Good morning.
Monday in Whitewater will be rainy with a high of 69. Sunrise is 6:33, and sunset is 4:42, for 10 hours, 9 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waxing crescent, with 8.9 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his men find the entrance to Tutankhamun‘s tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
In the 43rd Assembly District, Whitewater resident Brienne Brown is running against Jefferson resident Scott Johnson.
Here is a map of the 43rd Assembly District’s boundaries:
Whitewater, the largest city in the district, is at the northeast corner of the map. Jefferson is in another district.
On April 11th, Scott Johnson published an announcement for his candidacy for the 43rd Assembly seat.
On August 12th, Johnson attended a meeting of the Whitewater Planning Board. At that meeting, Johnson spoke during public comment on a proposed apartment complex on the east side of Whitewater.
Here’s how Johnson began his remarks (with his full remarks available online):
“Good evening. I’m Scott Johnson, I’m not from this local community…”
Johnson does not live in Whitewater, and he does not live anywhere else in the district. It’s lawful to do what Johnson is doing, but it’s irresponsible and selfish.
The proper order for a candidacy goes like this: live in the district, learn about the district, and run only after you have lived here.
This reasonable & responsible sequence applies to Republicans, Democrats, and independents.
All the rest — claims and counterclaims, opposition research and replies — should be secondary and subordinate to a candidate’s residency in this community before he runs for office.
I have always — always — encouraged people to move to Whitewater. Johnson should first sell his out-of-district residence, move here to Whitewater (his best option) or elsewhere in the district (a second-best choice), live here with us, and only then consider a candidacy after living with us.
It’s beautiful here. Whitewater has options for homes and apartments, including among them several senior living facilities.
If Johnson does not believe this district is good enough for a residency-first approach, then this district is too good for Johnson.
No yielding whatever on this fundamental point.
Uncovering a lost mountain metropolis: