We at Muddy Williamson would like to thank all those who stopped by this blog since late February, to read, to make comments and to give suggestions. This is what democracy is about: freedom of expression and elections.
We'll be analyzing what comes next for the community after last night's election, in the next couple of days and we do intend to keep this blog up and running. We live in interesting times and they may become more so. But tonight, let's look at a couple of candidates who have never been on the Board and did not win last night: Russell Williams and Mike Vanhorn. Some of us here had never heard of either of them before the campaign got under way. To our delight, each of them found this blog and left several comments.
Mike Vanhorn framed this campaign. He single handedly placed the issue of nepotism center stage in the election. His emails, his performance at the candidate forum and his quotes in the Southern Illinoisan were all focused on this issue. All the other candidates were forced to speak about hiring practices, transparency (or lack there of) and nepotism. Surely this was not what they anticipated when they entered the race. However, even if he did not win a seat, Vanhorn will have a legacy on the Board. That legacy is the public consciousness of Logan Board hiring practices and past inclination to operate in the dark. At the candidate forum, Vanhorn said voters should pick any two of four: Graff, Snider, Williams or Vanhorn. Too many decent people may have been his downfall. We could only elect two. We're glad he ran anyway. Thank you Mike Vanhorn!
Some of us were skeptical of Russell Williams at the beginning of the race, doubtful he'd grasped the issues or was tough enough. He won us all over. Whether by inclination or keen political instincts, he picked up on the themes Vanhorn had also expressed and made a campaign of it. He was articulate, poised and showed he could express a sense of outrage. He also was a victim of musical chairs: too few seats for too many candidates. Our thanks to Russell Williams as well, for giving folks someone to vote for, rather than the lesser of evils.
Both men were honorable and transparent. The theme of servant leadership that Russ expressed was refreshing. It's too bad that more don't understand the concept. Glad to hear the blog is continuing as I'm sure there will be more attempts by some to maintain their control at JALC.
ReplyDeleteThank you "Winston Smith" for the kind remarks. The campaign theme was a very difficult one for me to carry out but someone had to do it and I decided it might as well be me.. had everything to gain and nothing to lose personally. I never lost any of my family members,never lost any of my friends and I won because of the respect I gained from several people throughout Southern Illinois for having the guts to "tell it like it is". You cannot imagine how this campaign led me to more acquaintances throughout southern Illinois that I would never had the opportunity to meet in a lifetime. This was special to me!
ReplyDeleteI will not ever run for the JALC BOARD OF TRUSTEES again but not due to sour grapes of losing. I am at the stage of my life with my past illnesses that I overcame that I need to enjoy life and do things without a job that I enjoy. Cardinal baseball, Logan athletics, fundraising for good causes in my Camps for Kids business and enjoying my daughter and 83 year old father while I can.
MAIN THING...I will not stop watching the JALC BOARD OF TRUSTEES and I will always support the JALC faculty,staff,and administration. I will still write letters to the editors if need be(However i doubt they will print them without me paying for it), and the citizens and faculty can contact me anytime with their complaints..I will get the message out
So the election is over;my political career is over but I am still around for JALC staff to expose whatever you need exposed. I can't be fired..I can do anything and say anything I want. They cannot hurt me.
Questions? Will Kilquist turn into the board member and person who can aid Logan and stop being the Lap Dog and Intimidator for Don Brewer? Will the rest of the board stand up to the intimidator, Rendleman(Lap Dog 1), Brewer?
The way I look at it-- Hancock, Hopkins, Graff, Sanders are the main keys to success of STOPPING THE MACHINE in action. The heat is on them- not me, the staff or administration. We shall watch closely the way these 4 vote prior to the next election.
Overall, you can see I will be Active...Thanks for the compliments as it is very much appreciated.
Mike Vanhorn
"Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity." John Emerich Edward Dalberg, 1st Baron Acton, Jan. 23, 1861.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Muddy Williamson! This is my 1st comment.
