In the document, Alexander listed several “observations” about Esselman and his campaign, such as the mayor-hopeful's residency, his “lack of local involvement,” his donor-base being primarily out-of-state residents, and Esselman's “vision to radically restructure Mooresville's form of government.” (For more, click here.)
But Esselman is responding with a document of his own, accusing Alexander of “working for (mayoral candidate) Miles Atkins” and “actively spreading false information and lies.”
Alexander, in his document, stated that according to public records of the Iredell County Board of Elections, Esselman registered as a voter in 1999. The Board of Elections' computerized records, dating back to 1992, "indicate Jared Esselman has never cast one single vote (in-person or absentee), and that there has been no break in his Iredell voter registration," Alexander wrote.
Esselman, in his written rebuttal, stated: “Two things are wrong with his statement. 1. I was off fighting a war. 2. I was a registered voter in Charleston, SC where I was stationed at Charleston Air Force Base and did vote!”
Alexander stated that as of Esselman's Sept. 16 campaign-finance filings with the Iredell County Board of Elections, the mayor-hopeful's list of 36 named campaign contributors includes not one resident, taxpayer or voter in the Town of Mooresville. In fact, Alexander points out, 69.4 percent of Esselman's campaign money has come from donations from residents of Massachusetts, while 19.4 percent has been provided by residents outside the State of North Carolina. Iredell County voters outside the Town of Mooresville limits make up 11.1 percent of the overall total. Esselman's campaign listed no contributions from Town of Mooresville residents and/or voters.
Esselman, in his rebuttal, did not dispute the record. However, he said: "My friends and classmates from the military, Harvard, and my other travels make up a large part of my donor base. My campaign has been a small grassroots campaign with the vast majority of my donations being about $20.
"I have not sold out to businessmen here in Mooresville who are trying to buy their way into office, set on their own agendas. I don’t owe anyone any favors."
Alexander stated in his document that in a Sept. 20 conversation with Esselman, the mayor-hopeful “acknowledged that, except in his second to fourth grade years, and since July, 2011 (two months ago), he has never been a resident, and never a taxpayer in the Town of Mooresville.”
Esselman, again, did not refute Alexander's assertions, but stated: “My family moved to Mooresville when I was a child. We started in a small house on North Main street [sic]. When I was in the fourth grade my parents bought a house on Hwy 801. I will not apologize for the fact that my parents bought a home where they could afford one while raising six children and starting a family business. I grew up in that home and we did the best we could with what we had.
“Since my parents [sic] home was not inside the city limits we didn’t pay city taxes. They moved partially because they couldn’t afford to live in the city while raising six children.”
Esselman continued: “A lot of people have 'Mooresville' as their address who don’t live inside the city limits. The decisions the Mayor and Board of Commissioners make effect [sic] them too.
“The greater point here is I grew up here. Mooresville is my hometown. I am a part of the town, and the town is a part of me. I left to defend our freedoms and go to college. I will not apologies [sic] for that.
“Skip isn’t from Mooresville. He’s from Concord,” Esselman wrote. “And Miles isn’t from Mooresville. He’s from Florida. What gives these two men, who aren’t from here, the right to question my passion for the people and town that meant so much to me growing up?”
Also among the issues noted in Alexander's document was an e-mail Esselman sent to commissioners earlier this year that mentioned a restructuring of Mooresville's form of government, essentially eliminating the need for a town manager and instead paying the mayor a full-time salary.
Alexander's document states that Esselman “advocated ... the City Council … to consider revisiting the Town Charter so as to create a Mayor-Council system” and that Esselman suggested the mayor could be a full-time employee, making an annual salary of .33 percent of the town budget's general fund. That, Alexander stated, would be a salary of approximately $140,000 - “almost 4 times the Charlotte mayor's salary for wannabe 'Mayor Esselman.'”
Esselman's email to commissioners also suggested that the mayor would be authorized to “appoint one or more Deputy Mayors” to “serve at the pleasure of the Mayor,” Alexander stated in his document.
But Esselman, in his written response, said, “I have never claimed this in my campaign and I have no intention of changing the structure of our government. I took an interest in researching the structure of city governments and actually worked with Miles Atkins, who helped me with some of the research, and wrote an email suggesting some ideas that other cities had done.
“The research was interesting and I learned from it but it is not, absolutely not, part of my campaign nor is it part of my vision for Mooresville. Skip is taking my college research and using it to deceive the people of Mooresville.”
Esselman said, “I do not propose to increase the Mayors’ salary. I will earn my own keep. By my God given talents and efforts I will earn my own living. I do propose to be a fully engaged mayor and be available full time. There will be no increase in the mayors [sic] salary, only in the effort contributed.”
