LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Tag: james mckenna

  • Ryan Kulik announces he is working for Pam Gross campaign

    Ryan Kulik announces he is working for Pam Gross campaign

    Loveland, Ohio – Recent political climate critic, Ryan Kulik told Loveland Magazine this morning that he is now working on behalf of the re-election of Pam Gross to retain her seat on City Council. Kulik has been an outspoken critic of Councilman Rob Weisgerber, The Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC (LCHPAC) whom he recently called, “political motivated amateurs”, and the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance. He has called them all anti-growth and anti-development. Weisgerber is also seeking to be re-elected to Council.

    Ryan Kulik has announced he is working for the Pam Gross re-election committee.

    As recently as September 12 after one of his opinion pieces was published in Loveland Magazine Kulik said in an email to the newspaper, “I am currently not working with anyone associated with the city council. I have talked with a few people who are running, but I have yet to sign a contract to exclusively work for anyone. Due to confidentiality agreements I can not reveal who I have spoken with. I did want you to know all of this so it is clear where I am coming from. As long as I am free from any contracts in the city, I would like to continue to get my opinions out in this volatile political climate. I will keep you updated if any of this changes.”

    Then in an email to the newspaper on September 17 concerning a guest opinion that he submitted about first-time council candidate Tim Butler, that has not yet been published, he said, “It is up to you on publishing the Butler letter. When I wrote the letter I was still an independent player in the political scene. That may change this week. My credibility, if any, as an unbiased source will be in question by the end of the week.”

    Councilwoman Pam Gross

    Loveland Magazine responded to Kulik by asking if he would go ahead and disclose what he was referencing. His response came this morning saying, “I just sent out a press release that should clear up my current situation. Anything I wrote before today was from my own opinion as a resident. Anything after today that I send out concerning the 2017 election will, and should, be seen as a message from the Pam Gross for Loveland City Council campaign.” In the press release, Kulik is quoted as the “Campaign Manager” for the Pam Gross for Loveland City Council campaign.

    Halie Rebeccaschild is the Secretary and Spokesperson for The Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC

    Kulik, a self-described blowhard and political expert has submitted several opinion pieces to Loveland Magazine and is not without his fans and critics after among other things calling community members opposed to the re-election of Gross, “anti-business” and “partisan amateurs”. He said recently, “Their political tactics consist of being filled with rage and discord” and “This group of concerned citizens ignorantly attack hard working public servants.” Kulik called them a mob and “politically motivated flame throwing amateurs.” He warned that the Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC should be well versed in what libel and slander are.

    Halie Rebeccaschild is the Secretary and Spokesperson for LCHPAC. She told Loveland Magazine today that she and the group had suspected that Kulik had been working to re-elect Gross because some of the things he had written had mimicked some of Gross’ talking points at council meetings. She said that there is one thing she wants the public to know about LCHPAC, “We are a grassroots movement and not political professionals.”

    BACKGOUND:

    Ryan Kulik: Loveland Deserves a Better Class of Politics

    James McKenna responds to Ryan Kulik

    Ryan Kulik: Political motivated amateurs have taken over

    Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC responds to Mr. Kulik

    An Apology from Ryan Kulik

    Now Enrolling at All About Kids at Wards Corner today!

     
  • James McKenna responds to Ryan Kulik

    James McKenna responds to Ryan Kulik

    by James McKenna

    I find in myself a sliver of common ground with Ryan Kulik concerning Rob Weisgerber. (Ryan Kulik: Loveland Deserves a Better Class of Politics)

    In years past, I haven’t been thrilled with some things Mr. Weisgerber has done. But that’s the extent of my agreement with Mr. Kulik. In total, my experience of Mr. Weisgerber’s tenure on council has been positive. I wasn’t so happy about his part in the mess that eventually became the hulk at the corners of Loveland, Second, and Broadway, but it’s done and the city seems to be more or less the better for it. Certainly more business is being transacted. The basis for Mr. Kulik’s position that Mr. Weisgerber is anti-business is not clear to me.

    During the years when Mr. Fitzgerald’s group managed things, we saw back-room dealing, attempts to subvert the rule of law, and forceful silencing of the public.

    A few years ago, former mayor Mark Fitzgerald and his party arrived. Enough has been said about Mr. Fitzgerald, and the man has resigned. The three who ruled with him remain, deadlocking council. I hope November elections will end this farce and we can move on. During the years when Mr. Fitzgerald’s group managed things, we saw back-room dealing, attempts to subvert the rule of law, and forceful silencing of the public. During Mr. Fitzgerald’s tenure, Mr. Weisgerber stood against these activities. To my knowledge he was civil about this and followed the rules.
     
    Mr. Weisgerber has been on council a long time. Frankly, with the complicated mess we have right now, some continuity is probably a good thing. I hope the past few years have given Mr. Weisgerber a clear picture of what not to do on council; I trust him to take that lesson.
     
    Mr. Kulik’s vilification of Mr. Weisgerber does nothing useful. His mockery of the group that forced Mr. Fitzgerald out is groundless. The group’s ability to muster signatures representing a large portion of Loveland’s voters–twice–demonstrates their alignment with community sentiment. 

    My money is on Mr. Weisgerber and those who, I hope, will bring balance back to council.

    We’ve had a rough few years here in Loveland. And now we’ve had that fire that challenges the established community businesses that have anchored the downtown for years. The last thing we need is an attempt to resuscitate things better left dead. My money is on Mr. Weisgerber and those who, I hope, will bring balance back to council. They have their flaws and baggage, no doubt, but we cannot do worse than what’s gone on here recently. 
     
    I hope also that people will watch council closely, at least for a while, and hold the new council to account. It’s council’s job to do what we want; they would do well to open up to public input and execute on the best of what they hear. Study of development in other small towns would also be a good idea. Downtown charm is in the balance. If we don’t want blocks of spanking new brick with a scant nod to quaintness, all built for the profit of out-of-towners, we need to figure out how to develop sensitively or stop downtown development.
     
    Let’s have no more ugliness. It’s time to look at what needs to be done and get on with it.
     

    James McKenna lives on Maple Avenue in Loveland

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