Still time for Menard to ‘do the right thing’

To the editor:

With the Steve Menard recall vote on Feb. 7, residents of the Mat-Su Valley need to stand up and be heard. Maybe we can't do much to clean up Washington, D.C., but we pray the voters of Wasilla will choose to stand tall and clean up their local city government.

If one of us common, ordinary folks would have pulled the same destructive stunt as that of Mr. Menard, we would have been jailed, fined or both. Independent counsel, hired by the city of Wasilla to review the recall petition application, observed that Mr. Menard's actions would have been a misdemeanor if not even more serious. Most likely, with anyone else, police would have been involved. Not so with the untouchable Menard, who is somehow above the law of common decency and the statutory law that mere mortals are subject to obey.

Some may want to legitimize this man's behavior because he is an elected official. He can simply say he is sorry. Isn't there any self-respect that would generate remorse for his dishonorable escapade and dereliction of duty? Are there no moral standards in this family? Is there no intestinal fortitude and integrity in the fellow members of the Wasilla City Council who would not insist on his man's resignation? It seems they all - family and civic persons - have put political maneuvering and non-accountability ahead of principle and decency.

Citizens expect elected officials to reflect community values. We expect them to demonstrate honest, straightforward behavior that will be an example to us and especially to our youth. Imagine what our community would be like if our businesses, teachers, clerks, doctors, mechanics and indeed other civic workers, followed the lifestyle of this sorry soul, especially as an elected official.

Mr. Menard, by his disgusting and illegal misbehavior, caused concerned city residents to bring forth this public voting action. If Wasilla city voters fail to recall this man, they will be sending the message that his bad behavior exemplifies values with which Wasilla promotes and agrees.

You still have time Steve. Do the right thing and just resign now.

John Thomas

Wasilla