Do not allow candidates like Leary to equivocate

Equivocate: to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge, evade, stall, dodge; to use vague or ambiguous language, especially in order to avoid speaking directly or honestly; to avoid committing oneself in what one says; fudge, hedge, pussyfoot, tergiversate, waffle, weasel, beat around the bush, hem and haw, straddle the fence.

Watertown News editor Lee Malis wrote from an interview with my opponent, Bill Leary, “The big worry (about Leary) is that he is very close to the city people and (Leary) also is a big proponent of the 450th and most local people are afraid of the 450th.”

In a candidate questionnaire submitted to The Record, Leary said, “The combination of a weak economy, late start in organization, and failure to effectively involve, much less energize, our citizenry in the 450th commemorations causes me to take a more cautious view than I had even a year ago about what we might accomplish.”

SO, which is it, Mr. Leary? “Big proponent of the 450th”, as you told Watertown News, or “weak economy”, “late start”, “failure to involve”, failure to “energize” as you told The Record?

In the same questionnaire, Leary said, “Having said that, I remain optimistic that we can achieve one or more legacy successes if we concentrate on quality over quantity and focus upon long-term benefits to our residents and local businesses.”

SO, which is it, Mr. Leary? “more cautious” as you told The Record, or “remain optimistic” as you wrote in the next paragraph?

Are we starting to hear the “inside-the-beltway-doublespeak” that Washington, D.C. lawyers, like Leary, are famous for?

Michael Gold, Editor
Historic City News

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News staff photographer