Her turn………….
I am writing in response to the December 5, 2010 Herald Standard editorial entitled “Sad Affair-Zimmerlink Faulted For TV Comments” and Mark O’Keefe’s commentary entitled “Ethics Issues Taken Seriously. ” Criticism comes with the job, however, criticism and opinion should be based on fact. In these instances they were not.
On November 20th the HS erroneously reported that a television station coming to Fayette County would be run by the county. Their article included comments by an Atlantic Broadband representative and Commissioner Zapotosky. I waited four days and read no follow up article correcting this so I issued a professional press release based on the premise that the station was going to be county run.
For that the HS criticized me and accused me of playing politics.
So let’s look at my press release. I said their November 21th article concerning the county’s involvement lacked accurate information and misled the public. I said the announcement of any county management and involvement was premature. I said the only resolution unanimously approved by the Commissioners was to authorize the Tourism Alliance Group to develop a concept for a Public Education Television Program. I said developing a concept is a far cry from launching a channel and having a station and programming run by the county. I said any county involvement has yet to be formally and publicly approved. I said that the next phase should be a final presentation at a public meeting in the event public funds are used, as well as, to what extent we as elected officials would be involved. I said other cable and television providers would need to be considered. I said any contractual agreement with the HS would be a concern since the newspaper covers county government and the commissioners.
So to the readers I ask. How were my comments political, theatrical and absurd as the HS said?
Now let’s look at the HS comments from their two December 5th editorials. The HS said I should have raised these concerns before. I first heard that the county was running the station by reading the November 20th HS article so why would I have raised a concern before? The HS said I dashed off a press release. Given that the HS article was on November 20th and I waited 4 days for someone to make a correction just how does that constitute dashing off a press release? The HS said I attacked everyone involved in the project. To that I say, read my press release and you will find that to be false.
The HS goes on to say that I have been perpetually running against the two Vince’s for some time and that I thought I could use this issue against them. None of my comments were against the two commissioners. Given that we three commissioners have enough issues which we disagree on I would ask the HS to not create one.
The HS said I am looking for any and all issues to oppose the Vince’s on no matter how absurd.
I’ve opposed the commissioners on increasing the tax collectors and elected officials pay, on hiring grant writing and personnel consultants, some airport matters and raising the windmill decibel noise level, to name a few, none of which were absurd.
The HS said if I had any decency left I should apologize to those involved in the project. Apologize? For reading incorrect information in the HS; for fielding calls from citizens questioning county involvement; for fielding business calls wishing to advertise and for waiting 4 days for a HS correction then issuing a press release? I have nothing for which to apologize.
During my tenure, all of my decisions have been made in the best interest of the county and for the right reasons and I will continue doing so.
People assume news articles are accurate.
Anyone having questions about county issues after reading an article are welcome to call me at 724-430-1200 ext. 225 or e-mail me at zimmerlink@fayettepa.org.