Templeton residents who are waiting patiently for the upcoming recall may wish to open their dictionaries and read the definition of the word fraud. According to my Webster New World Dictionary fraud is defined as “deceit: trickery; cheating. 2.) an intentional deception or dishonesty; trick. 3.) a person who deceives or is not what he pretends to be.
As a person who has been involved in politics for the past twenty years it has been my experience that a good fraud is difficult to pick out of the crowd. Sometimes good frauds come in pairs. It is possible to have a pack of accomplished frauds working together.
Using the who why where when and how format for this letter to the editor (LTE) it is my intention to better inform the new residents in town and the less informed just how they might be able to spot a good fraud should one pass their way, as surely one will.
Who; The fraud that will be focused on in this LTE will be political fraud. This will be elected officials and town employees.
Why: Fraud makes us lose faith in our elected and appointed officials and in the government in general. Fraud destroys any hope in ever accomplishing anything within the system as it becomes apparent that those in charge are only out for themselves and a few close associates.
Where: This LTE is about alleged fraud here in Templeton but in my opinion as government gets bigger like at the State level or Federal level so does the amount of fraud. Bigger government often means bigger and more fraud.
When: Due to my experiences in town politics the fraud in question dates from the early seventies to the present.
How: The modus operandi for the alleged fraud that has been witnessed concerns abusing the trust that has been given to those elected or appointed by concerned citizens; and then working the system for their own financial interests and for like minded associates.
Questions’concerning fraud and what has been observed over the years includes:
1.) Is it fraudulent to use inside information to increase the value of your land should that land need to be purchased by the town?
2.) Is it fraud to use municipal funds to advocate for Special Legislation that increases your salary dramatically and opens up a new job for an associate if that Special Legislation results in a ballot election?
3.) Is it fraud to withhold evidence in a court case showing a party is responsible for contractual obligations if one is a town official?
4.) Is it fraud to participate on a golf committee to gain a right of way for your housing development if one’s land abuts that golf course and you have not disclosed this information and you are a local official?
5.) Is it fraud to receive American Express gift cards from businessmen who have recently sold buildings to the town and you are on the committee to purchase this building?
6.) Is it fraud to sign for loans for the town if you are on a building committee and you are not the legally responsible party?
7.) Is it fraud to dope your alleged friends into thinking you are the victim of foul play when this may not be the case?
8.) Is it a fraud to mislead people into thinking you won a lawsuit against the town when you had to pay the attorney fees for the defendants you tried to sue?
Signing a recall petition to replace honest people with those who may be involved with fraud may not be the way forward to good government.
Pete Farrell
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