As for Alexander's assertion that Esselman wants deputy mayors, said Esselman, “Again, this comes from college research, which was a learning tool. Not, I repeat, not, my campaign platform.”
Alexander also took issue with Esselman having 25 U.S. Flags “and 10 of his own campaign signs on the house, yard and fence at his rented house on Institute Street” during the week of Sept. 19. Said Alexander: “The U.S. Flag Code prohibits using the United States flag for advertising.”
Esselman responded in his written document: “This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. And yes I have flags flying. The flag of the nation I fought to defend.
“I am an American Soldier! I have earned the right to fly the flag, by placing my life on the line in the defense of others. Neither Miles nor Skip have.”
Alexander also stated that while he acknowledges Esselman's service as an elisted U.S Air Force Aircraft Loadmaster – and while “all available information indicates that Jared served our country honorably” and “I salute his and every veteran's service” - several people who have agreed to place Esselman-for-Mayor signs in their yards “have said they were given the impression he was an Air Force pilot and officer.”
Esselman responded: “I was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. I enlisted. I am proud of that! I volunteered for service! As a Staff Sergeant I am a Non-Commissioned Officer. I was a loadmaster on C-17’s. And… get ready for this Skip, I am a pilot! I am a licensed pilot. I have never claimed to be anything other than what I am.”
Alexander also stated in his written document that “to date, Jared has accomplished nothing with his Spring 2011 Harvard diploma, and apparently sought no job.”
Responded Esselman: “The point here is, I HAVE a Harvard degree! I have the determination, discipline, and dedication it takes to earn a Harvard degree. Skip doesn’t, and Miles doesn’t.”
Esselman continued accusing Alexander of “playing dirty” with Atkins and, in his rebuttal document, asked citizens of Mooresville: “Do you want another pair of liars representing you in office? These two politicians are willing to lie to you now, how much will they be willing to lie about once they are in office?”
“I am a true son of Mooresville,” Esselman said. “I am an American Soldier. I am a Harvard Graduate.
“I am coming home, and trying to make home a little bit better.”
To read Esselman's rebuttal in its entirety, click on the documents below:
Posts
47 comments:
Why have you never cast a vote here? True son? Really? I have gotten out of a sick bed to vote and I was not born here but I care enough to make my voice heard.
Face it. You got caught. Good luck with your next campaign.
Abraham Lincoln was a backwoods kid from Kentucky who taught himself the law and when he got elected to office in Illinois no one said he's not from here. He went on to be a great president. So Milles and Skip came here from somewhere else. You are excusing you donors but slamming them. They live here now. They hold jobs or have held jobs. So far we are not seeing much from you.
1:10, he voted at the Charleston military base where he was stationed, as do many of our military. Get over it. Mr. Esselman, there are many of us supporting you, even though we don't post here much. I live outside the city limits but came here because of the schools and I pay city school tax. We absolutely take an interest in the town. I think this town is ready for a bright, fresh start instead of the same old political slandering that's been going on. Good luck.
As a voter, the fact that you have a Master's degree from Harvard and you served in the Military does not tell me that you are qualified to run for the office of Mayor.
Really... why run for Mayor? If you wanted a piece of the action of causing change in Mooresville, you should have put your hat in the race for commissioner. Unless there is a tie to be broken amongst our City Council..sorry Town Board of Commissioners, you won't have a say at the Board meetings. It just doesn't add up for me.
I thank you for your honorable service and congratulations on recieving your Master's from Harvard... but really how long are you going to force that degree down everyone's throat? Until you DO SOMETHING with it... it's a simple piece of paper. Did they not teach you that? I went to a state school and that was one of the first things I learned.
What's really embarrassing is that you think so little of our City, sorry... Town that you haven't even committed the time to learn about what our Board does and where their jurisidction falls. From your website it looks like Education is a BIG issue for you. Hey, did you know that there is a School Board election going on?
I simply think that while your intentions are good, they are terribly misplaced.
If there was no break in Mr. Esselman's voter registration in Iredell County, how did he vote in Charleston? Is this a special thing we offer to the military who might be serving abroad but still in the States? I have never served in the military so I have no clue how it works.
Really 1:27? Prove it. And that's just one vote in a dozen years. I am impressed. His fellow soldiers are voting in the hellholes of Afghanistan probably withh shell fire overhead. They take the time to get involved and make their voices heard. We moved here several years ago and one of the first things we did was register to vote. I registered exactly one month before I became eligible and Ive rarely missed. This is inexcusable. It shows a clear disregard for what he claims he wants to make better. It's arrogance. He clearly thinks we are stupid enough to buy into that. I don't have a Harvard degree but I have sense enough to know when I'm being played.
