Tom Gordon Contemplating Another Run
Former New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon is thinking about taking another run at his old office — an office he left in disgrace. Remember how resoundly he got beat last time he ran?After being handed a huge electoral defeat in 2008 (65% to Coons, 35% to Gordon), Tom Gordon is thinking the time is right for a comeback. How will this affect the campaign County Land Use Department employee Bill Shahan? Does this help incumbent Paul Clark.
For more on Shahan, read cassandra_m’s article from January of the year.
Tags: Bill Shahan, New Castle County, Paul Clark, Tom Gordon
No doubt Clark is viewed as vulnerable, and we haven’t heard anything from Shahan since he announced, so it’s hard to believe he’s a viable challenger. So Gordon sees a way back in. Not sure which is worse — Clark in bed with the developers (tsk, tsk) or Gordon with his my way or the highway, police state mentality. But a primary battle between the two will be our best example ever of two pots calling the kettles black.
Is there a decent candidate available (as in a candidate with some decency)for this position?
Bill Shahan is a fine candidate as is the GOP contender Mark Blake – who will be filing and announcing in early May.
Gordon at least got some of the conversation going about Clark’s deficiencies. But will Gordon really run knowing that his press will always be this painful with the target on his back?
There is footage of Clark and Shanhan – soon to make its way onto the intertubes. I’ll bring the links here so mediawatch can observe a little of what Shanhan’s been doing. Also Dunn and Taschner are going to be up on youtube – so much better to actually see people in action than read between the lines.
If you noticed, Clark gets something positive in the paper to counterweight Gordon’s slights about Pam Scott, cozy developer benefits and ethical and fiscal lapses.
Clark’s big announcement about matching NCC FOIA policy to Jack Markell’s was good news. My challenge to Clark and NCC Council is how about doing a little matching of Markell’s lobby reform policy??????? The development industry pays for most county campaigns and writes most of their code!!! If that was made transparent to the citizens we’d all be better served.
Clark should be asked if he will match the Markell lobby reform legislation every time he gets a mic in his hand.
Prediction: The Tom Gordon poll running now is going to have the most lopsided results of any poll to date. That’s saying something because he is competing with KWS for the title.
Can’t resist – Elizabeth Allen posts this on TNJ site:
“Great news! I am so glad to hear you will be running. If you don’t run there wont be an inch of space left in this county for citizens to have the open space we need, as the developers gulp it all up. You have great many supporters who will work tirelessly for your campaign. We the people who truly know you, know you havent just retired since leaving office, in fact you have been continued volunteering with many organization from morning till night. Dont just consider running, RUN TOM RUN. Just do it! to Nancy Willing, Shahan cant win. We who are politcally astute know that the charges against Gordon was a Bushie witch hunt. They wanted to go after any democrat who the people supported, because that person might aspire to higher office. Tom was vindicated, putting him back in office vindicates us all.”
There was never an election for this position to begin with, Paul only got it because Coons left. I think it is time that both Tom and Paul put forth their platforms and let us decide who should win. Controversy has followed both Tom’s and Paul’s tenure in office so now we need to decide who has done the most good for us while in office! Tom was put under a microscope so everyone knows everything there is to know about him already . . . would Paul survive under that same microscope? I don’t know much about Shahan but I do know that we need experience right now to deal with county council. Your vote is your voice . . . use it!
This would be an unusual match-up. They clearly would both have their detractors. My guess is that Gordon has some supporters as well (enough?). I don’t know much about Mr Shahan. Does Paul Clark have supporters?
Hmm, maybe next week we will do a poll, “Who do you detest more?” Gordon or KWS.
Would love to see Tom Gordon back! No one administration did a better job managing the county’s finances as evident by the AAA credit rating we still enjoy today.
Tom Gordon is ok with me. He was smeared and rail roaded. If he runs he gets my vote no matter what. I don’t care what other people have to say.
Tom Gordon is not OK, he was not railroaded, and he wasn’t half as smeared as he deserved to be.
Nice to see that he’s still using the same discredited tactics of paper-hanging to support his campaign. If I had a nickel for every fake letter to the editor he had written on his behalf, I could retire today.
He’s unfit for office, and these last two commenters are just two more turds in his toilet bowl.
“Tom was put under a microscope so everyone knows everything there is to know about him already”
Bullshit. Ask him to release the tapes he had quashed at trial. There’s no reason to keep them sealed anymore. You’ll hear lots more than you’ve heard so far.
Nancy: Thanks for the Liz statement. She’s almost always wrong, yet never in doubt.
Tom Gordon is ok with me. He was smeared and rail roaded. If he runs he gets my vote no matter what. I don’t care what other people have to say.
Look at that – you can’t buy that kind of support.
Well, actually probably you can.
This guy needs a hobby! He got destroyed in a primary the last time around and it will be no different this time. He is living in the past and is completely delusional about his record. Let it go already!
Is Shahan no longer running? His webpage seems to have disappeared.
Prochange: He’s obsessed with “clearing his name.”
I sure wish that Krett guy was still in the race.
Bill Shahan has attended the last two PDD meetings.
PDD is hosting a forum for (filed) Democratic candidates for county council president and county executive at our May 2nd meeting.
