Email from Art Ward to Ken Johnson, Saturday morning, 6:35 a.m.:
Ken, just want to inform you that I am quite dismayed that you would insinuate that I and/or anyone participating in our campaign would have been a party to publicizing and/or initiating any actions with regard to your recent resignation from membership in your professional association.
Email from Art Ward to me, this morning:
FYI - Steve, I forwarded this E-mail to Ken Johnson [above] yesterday with regard to his irresponsible effort to insinuate that either I or anyone in the Ward for Mayor 2007 Committee had anything to do with exposing his problems with having to resign his membership in any organization as a result of accusations of "violating unethical standards". I have yet to receive any form of reply which leads me to believe that it is quite evident that the veil of decency which Mr. Johnson tries to convey to the public, is just another facade in his role as an actor.
Mr. Johnson needs to be aware of the fact that the people who are working so diligently on the Ward for Mayor 2007 Committee are of the utmost integrity and above reproach with regard to such underhanded tactics. These volunteers are persuing the goal of a Democratic victory on November 6, 2007 and neither myself nor anyone associated with the Ward for Mayor 2007 needs to be wasting time "conjuring stuff up to try and smear" Mr. Johnson; he, single handily seems to be quite capable of succeeding very well in this area on his own.
Mr. Johnson needs to step forward and render a complete explanation and apology to the Ward for Mayor 2007 Campaign committee, the Democratic Town Committee and the people of the City of Bristol
I am totally disgusted with Mr. Johnson's reprehensible actions and am not thrilled with the manner in which you or the Bristol Press has chosen to run this story today either; the disclaimer attesting to the lack involvement of either myself or anyone associated with the Ward for Mayor 2007 Committee in this situation is relegated to a mere footnote in the article and I believe that our complete exoneration deserves much more pronunciation.
I haven’t seen the paper, but I assume the story appears in the same form as it did on this blog on Friday. The “exoneration” that Ward mentioned is at the end, but so is Johnson’s claim that Ward was responsible.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
48 comments:
Yesterday a volunteer from the Ward campaign approached me and wife in our front yard with a piece of literature from the Art Ward for Mayor campaign,besides being very cordial ,My wife and I appreciated that grass roots campaigning still exist.Good luck to both canidates .
Unfortunately, Johnson has decided not to honor his pledge of a clean and decent campaign - too bad.
Looks like Ward is running scared now!!! Go Ken!
TO BAD THAT ART WARD CAN ONLY WIN BY PLAYING LIKE A DIRTBALL. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NO EDUCATION IS INVOLVED.
Art, why ae you so excited about this?
Thankfully Ward is finally getting out and listening to voters concerns. Ken started his listening tour in May, and has reached thousands of homes. Thank you Ken for caring! Arty it is too little too late.
Mr. Ward's disgust is completely justifiable. If Mr. Johnson were truly, as he claims, a man of integrity, he would stand up, admit his wrong doing and apologize not only to Mr. Ward, but to his own supporters, and to all the citizens of Bristol for his assinine behavior. He wouldn't get my vote, but at least he'd get my respect.
Kind of funny how this info just came out. This seems like what happened to Zoppo just before to primary. The article in the press states the source is an out of state real estate agent. Why would someone out of state care about this. Just a wild thought but maybe they are a friend of the Ward team? I know I will get bashed for this comment but I do not care. Mr. Ward has done nothing for this town in the past 14 years and as Mayor he will do nothing for the next two. I hope Ken wins, but it looks like Bristol will get it again with having another do nothing Mayor.
Artie should just keep his mouth shut. His people have been plastering the blog with negative comments since the primary. He can take his self righteous stance all he wants, but we know the truth.
What happened last night?
I went to bed and when I woke up he's not even Mayor and we went BACK-WARD.
Hey Ward..I didn't know there was a state law or a city ordinance that said Ken Johnson had to sit in front of his computer and wait for your emails.
Did I miss something?
Was your email as incoherent as most of yours are?
Did Ward ask Ellen Zoppo if she's "disgusted" by the Ward campaign's smear tactics against her?
I'm referring to the Ward operative submitting the FYI complaint, the digging up of the "Fab Five" letter, and the complaint of Ward supporter Francine Petosa in regards to her and Ellen's relationship.
I find Ward's "disgust" phoney, disingenuous and pathetic.
I guess the only way Ward thinks he can win this election is by having his buddies sling mud. I’m a Democrat and you had my vote up until today when I saw the article in the Bristol Press. Who is the supposed anonymous source who complained about Ken’s real estate company? A little too convenient for you, Art, that it hit the paper just in time for the elections and without leaving Johnson any time for rebuttal. Just like you did with Ellen Zoppo and the FOI foolishness. The Press said the “source” had no apparent ties to Bristol. What a joke – everyone has out-of-town buddies who can do them a political favor.
And speaking about being “disgusted” -- didn’t I read in the Press a while ago that you have a drunk-driving record? That’s about as disgusting as it gets. People who live in glass houses…..
You know what they say – if you spit in the air it hits you in the face.