Funny thing happened on the way to the AG office....seems the self appointed heir to the position had a spouse famous for supporting tea party candidates....curious as to how that will play in Dem circles....It must take Great courage to stand against the Board Machine after they deliverd your job through raw political power ....and the Fac Prez needs to wake up and find out just how much Fac support there was at the time of her hire..........how many Fac spouse/children have worked at jalc.....any calls made to influence THAT process....
ReplyDeleteWhy was Kilquist allowed to use the JALC logo on his campaign materials when it is copyrighted? Other candidates were told by JALC that they could not use it. Will Don Brewer use the copyrighted logo in his next campaign like he did in 2011?
ReplyDeleteThis question was raised in an earlier post "Kilquist Off Kilter?" Of course, Steve O'Keefe would be the one to ask about this. I sure would like to hear his answer!
DeletePeople are asking why are you selling tickets so early for the May 23rd fish fry for Logan Athletics..Answer is very simple: Rumor and very strong evidence to prove this rumor is true-is that one newly elected board member; Mr. Kilquist and 2 other incumbents; Jake Rendleman and Don Brewer want me STOPPED from raising funds for the athletic department immediately! Next board meeting is April 29th and this is probably be the date they make that decision.
ReplyDeleteA new policy on VOLUNTEERS was passed this past Feb. which gives the authority to the board on approving or vice versa all volunteers throughout the college. It is very ironic this policy was rewritten after the past election campaign was started...hmmm...retribution in the air?
All departments including athletics had to recently submit a list of all their volunteers to the human resource director..DR.CLAY BREWER and we had to sign a sheet verifying our start date and end date... which also applied to my 83 year old father who has aided me in raising money for athletics and foundation since 1987. This policy is excellent for the benefit of the college but WHY is this all coming up now when it has never been enforced previously? Is it due to my political campaign and their way of getting back at Athletics ? We definitely hope that is not the case because that just proves the board members mentioned above are NOT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COLLEGE and proves my entire campaign was absolutely correct in all cases!
I have raised money for scholarships,athletics at John Logan college since 1987. I have raised and personally donated over $100,000 in that time span. There is a plaque on the 1b dugout honoring me for donating $13,000 3 years ago for helping build the new backstop,net and pa system for Logan College, which is not included in the figure above. They sure have accepted my checks each year.
SO, THIS FISH FRY IS VERY IMPORTANT to Logan Athletics ..I have already sold on my own over $3,000 worth of tickets and my goal is $5,000.00 which would make it the largest fish fry in recent history...JUST ON MY PERSONAL SALES!!!
WHAT BODY OF PEOPLE WOULD EVEN THINK OF SHUTTING DOWN A PERSON OR PERSONS WHO HAVE THE BEST INTEREST FOR the college and students? I will let you decide that one..
CAN YOU HELP ME REACH MY GOAL? ANY DONATION OR TICKET PURCHASE PRIOR TO APRIL 29TH WOULD BE APPRECIATED... JUST EMAIL ME AT mvanhorn@sbcglobal.net or call me at 815-263-6232-cell 618-985-2598 with your pledges...Will mail or hand deliver your tickets to you!
Thanks for your support!
Mike Vanhorn
wow-great support for the Athletic Department Fish Fry to be held Thursday May 23rd at the Herrin Elks Club. It looks as if I have personally sold more tickets to the fish fry this year then any recorded sales in past athletic fish fry events have sold by everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteRecorded sales at this time by me is a total of 416 tickets sold for $6,380.00 in gross ticket sales. The community support of the athletic department has been TREMENDOUS! The event is still 3.5 weeks away..It should be a real good event.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased a ticket showing their support of an excellent department at the college.
I still have tickets available and will have until the event. Just get ahold of me at mvanhorn@sbcglobal.net or Tracy and Myschelle at the athletic department .
Please designate the sport you wish your ticket purchases to be credited to when you purchase them.
AGAIN; THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. The record sales shows unity for the college and the athletic department.
Mike Vanhorn
concerned citizen for John Logan College