Talk about misleading

To the editor:

In reading Aaron Downing’s letter to the editor about MEA on March 8, Downing attacks (MEA public information officer Cheryl) Heinze’s letter to the editor as misleading.

OK, let’s talk about misleading. First of all, what is Mr. Downing’s agenda? Why would he smear the good name of Heinze and (board member Janet) Kincaid? These are two professional women who have nothing but good intentions for the future of MEA and its members, yet Downing has gone out of his way to try to discredit them with innuendos and false accusations.

There was a time in this country where if a man attacked a woman in any manner, he would be run out of town on a rail. I know times are changing, but change is not always a good thing. Downing has insinuated that Kincaid participated in the cover-up of wrongdoing concerning the warehouse and her son. If he wants to pick on someone, let him pick on me. I am the warehouse foreman at MEA and I am not afraid of Downing and his accusations. If he has one iota of evidence that there was any misappropriation of materials on my part, or any of the warehouse employees, produce it. Every year the warehouse completes a physical inventory count and the records are scrutinized by an independent audit firm.

In Downing’s letter, he cites (MEA board hopeful Bill) Folsom’s reply to MEA’s MAC questions. Folsom’s reply talks about deeply cutting operational costs to reduce our rates. MEA is currently dealing with that very thing by having to repair and overhaul a system that has been sorely neglected for 15 years, particularly our substations. This neglect is costing MEA a lot of money and could have been avoided with a maintenance program. If you ask me, Folsom’s reply is just a lot of doom and gloom, fear mongering and insinuation of IBEW control. Did Downing write this script for him?

Let’s talk about the IBEW wage increase that was negotiated for over a year and signed by Carmony. It was not a 24 percent increase as Downing states, but 17 percent over five years and considering it was negotiated for more than a year you could say it was less than 3 percent per year for six years. This negotiated contract still leaves us with lower wages than other Railbelt utilities. I believe Downing would rather mislead the public for the upcoming board election than speak the truth.

For the first time in many, many years MEA is now working with other utilities to address generation and power costs, thanks primarily to Lois Lester, Janet Kincaid, Peter Burchell and Kit Jones. Years ago, MEA alienated itself from other utilities by being unwilling to work together with other board directors. Can this co-op afford to go back in time?

Downing and Folsom have had their turn as board members. Can anyone remember their accomplishments? Again, Downing would rather mislead the public for the upcoming board election than speak the truth. Could this be because they know they have let the membership down?

Please let’s all support Janet Kincaid and Peter Burchell and the future of MEA.

Dave King

MEA Warehouse

Foreman