Arvin more absent than present

To the editor:

When I vote for a candidate for any office, the least I expect from that person is to show up to work. Being absent doesn’t cut it. Ron Arvin said he would be here for us. He wasn’t. More absent than present, Arvin was mostly a no-show. He can’t represent us if he isn’t here. What person applies for a job, gets it, and then doesn’t show up for work?

Out of 96 meetings, he teleconferenced from China 47 times and was absent three times. (Borough Clerk record: Jan. 18, 2011 to Aug. 9, 2012) That means he was available for meetings by phone (audio only) 48 percent of the time. That’s only partly there. When neighbors tried to call him on the number listed at the borough, they got a Fax tone. Apparently he communicates from China via email. Not all his constituents have Internet.

Can you think of any business or governmental agency that would agree to have a person out of the workplace, even if they communicated via email, 52 percent of the time? Would you hire someone who only appeared present for the meetings of the borough 48 percent of the time? Most employers would fire someone with that attendance record. Our assembly members represent us. Often a problem cannot be described — you have to see it. China’s a long way away.

Again, Borough Assembly members are our local representatives, who show up, when our neighborhoods have concerns. They come out and talk to us to see firsthand what our problems are, whether it’s potholes that need fixing, snow that needs plowing, or issues over land use. Michelle Church was there for us. She came out to see what we needed. She responded promptly and voiced our concerns to the rest of the assembly.

Our problems got fixed. Church even made sure that Borough Assembly meetings were not scheduled during daytime hours when most of us couldn’t attend, and that all public hearings started at 7 p.m. Church worked hard as our representative and spoke up for us when we needed her to. And she was present.

I miss the former assembly when Church was on it. Cindy Bettine, Mary Kvalheim and Lynn Woods were there. Back then, we had real representation. Not anymore. Now my neighbors and I feel disconnected from our local government because Arvin and some others on the assembly give the impression that they are “Open for Business” — but not open for us. A Fax tone is not availability! But even “Open for Business” doesn’t really cut it at such distance.

What happens when Arvin figures out that he cannot do both jobs well? How long will it take before he gets burnout? Will he simply walk away from the assembly “job” and leave a spot open to be filled by appointment? How does he explain his non-availability for non-business issues while he’s in Asia? Call him and find out if he fully intends to fill the term for which he is running in this election. Ask how he’ll avoid burnout. Ask him how he’ll view a neighborhood issue when he’s in Asia. If you can get past a Fax tone. Those of us in District 3 are supposed to elect our representative. I urge all of you to vote.

We need an assembly member who lives here — not in Asia. So long, Arvin! If you haven’t figured out that you’re spread too thin, your constituents can figure it out. Thank you, Michelle Church for stepping up to fill the void.

Bob Matthews

Palmer