So the bottom line to this is, Mr.Jared Esselman has never paid/own property taxes(just family) in iredell county. And doesn't really come clean about his voting record. That's pretty sad. Sorry to say you will not be using Mooresville as a stepping stone.
Aye aye aye!! Did anyone else besides me feel like your being talked down to? And his Daddy does it in the newspaper today too. Made sure to point out that most people can't even get into Harvard. He even called Skip and Miles the Devil!!!!! Ok so Skip and Miles didn't graduate from Harvard or fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. Neither did I. Does that make me a second-class citizen too? Am I the Devil too? I felt like I had to pick myself up and dust my old knees off after reading this. Calm down people before you ostracize an entire community of commonfolk.
Signed,
Just Your No Good Common Citizen Without a Harvard Degree
Who can afford to pay "interns" for an municipal race? Only a Harvard Grad with big yankee money I suppose!
If you have to pay people to work for you in a mayoral race in freakin Mooresville then it shows me there is little grassroots support for this guy.
His family couldn't afford to live in the city but they could afford to buy their boy an Ivy League education? Ok.
Ever heard of Scholarships or the GI Bill apparently you were not smart or brave enough to get either.
Also where his parents lived or do live has nothing to do with this young man. If you had or have a child I bet that you are thinking down deep I want mine to be this brave and smart.
I may not be smart but I'm pretty sure it is MR. ESSELMAN who has been pushing the SON OF MOORESVILLE angle. If it doesn't matter where he is from then why does he mention it all the time? Yet when it comes down to the fact that his campaign is not being backed by Mooresvillians, why THEN it doesn't matter where he came from. Typical politician bait and switch. Where he is from is either important or it is not. Mr. Esselman can not have it both ways.
3:22, I see the elitist attitude is catching. I am a citizen whose vote Jared's campaign has requested numerous times. But maybe I'm a little too stupid and chicken shit for him to really need my vote.
True son of Mooresville? Really? Yeah, and I'm Robert E Freaking Lee. A true son would have taken the time to vote at least once. Let me guess, son, you registered to vote when you registered as required by law for the selective service. Ooh, I am impressed.
You know, it's called paying your dues. People like Miles Atkins and others have voted and engaged in public service. I may not like or agree with everything that they do or have said or done but they have been involved. I will give you credit for your service, fine, thank you, but you, sir, are an empty suit.
I started off to college in a presedential election year and did an internship in a local campaign. My first weekend home, my father scoffed, "three weeks in college and you know everything." It took me a few years before I saw what he meant. This is exactly what you are, Jared. You've gone off to a big old Ivy League college and you have all the answers. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Some of us have been around the block a few times and we have seen the crap here and we are tired of it and all we want is our tax dollars spent economically and honestly and no more of this crap. We are sick of the dramatics and the underhanded tactics and pocketlining. Most of us are barely scraping by while the likes of Erskine Smith are letting the good times roll with their pals and now Jared and his buddies want a piece of the pie. Most of the rest of us haven't had pie in years. So sorry if you aren't getting it. It's about being involved and you are a little late, sonny.
You WERE an American soldier. You are no longer on active duty. So please cut that out right now. As for discipline, well, the jury is still out on that.
As for a true son of Mooresville, it would appear that you don't have enough local friends to back your candidancy worth a damn, do you? It looks more like you are a true son of Massachusetts.
"I was off fighting a war."
No, Staff Sargent, you were off loading planes to support those who were doing the fighting.
Service to our Nation is laudable. However, let us not mistake combat for service. Fighting for one's country involves just that and those who do it should not be confused with those who support them: regardless of the hard work that goes into providing that support. We have Warriors and we have the rest.
"The loadmaster performs the calculations and plans cargo and passenger placement to keep the aircraft within permissible center of gravity limits throughout the flight. Loadmasters ensure cargo is placed on the aircraft in such a way as to prevent overloading sensitive sections of the airframe and cargo floor."
I do not know where, when or why we began confusing Heroes with everyone else, but, that should stop.
OK.....I see what we have here.
This is a conspeeeeracy...just as plain as the nose on Aunt Bee's face.
Jared grew up OUTSIDE of Mooresville...specifically on the NORTH (YANKEE) side of town. Now he claims to have grown up here just because he grad-ee-ated from Mooresville HS.
He's even admitted to taking money from people in Tax-a-chusets....hell....I bet Teddy Kennedy's relatives are behind him!
It's a damned liberal plot to take over Mooresville it is!
Then this Yankee boy claims to have been in a war but can produce no shrapnel proving he was even shot at. Do we know he was really a Staff Sargent? Sounds like a cushy gig to me....rarely even gets over 120 degrees in Al Basrah...and the night life in those Arab countries.....I bet he was the Teddy Kennedy of Helmand Province.