STeve, I cannot believe that you printed this garbage on Page one of the Bristol Press the Sunday before Election.
Than to claim that the Ward for Mayor campaign is not behind this you've got to be kidding me.
Art let's tell the truth! How many times are these mysterious articles about your opponents going to appear?
It has already been reported that the person who filed the complaint was John Hermann of Farmington. Steve stated that he had no ties to Bristol or to your camp.
Is that true Art? If Steve had done any investigative work he would have discovered that John Hermann is the nephew of Paul and Gloria Marino who are actively working on your cmapign.
Wasn't Gloria Marino one of the 18 votes you got at the endorsement as a member of the Democratic Town Committee? Isn't Gloria Marino a current member of the dysfunctional Board of education?
How many times are we going to have to listen to you deny that you or your cmapign team has had something to do with slinging mud against people who oppose you?
After 14 years enough is enough, we cannot afford to go Back-Ward. Fiction is fiction and a lie is a lie and you cannot run and hide any longer.
If this is true Artie, then it is you and your campaign team that owes Ken Johnson an apology.
Are you up for it?
Although Colins explains where the info came from, does that really matter?
What is important is, is it accurate?
I do not hear Johnson claiming it is not true; all I see is some lame excuse.
Ken, is is true or not? Why not go public with a response?
Ken Johnson needs to stand up and take it like a man and be honest - the Ward campaign had nothing to do with this and Steve you said the same thing!!!
Ken - how dare you blame Ward for YOUR shortcomings!!! You should not be running for Mayor - Shame on you Johnson!!
Ken is nothing but a cheap, blame it on someone else man. When his shortcomings are exposed, his only response is to blame Ward - HOW CHILDISH!!!
R. Landry
Message to Johnson - when Ward wins on 11/6 - DON'T come by to congratulate him - you will not get past the door! You call for a clean campaign and yet you are the one mixing the water and dirt! You are a real dirt bag.
It totally makes sense that Paul and Gloria Marino would have a nephew get involved in this - they are sucking up to Art big-time because they are the type of people who get thrills from being with the in-crowd. Gloria works for O.V Snow too. Good investigative reporting Steve. Don't you know yet - everyone in Bristol is related to someone.
Why should Ward be running scared because Johnson is the one who screwed up and got caught!?
I am a loyal democrat who is totally disgusted with the way Art Ward has run his dirty, mud-slinging campaign. First his camp trashed Ellen, and now they're doing it to Johnson. I guess if you can't run on your record, it makes sense to divert attention away from yourself by slinging mud at others. I know I am not the only Dem who will be voting for Johnson this year.
Typical moccabee, schaffrick tactics - your candidate screws up and it is someone else's fault - why not have Johnson stand up and either verify or nullify the existance of accusations of "unethical practices, state what the issues are and/or the prejuduces of his accuser - knock off the inane baloney and fess up or speak up.
Anon 6:59 Great job getting the name of the "man" that gave the info. I guess I was correct in my opinion that it was someone on Ward's team. I just hope that the source will be identified in the Press. Although I am not real hopeful on that happening before the election.
Mr. Ward reread your email. You are the one that owes Mr. Johnson an apology. As a voter in Bristol you disgust me!
I can understand the reason that Ken needs to work alone, he has to blame everyone else for his own screw-ups which is the same reason that I can't vote for his sorry butt.
I'm not going to go any further in ruling out sources, but I must say given what's going on that John Hermann was not the source. I have no idea who he is.
you moccabee/johnson maniacs deserve each other but the public shouldn't suffer for it.
Again, what matters is: are the facts accurate.
Let Johnson refute them, if he can.
Then he can go on to the other " questionable" situations, bugrin, municipal energy etc.
How can Ward claim that none of his campaign volunteers were involved in negative campaigning? Even if that is true, it could be that a supporter not officially on "the campaign" team was responsible for this, making Ward's statement technically true but in reality a lie.
There is a clear pattern here. Most of the same people have been involved in past campaigns, they are all from the same crowd. These people did it to Zoppo in the primary, they tried to do it against Nicastro last year when he ran against Kosta, they did it to Joe Wilson when he ran against Couture.
I supported Ken Johnson(past tense). I thought that Ken had some great ideas that could carry Bristol to the next level. The more I heard from Ken the more I was turned off. He claimed he wanted to listen to the people of Bristol but I could not get a word in edge wise. I have been speaking with Ken at different forums and his cell phone rang incessantly, you would think that he would have it turned off, silent or vibrating, I got the impression that the phone was more important than the group of people who wanted Ken to answer some questions. His antics at the city council meeting were nothing more than an act to draw media attention to himself. I have begun to think that Ken craves attention and likes to believe he is much more important than he actually is. His weekly press releases which seemed to have turned into hourly releases have done nothing to help his cause. Who is advising Ken on his campaign? Hasn't anyone given him any feedback? Put the cell phone away? get rid of macacoabe? stop reaching for concepts just to mae a press release? Sometime your better off flying below the radar. I actually thought back in June that Ken might ahve had a shot at beating Art. I was on the fence until he brought up the nonsense with the city contracts and at the same time made my decesion for me. Since then it is clear he has questionable business practices and that is not someone I want in the Mayor's office. It is irrelevant who brought this information forward the fact is that it is true and Ken is wrong......where is the press release now saying I made a mistake, I was wrong, I screwed up, I'm sorry....instead we get.....Art did it. I can't stand people who manage by blaming everyone else for their decesions and that is exactly what Ken would do in the Mayor's office if her were elected.
sorry gop gal, your association speaks for itself.
