Ryan Kulik: Loveland Deserves a Better Class of Politics

by Ryan Kulik

Labor Day is the unofficial start of the political campaign season. Our landscape is soon to be dotted with yard signs, our mailboxes will become filled with campaign literature, and our civic minded neighbors will be knocking on the door to urge us to vote for the candidate of their choice. For the majority of Americans, the 2017 political campaign season will be quiet. In Loveland, it will be quite the opposite.

I would be lying if I did not say that I was happy to see their plot fail.

When my family moved to Loveland in September of 2013 the city council race was essentially a matchup of outsiders Linda Cox and Pam Gross vs Councilmembers Rob Weisgerber, Brent Zuch . The rumor on the streets of Loveland was that Councilmen Weisgerber and Zuch purposefully recruited several of their political allies to run in the 2013 council race. The hope for this coalition was that their slate of candidates would occupy the top four positions on election day, and then Linda Cox and Pam Gross would not be able to get enough votes to win a seat. The plan failed. Ms. Cox and Ms. Gross were the top two vote getters while the scheme seemingly cooked up by Councilmen Weisgerber and Zuch cost the latter his seat. I had never seen such a blatant political stunt like the one allegedly from Weisgerber and Zuch in a local election. I would be lying if I did not say that I was happy to see their plot fail. I learned in my first few days in Loveland that the local political scene was filled with partisan amateurs who were always good for some campaign season entertainment.

By the time the kids were going back to school, this local group had forced the resignation of Mayor Mark Fitzgerald

The scheming of the 2017 campaign season did not wait for Labor Day in Loveland. A group of residents seemingly came out of nowhere to claim the “heartbeat” of our community. They started to pack city hall in the early part of the year, and they were demanding transparent from their city leaders. The local media started to take notice of this community driven movement, and their numbers began to grow. By the time the kids were going back to school, this local group had forced the resignation of Mayor Mark Fitzgerald and promised to make the last few months of the 2017 campaign season one that would be memorable.

Through all the noise, and confusion, caused by this local group, the truth has yet to make an appearance. This “concerned” citizens coalition has shown itself to be nothing but a partisan group dedicated to the campaigns of long time councilman Rob Weisgerber and his hand selected council wannabes. The failed tactics of the 2013 election seem to be rearing their ugly head once again. This time instead of just putting a large slate of candidates up to unseat rivals, Councilman Weisgerber has used a small minority of “concerned” residents to attack his rivals. It is sad as much as it is comical to see this amateur display of politics play out in our backyard.

Their political tactics consist of being filled with rage and discord.

The tactics being used by this “concerned” group of citizens reveals everything one needs to know about their electoral plan. No new, positive, ideas are being proposed by this coalition. Their political tactics consist of being filled with rage and discord. This group, who supports Councilman Weisgerber and his hand selected candidates, have stopped the business of the city while they try to score political victories. Their anti-growth agenda has stalled the positive progress Loveland has experienced the last four years. While Councilman Weisgerber and his allies at city hall votes against public hearings for initiatives that will bring visitors and their money to Loveland, this group of citizens loudly protect him by attacking their perceived enemies. While Councilman Weisgerber and his allies at city hall vote against public listening sessions that aim to mend the political discord in our community, this group of citizens disseminate misinformation to get the public unnecessarily enraged. While Councilman Weisgerber and his allies at city hall continue to push an anti-business agenda in Loveland, this group of concerned citizens ignorantly attack hard working public servants. The pure comedy of Councilman Weisgerber’s, and this group of “concerned” citizens, political strategy has produced real consequences of loss of growth and potential loss of future income. Cheap political tactics are robbing Loveland of a rich and profitable future. It is sad and maddening for the good people in our neighborhood.

The political stunts being perpetrated by Councilman Weisgerber’s mob of “concerned” citizens is embarrassing to the good people of Loveland.

Councilman Rob Weisgerber has been on Loveland City Council for over twenty years. That is an extremely long time for any one person to have power over the economic health of our community. Two decades produces a long, and questionable, record. He may try and use different political tactics to stay in power, but Loveland deserves leaders who think of our economic wellbeing and not their own hold on power. The political stunts being perpetrated by Councilman Weisgerber’s mob of “concerned” citizens is embarrassing to the good people of Loveland. We deserve a better class of politics in Loveland. We deserve leaders who do not use divisive political strategies for their own personal gain. Thank you for your service Councilman Rob Weisgerber. It is time for you to exit the stage.

Ryan Kulik shares his home in Loveland with his wife, son, and dog.