Your endorsement presented lame reasons to vote for Wiehl

To the Editor:

At the risk of losing some friends and being banned from Open Mic, I just can't keep quiet any longer. The Athens NEWS (Oct. 20) missed the mark completely when it came to your endorsement for mayor.

According to The NEWS, collecting a paycheck for four years as mayor deems Wiehl worthy of continuing such apathy. To quote The NEWS specifically, "While he [Wiehl] can't cite a great deal of solid accomplishments during his first term, he has surrounded himself with competent staff." What a resume! The editorial then says the reason for not endorsing Randy Morris is because Morris "… suggested that Wiehl's a do-nothing mayor who does not provide strong leadership." Now I'm confused.

Since when has status quo become a shining example of accomplishment worthy of a vote? This only perpetuates the myth that our "lovely little democracy" is acceptable and everything is just fine. What about the ongoing water system issues? What about the nowhere road to Richland Avenue? If Wiehl is such a great leader, then why does The NEWS say, "While we still don't understand why the city continues to needlessly block OU's desire to open a needed access lane between OU's Baker Center and Richland Avenue, in other areas, the city and university appear to be working together?"

Wiehl had four years to work that out, and we don't even know why it remains an issue. Oh wait; he did have a last-ditch effort THIS MONTH to start working on town-and-gown issues by forming a work group with a memorandum of understanding. The appearance of progress is not progress.

Having worked for and with Mr. Morris, I can tell you that his life, work and military experience have garnished him with an incredible ability to bring all parties together and remain sensitive to the needs of all involved while making things happen. And just a reminder, it is the Ohio voters at large, not Randy Morris, who will have a say regarding S.B. 5. His opinions about this legislation have absolutely no bearing on his ability to effectively run this city.

I have to admit, I am a little biased having unprecedented access to how Mr. Morris works since I've worked with him for four years. But don't take my word for it. Read the letters from other employees at the National Business Incubation Association. He is respected and trusted. You don't get that just collecting a paycheck. And while I may not have a say in who runs the city of Athens, the residents of Athens have a grand opportunity to see just how well this city can be run… with competent staff and solid accomplishments.

Leah Nairn
Pleasant Hill Road