in the group as he had credibility issues, and his alleged crimes directly conflicted with the mission of the group. Not to mention the block watch captains not wanting him in the group for obvious reasons.
But that didn’t sit well with him. At our meeting we were graced with a Morning Journal reporter at the behest of Flores, who then questioned several people about the situation. But the Journal, Realizing there was no story, didn’t touch it with a ten foot pole.
So Flores(media whore)not getting the attention he desired, must have then called the Chronicle, and they, always looking to get a story in our fair city, ran with it.
http://www.chroniclet.com/?p=15955
Dennis filed a complaint against a good police officer who kindly reiterated it wasn’t a good idea to attend and did not forbid him to go in, but Dennis falsely accused him of intimidating a public official even though Flores was acting as a citizen at the meeting. Guess he was able to zing the police for their prostitution sting, quid pro quo.
Oh, if only we could make this cancer just go away…