According to many sources District 13 Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch has dismissed her LA Steve Clark saying he just isn't "savvy" enough for her. I love the terminology. Who can define savvy anyway? Vicki Welch who got the job because of Sheriff Aubrey's name?
For those who do not know the background let me fill in the blanks. According to anonymous inside sources Steve Clark was asked, along with Ron Weston, by former Deputy Mayor Rick Johnstone to switch parties from Republican to Democrat and by doing so Johnstone could help them get jobs.
Rick Johnstone has been referred to in inner circles as the puppet master to Abramson. As we all know Weston did indeed switch parties and got elected then moved up to State level. Part of the deal for Weston's switch was that Steve Clark wold be taken care of as well. These sources tell me that Steve did indeed switch parties to secure a job.
Confused yet? This is typical playing ball by the power elite and those that want the power. Welcome to the game.
In the meantime, merger became a reality and Welch got elected with help from the administration. Why you may ask? Simple, they wanted to continue being able to do what they wanted without true oversight. In short, we will help you get the job but you will be our puppet. The plan worked and Steve Clark essentially ran the show with Welch voting as told.
It has been common knowledge, according to my sources, that Clark actually runs the District 13 seat and Vicki is just a figure head. Part of the deal in helping Vicki Welch was that Steve Clark maintained his position. Clark also reported to Deputy Mayor Johnstone in reality not Welch.
Since Johnstone retired reportedly Welch believes she "owes" no one anymore and decided to let Clark go. Upon the retirement of Johnstone Welch has reportedly been berating Steve Clark around the office for a few weeks before deciding to let him go. Interesting scenario. Talk about loyalty huh? I mean wait until the guy you owe retires then start berating his handpicked assistant to you to set up letting him go.
Wonder how "savvy" he was over the last few years that he all of a sudden just couldn't cut it?
Finally, the new LA reportedly will be Kevin Triplett. Triplett as you may recall ran a campaign against Marianne Butler and lost. Triplett also has ties to City government through George Melton. George Melton got rid of his aide, Mark Irwin, when he was alderman to make room for Kevin Triplett to take the job.
Why you may ask? I am told because Kevin Triplett's mom was secretary to none other than Mayor Jerry Abramson so his ties were stronger than Mark's.
Get all that? Welcome again to the game.
There is one thing many of us need to ask ourselves now though.
Since merger was supposed to open up government and afford us a balanced equal Council that would encompass ALL of the citizenry, how is it that all the old power players names are the ones in control?
Can anyone name someone new that is looking out after our best interests?
Good luck. It is time to open up the door of possibility to new fresh faces in government not the same old power elite that have left us high and dry.
Your thoughts?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
6 comments:
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Ed Springston
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Ed, you couldn't be more off-base. Vicki won her race because she worked her rear end off. And because people like Mike Bailey and myself worked our rears off, walking door to door, volunteering dozens of hours per week. The entire Democracy for America organization stood up for her and helped seat her.
ReplyDeleteWe also stood up for Kevin Triplett. And we were disappointed when Vicki didn't hire Kevin to be her aide. We lobbied for it because we felt he was the right guy for the job and didn't want his talents to go to waste after losing an election.
Vicki also isn't allied with the Mayor or any of his crew. If you've ever been around her in public, you'd know her thoughts on that bunch.
"The Administration" had nothing to do with her campaign.
Actually, Ed may be closer to the truth than what we will ever know, given the clandestine nature of backroom politics.
ReplyDeleteFACT: I’ve emailed Welch more than 4 times during her tenure about constituent concerns and she has FAILED TO RESPOND to me all 4 times!
Her LA, Steve Clark, ended up responding each time on her behalf.
FACT: Welch has stood steadfastly behind Abramson on vote after vote after vote.
If Welch has any differences with Abramson she needs to do more than just “say” so, she needs to back her words with corresponding actions.
FACT: Loyal Democrat union guy John Gatton appeared to be the “heir apparent” to this job when Weston stepped up to state level. Welch appeared relatively late in the game BUT had the backing of Rick Johnstone, an Abramson ally.
And everyone needs to remember this next crucial point …
FACT: Welch was initially APPOINTED to this position by the Abramson-controlled Metro Council.
It’s apparent that the writer of this story has intense feelings for Welch.
But that doesn’t change the facts.
FACT: Welch’s legal name is: Vicki Diane Welch.
On the campaign trail, Welch substituted “Aubrey” for Diane to ride on the back of her relative’s good name, Sheriff John Aubrey.
FACT: Kevin Triplett had a nice job with Abramson’s Department of Neighborhoods:
TRIPLETT, KEVIN D
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORD - NEIGHBORHOODS
LOUISVILLE METRO
$40,123
(Source: C-J Datacenter)
BUT the Dept. of Neighborhoods has been scaled back. So …
Abramson decided to “take care” of Kevin Triplett.
(BTW ... WHY does Triplett deserve to be “taken care of” more than the others in that same dept.?)
So what did Steve Clark make in salary?
CLARK, WILLIAM STEVE
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT - LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL
LOUISVILLE METRO
$52,790
(Source: C-J Datacenter)
BAM! Clark gets the boot and Triplett gets a Raise!
It IS curious that Ed's critic is defending the status quo. Kinda makes Ed’s point about those who were in power BEFORE MERGER are the ones still in control AFTER MERGER.
(BTW … did the critic check with Ed about WHO he talked to to get this info?
Ed may have Democrat sources.)
And you did not refute any of Ed’s “rumors” with any facts EXCEPT that you worked your ass off getting Welch elected with the generous assistance of special interest groups.
According to public records, the critic doesn’t even live near District 13.
How could he possibly know the whole story about Welch?
The critic appears to have a profound bias in favor of Welch. But then, he has never professed to be a serious main-stream journalist.
I always`thought that should have been "Landslide" Renay Davis' seat. I think it was one of the very few elections where the local "Democracy for America" actually backed a eventual winner but to infer that they made that election is a stretch. Klan rumors made more of a difference than a couple of nerds sitting around the downtown library.
ReplyDeleteKevin Triplett was a major player at OTC for years, and couldn't make it profitable.
ReplyDeleteSo, now the city will be paying out in unemployment for Clark?
We have the status quo because voters keep voting by name.
And on a totally unrelated note, sinc Aubrey's name was brought up - anyone remember how under Greene, and even Vaughn, we had reserve deputy sheriffs out working during emergency situations? I've heard several firefighters complaining that it used to be, when we had downed lines, a call to the sheriff's office would mean in due course, a reserve deputy would show up and take over as the Mayor said yesterday - babysitting a line - until it could be secured. Now, we're tying up lots of fire apparatus and crews on this job - how wasteful is that? Aubrey still has lots of reserve deputies, he simply refuses (and yes, HE refuses) to use them in emergencies, which is the whole reason he has the ability to swear in these folks in the first place! How much money are city taxpayers having to spend on this now?
Wow! You guys are some for real conspiricy nuts. What if she just wanted some one else? God forbid it be that simple. Steve was Weston's man, Vicki wants some one that is hers.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck Kevin Triplett!!
Good Luck Steve Clark!!
I honestly think that Welch is trying to connect herself to the Mayor as close as she can. Remember,... as much as we may dislike her, she's still a Councilwomen with a decent reputation with many in the party around town. If the Mayor flops in the next election, wouldn't Welch be a likely candidate? Another thing, she's pretty supportive of Congressman Yarmuth from what I understand too.
ReplyDeleteBut rest assured, I'll be walking door to door for Renay Davis next election and I'll be fighting each and everyday to make sure that Davis gets in there so we can actually bring some decent representation to the Southwest area.