Cavanagh draws criticism on several fronts
Sporting a prominent “Vicites” for commissioner button on her lapel, Ethel Kenes criticized Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh on several fronts at Wednesday’s meeting. Kenes said that Cavanagh didn’t take the same level of interest as Vicites and Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls in trying to obtain a national veteran’s cemetery a few years back. The highly sought after cemetery was eventually awarded to a site in Washington County, home county of U.S. Rep. Frank Mascara (D-Charleroi).
“It seems like since you’ve been in office, you’ve been trouble from day one,” said Kenes, who inferred that Cavanagh is strategizing with former commissioner and current Democrat Party Chairman Fred L. Lebder.
“I think if you had left Mr. Lebder alone, you’d be a better commissioner,” said Kenes. On other topics, Kenes questioned why Cavanagh was in such a hurry to reappoint Angela M. Zimmerlink to the Fayette County Housing Authority board of directors and she alleged that Cavanagh doesn’t return phone calls as well as Vicites.
After the meeting, Cavanagh dismissed Kenes’ comments as politically motivated, as evidenced by her wearing the “Vicites” button and her recitation of a list of basic anti-Cavanagh and pro-Vicites themes.
“All my phone calls get returned. Basically, the venom that came out of her mouth was a real turn-off. I believe that when they did their presentation (for the cemetery), I was at a conference,” said Cavanagh. He added that it is Vicites who is cut from the same political cloth as Lebder and who aspires to succeed him as a major power broker.
“Let’s set the record straight: Vince Vicites is trying to take over Fred Lebder’s empire. For Vince Vicites and his crew to make people think I’m involved with Fred Lebder is the most ridiculous thing in the world,” said Cavanagh.
“Do Vince Vicites, (his chief advisor) Martin Griglak and his cronies really believe that they can sell this to the people of Fayette County? I’m the most brutal critic Fred Lebder ever had – and I’m the only elected official who has ever spoken out against him. I’m the agent of change in Fayette County. This just goes to show you the dirty tactics that Vince Vicites and Martin Griglak are going to use,” concluded Cavanagh.
During the meeting, Cavanagh, a former member of the U.S. Army Reserves, said he’s the only sitting commissioner to ever wear a military uniform. Cavanagh said that while Kenes is entitled to her opinions, he resented her insinuation that he isn’t patriotic and doesn’t care about veterans’ issues.
“Obviously, you’ve got your (Vicites) tag on, so I know what camp you’re in,” Cavanagh told Kenes. “If you question my patriotism, that’s absurd … I don’t appreciate your questioning my patriotism, ma’am.”
Cavanagh also said that, overall, the Cavanagh-Vicites-Nehls administration has been the county’s greatest in the last 100 years.