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What Else Is Missing…?
By Lafe Tolliver, Esq
Guest Column
As an investigative reporter for the still growing news
agency called
All Negro News Network (ANNN), I read the recent story about
gifts that ex-Mayor Mike Bell has not yet accounted for and
which some gifts may or may not be items that legally belong
to the City of Toledo.
When I read that story, I shuddered and had body chills
because I know something. Something that I am very hesitant
to reveal because of the damage it may cause. However, as an
ethical journalist, I also have a duty to my readers to
report the news as I see it.
What I am about to divulge is not easy for me because
people with their own axes to grind will run with this story
and, before you know it, it will be blown out of proportion
and it is so difficult to un-ring a bell (pardon the pun).
I have consulted numerous experts on this possible
disclosure and all of them have told me that I must report
what I know to the proper authorities and whatever
happens…happens.
Even with that backup advice, I have had many a
sleepless night pondering and agonizing over whether I
should just keep quiet and let sleeping dogs lie or if I
should stand up and do the right thing.
Finally, I decided to reveal what I know when I
recalled what my former swim coach, Amos Mossinger, said to
me when I was about to swim in the 100 meters finals in
Chicago at the Bratton Relays when I was a teenager.
I never forgot those words: “Son, you know it is the
right thing to do when you don’t want to do it but you know
you should do it.” Looking back, truer words were never
said.
So, with my courage beefed up with those memorial
words, I have decided to reveal what I know about gifts that
the ex mayor has still yet to account for.
How do I know this? Because I was the person that gave
him these gifts! I gave him these gifts, precious to me, on
the implicit understanding that they would benefit him in
his job as mayor and would be a comfort and solace to him
when the demands of the job of the mayor became difficult
and he needed to find inspiration to continue the job of
being a mayor.
Will Mayor Bell forgive me for this release? I can
only hope so and I can only hope that he will realize that
these disclosures were not made with any malice or attempt
to harm him but to realize that transparency in public
office is a value that should be cherished and protected.
So, with that in mind, here is the list of items that
are yet to be accounted for and why they were given. I list
the ‘whys’ only because I want to clearly show that there is
no way anyone can show that a ‘profit’ motive was involved
in these gifts being given to the mayor.
MISSING GIFTS?:
(1) Eight (8) 20-gallon cowboy hats made of silk and straw
with the word YEEHAAH! embroidered on the hat brows. Why? I
know of the fondness that the mayor has for country line
dancing and it does me proud to see him twist and turn on
those sawdust dance floors.
Value: approximately $1,200.00.
(2) A well-worn copy of the book, How To Win The Vote of
The African-American Voter (1993 edition by Billmont
Publishers). Why? Check the recent voter tabulations in the
central city wards for your answer.
I heard that this book was gathering dust on his bookshelf
in his office but so what…it was a gift.
Value: obviously zero to the mayor but back on the book
market at: $23.50.
(3) A book called: How To Dress A Black Man For Success
(2002 edition by Marksen & Toth). Why: at times when the
mayor went out in public, I did not know if he was a
homeless dude, a motorcycle gang member or simply did not do
his laundry. Value: priceless but on the book market:
$19.95.
(4) A teaching video entitled: Can You Find The Mayor?
(Vygent Videos 2007 edition) Why: people complained that the
mayor did not make the political appearances in certain
segments of the city, I thought a good primer in how to
spread yourself out to all the voters would be a great gift!
Value: $35.00.
(5) Free tickets to a seminar in Columbus entitled: “How To
Not Bash Unions In A Union Town and Still Win.” Why? Talk
to Governor John Kasich on this one. Value: priceless but
the ticket prices were a little steep at $295.00 but it
included a value-added pep talk with John Boehner and Newt
Gingrich.
(6) A great guidebook called: Job Hunting For Mayors Who
Lost Elections They Should Have Won. (Perfonics Press
2009 edition). Why: come on people, this election should
have been a “shoo in” for Bell!
Value: $45.00.
(7) Season tickets to the Chinese Opera with the English
translation of: “I Did It My Way And Lost!” These tickets
can only be redeemed in the Chinatowns of NYC or LA. Value:
$280.00 (includes a seven-course dinner!).
Once you total the above gifts, you will realize that
the value places the ex mayor in a very awkward position of
trying to justify what he did with those gifts to the Ohio
Ethics Commission.
I have been called by that committee to show evidence
of the gifts and that data has been turned over to them for
further review.
I can only hope that my acts are seen in the best light
possible and I will be remembered as a crusader for
governmental transparency.
Contact Lafe Tolliver at
Tolliver@Juno.com |