Who is Dan Bates? And why would any self respecting reporter speak to a campaign spokesman and not insist that Paul Clark speak for himself? Where was Paul? Mitt Romney is the only pol I know that can sucessfully duck the press like this. A good reporter would tell campaign spokesman Dan Bates “If Idon’t speak to the candidate, his story doesn’t get told”
Cass–it seems like the site may have been reorganized. the base (without the \index) works fine: http://www.billshahan.com
Geezer like I said before I will put Tom up against Paul anytime. Let’s put them on an even playing field, how about we plant a tape recorder in Paul’s office secretly and tape him …. hmmmm let’s say we put that tape secretly in place for the time Paul’s wife was still working as an attorney …. wonder what would be on those tapes???? Bet those tapes would get squashed too … what do ya think???
Me thinks that Gordon’s minions are freeping the poll.
Agreed Nemski! The thing is it is such a small faction and there isn’t enough money out there to overcome the negativity associated with his name. This just stirs the pot and gets his name in the paper. Chris Coons raised taxes 50% and still beat him like a rented mule.
Ahhh whats wrong fellas have to resort to saying that it is only minions who would support Tom. Come on give it up! I am pissed at the way Paul treats NCCo police and how arrogant he is about our land that is the bottom line. Has nothing to do with being a minion. Let’s agree to disagree and not resort to being so shallow you vote how you want to vote and I will vote how I want to vote. See you at the polls. Have a nice night!
Give it up yourself, Linda. This happens with weak candidates all the time — the politician’s name appears here and suddenly lots of people who have never written a comment before take cursor in hand to offer “unsolicited” endorsements.
Based on this: “I am pissed at the way Paul treats NCCo police and how arrogant he is about our land that is the bottom line” — I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you’re one of Tommy and Sherry’s supporters-in-brown. Cry me a river.
“Let’s put them on an even playing field, how about we plant a tape recorder in Paul’s office secretly and tape him”
Yeah, that’s what a Gordon supporter would suggest — breaking the law. See, the tapes of Gordon were authorized by the courts. Just the kind of bothersome distinction Tommy could never be bothered with either.
If you have any evidence of anything illegal Paul Clark has done, out with it. Otherwise you’re forced to admit that as bad as Paul Clark might be, you not only can’t prove it, you can’t even prove he’s as bad as your chosen savior.
If all you want to do is vote, STFU about how great Gordon is. We have not only a right but an obligation to point out that you’re utterly full of shit, and I will exercise that right whenever I find it necessary.
And, just for the record — longtime readers will wisely consider this a warning — if the bullshit Gordon worship continues, I will dig out all the old stuff detailing exactly what it is that Tom and his supporters consider “no big deal.” Paul Clark doesn’t have the brains or the balls to trample the law with anything near the impunity Tom Gordon and Sherry Freebery did.
And I would further point out that Tom Gordon doesn’t have any balls, either, since breaking with Sherry. The proof is that he now blames all the bad stuff that happened on her.
Why didn’t he deep-six her? The answer is right there on the tapes: “She has too much shit on me.”
To Nancy Willing (not sure what you are willing to do – :0) – What is Shahan’s background and what makes him the best candidate. I also had trouble getting onto his web site, but thanks to PBaumbach instructions I was able to access it.
By looking at his website, he does not have much experience, unless I am missing something.
Can we do what they did in that movie “Brewster’s Millions” and vote for “none of the above?”
“A good reporter would tell campaign spokesman Dan Bates “If Idon’t speak to the candidate, his story doesn’t get told””
Good reporters rarely have good editors. That tactic only works if the editors will back you up, and Gannett editors won’t.
Schmuck, my last name is Willing as was my father’s and so on. 🙂
Shahan has had hands on experience working in the county for decades in various non-political positions. I think it best to see for yourself how Bill handles himself. There will be video up soon.
And if he hasn’t filed yet, he ought to before the PDD forum.
I will wait for your disclosure. I think if you have the right to tell me to STFU you can at least back up your statement on the same forum. What was released in FOIA was read by us all unless you have access to something that we do not . . . and can share with us all I would be interested in knowing. As far as disclosing what Paul did or did not do that too was fully disclosed in the same way that Tom’s issues were disclosed. Unless you have access to more information than John Q public does then please enlighten . . . I am sure all of the stuff you speak of will be coming out anyway so you might as well start now. Didn’t mean to upset you though : )
And, just for the record — longtime readers will wisely consider this a warning — if the bullshit Gordon worship continues, I will dig out all the old stuff detailing exactly what it is that Tom and his supporters consider “no big deal.”
Let us know if you want a Guest Post to put up this material. Am looking forward to seeing this stuff, since I was just getting here when the fireworks started.
Nancy – just kidding… Where will we be able to view the videos?
Geezer – Great point…Clark should not hide behind a spokesperson (Mr. MasterBates).
Sorry, Linda, you’re the one with something to prove. Every stupid thing Paul Clark does is done out in the open, as far as I know. He’s married to a land-use attorney — well, the voters knew all that when they elected him. He’s pro-development — the voters knew that, too.
Whereas Tom Gordon has never done anything above board in his entire freaking life, and has the balls in place of brains to claim he didn’t do anything wrong. Bullshit. In the middle of it, Little Whining Tommy admitted what he did was illegal but used the excuse that “everyone else does it too” to exonerate himself.
That’s what you want to vote for? Believe me, STFU is excellent advice. Don’t embarrass yourself by championing a guy who made Bill Clinton seem like a monk.
Gordon is good for my county and I will vote for him.