Why doesn't Art Ward stand up and admit that a person on his campaign team went to Steve Collins and give him this balony?
I don't necessary agree that Art Ward personally knew about this, but someone on his team did.
Art Ward is not made out of teflon. Something will stick.
1st it was the scrpited meetings, than the bogus FOI complaint from a staunch supporter and now this with Johnson.
You have to admit if it quacks like a duck, it is a duck.
I can't wait for this election to be over!
Maybe Stortz was the source? He hates Johnson and we know he is not a Ward fan. So it would make sense for Stortz to be behind all of this, knowing Johnson would blame Ward.
No one trashed Zoppo she did that on her own with that nasty-I am better then you attitude!!!
I can't blame Art for being upset. He's got to be pretty tired of Johnson/Ellen getting caught doing things wrong and blaming him for them.
Can't they take responsibility for their own actions?
Steve, I'm glad you aren't letting posters get away with trying to say who they think the informant is. The Marinos are very upset that someone here is trying to drag them into this and blaming them for something they had nothing to do with.
Ken just needs to grow up and take responsibility for his own mistakes.
Enough about the source already. This is politics people. When you put yourself in the limelight, people start digging. Look how long Mr. Ward's been flogged for his DUI 10 years ago. Mr. Johnson made the decision to run for mayor. He's going to have to be a big boy now and face the music. He did something WRONG and he got CAUGHT. Time to man-up Kenny!
Bottom line: Realtors can legally and ethically represent both buyers AND sellers. Interesting timing!!
Yes, Realtors can legally represent buyers and sellers. What's less clear is what happens if a real estate broker says he is an exclusive buyer's agent when he's not.
If Ken is running 2 or 3 businesses out of his house, and employs at least one person, Karen V., is he not in violation of the citys zoning laws?
In Bristol, people like Art Ward and Zoning king Frank Johnson apparently think ordinances and zoning regulations are only guidelines and don't have to be followed, especially by businesses.
NO Stupid he is not in violation of any zoning laws. And you liberal clowns claim Wardo is running a "clean" campaign.
When Ward loses tommorrow, don't hAVE him show up at Johnson's b/c he won't make it through the front door.
Leave the Marinos out too along with Rags and the liberal Gamache.
I can't wait for tomorrow when Mr. Ward wins the election. He's going to be a great mayor!
Who is going to be Ward's secretary?
Hopefully MAry Suchopar will stay on for Johnson. The last thing we need is Achilli back in there. She was a disater for Coutore.
4:44 poster: That was very unfair to say about Donna. You obviously don't know what you are talking about or you are one of the few city hall workers that kept telling her to stop working so hard because she was making them look bad.
Donna worked very hard, countless extra hours without pay, and caught a lot of crap for doing just what she was being told to do.
She helped so many people when she was in that office that when Couture was ousted she would get phone calls from people at her house that weren't getting help anywhere else.
2 years later and she still gets phone calls at her house from constituents, especially the elderly that need her help and can't seem to get it from the Mayor's office or anyone else.
Mrs Achilli has already said she isn't interested in coming back to City Hall, but I'm sure whoever Art choses will be better than the team that's in there now.
Mary Schopar was useless to me when I needed to get to the Mayor for a simple return phone call. She kept making excuses for him for 3 weeks. Mrs. Achilli would make Couture call me back before he would leave at the end of the day.
My business does a lot with the City and I don't have time for excuses.
No one in Bristol, or elsewhere, had any part in orchestrating this for political benefit. This issue was unrelated to the election.
I have met Ken several times in a business setting. We have been friendly. I don’t know him well, and I don’t know Art Ward at all. I don’t know which candidate is better suited to running the city of Bristol. Therefore I have never had any desire to influence the election. Let the best man win.
If anyone thinks there is any pleasure in the joyless, taxing chore of bringing a complaint against a member of their own profession, it is because they have never been stuck between that rock and that hard place. The question regarding Ken presented itself in August, and was acted on at that time. It had nothing to do with Ken’s candidacy, which we were initially unaware of.
From my perspective, I was of the mind that the issue might be resolved privately. However, the “source” of the article, did not feel identically. The source felt the strong moral conviction that the public had a right to know about the business practices of candidates. Based on the comments on these blogs, the source is either a your villain or your hero depending on which candidate you support.
Again, no one in Bristol, or elsewhere, had any part in orchestrating this for political benefit. This issue was unrelated to the election.
John - why don't you now declare that you're not the Marino's nephew? And that the Marino's are not in Ward's camp? What a joke! Just more bashing from the Art lovers.
Oh John,
so much for your story!
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