Yep....this Yankee boy is nowhere near qualified. Maybe we can get Mayor "Rose Petal" to stick around...or maybe Mayor McCable will come back and save us from this Yankee plot! They at least are qualified to lead our town.
Say there, son, for a man with a Harvard education, your statement is sure riddled with spelling and grammer errors. Case in point, "apologies" should be "apologize." Just saying. One would think they'd have taught you better up at that high flying Ivy League school. My kids in the MGSD spotted the mistakes right off. Try again, sweetheart.
Esselman was in Iraq in March 2003 in the earliest days of the shooting war. His aircraft was the second C-17 to land in Baghdad, where resistance remained stiff. Bombs flashed and blue-tailed missiles streaked past. “Red tracers from anti-aircraft fire [were] just littering the sky,” he said. “It looked like lightning.” He went on to fly nearly 300 combat sorties.
One feature of combat is that those who survive “bring a sense of caring about other people,” said Esselman, whose pre-service experience included herding cattle and working in a factory. “It’s hard for veterans to switch off that mode. It’s genuine caring.” Back home, “That translates over some to the classroom. You care about your classmates,” he said, “because you did the same thing on the battlefield.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQti0ChMlAA
WHO KNEW JARED INTERNED IN THE BUSH WHITEHOUSE?
Jared Esselman, who interned in the Bush White House and serves as president of the College of Charleston's political science club, said his hope is that Obama can rescue the tumbling housing market and the nation's credit crisis. But Esselman also said Obama needs a little luck in the form of no fresh crisis while he focuses on the current ones.
"He cannot afford a Katrina. He cannot afford a 9/11," Esselman said, "but he can't control that."
Oh my word all of you should be ashamed of what you have posted on here. I think that all of you have committed a sin against your country in your statements and your fellow man. I have seen mudslinging before but this is just stupidity. We had not even decide who to vote for but Jared has definately got out vote and both of our sets of neighbors.
Dear lord, Jared. Get off the computer and get out and campaign. You are making way too many explanations. I'm guessing the last 4 posts are yours.
Mayor hopeful? LOL. More like hopeless.
Don't you people know it's unpatriotic to question a veteran's record?.....that is, unless the veteran is a Democrat. Then, it's not only okay, it's funny. Take Mr. Kerry for example.
4:14, if I knew who you were I would shake your hand. Fine response and one I agree with wholeheartedly. Thank you.
10:31, it's bloody hysterical that a soldier can pick up a stub of a pencil with mortar fire and bombs going off and do his or her civic duty in a time of war but this yahoo can't take ten minutes out from getting coffee at Starbucks in Harvard Square to fill out a damn absentee ballot and we are supposed to now believe he suddenly gives a damn about Mooresville? Yeah and I'm the pope.
Wow. When mudslinging in a political campaign reaches the point that you believe a Harvard degree is a bad thing, you've lost sight of the important issues! Certainly it is not the most important thing, but seriously, how can it be bad?
11:39, it's past your bedtime Jared.
Nobody said a Harvard degree was a bad thing, sweetie. It's your lousy spelling, grammar, presumptuousness, lack of class and humility, and the fact you haven't been involved enough to even vote. You have a sense of entitlement that you must have picked up rubbing elbows with those Bush elitists. This is Mooresville not Kennebunkport.
To whom much is given much is expected. You seem to think you're just going to keep getting it handed it to you. A Harvard degree is not a free pass.
A harvard degree doesn't mean a GD thing to me. I'm tired of hearing about where this boy went to school. If that harvard degree means so much it seems he would get a job.
Yeah, 12:25. You would think a Harvard diploma would have employers all over him. Say, isn't Jared the guy in the Subway commercials? Haven't seen much of him lately either come to think of it. Mudslinging usually is a two way street. You would think a Harvard boy and hid pals would be clever enough to come up with some skeletons in his opponent's closet. JFK went to Harvard and everyone is STILL talking about him and he's been dead for almost 50 years. A Harvard degree is usually worth something. The way this guy writes, I'd put him at the local community college level. No, wait. Maybe high school freshman.
Flew nearly 300 sorties? WTH? Who is this guy? Freaking superman? He's flown 300 missions? Says who? And where are all his medals and such? How does a staff sgt get to do all that? Damn, why do we need to have elections? He can just turn water into wine and then walk across Lake Freaking Norman. Why the hell didn't we throw this guy a big old ticker tape parade and give him the keys to Erskine Smith's private crapper? Holy sheet. We just all need to stop this now and bow down. First Redmond and now him. What more could we mere mortals ask for?
I thought all the Harvard grads were working for public radio.
Hey, 1:04. Good catch. Now that you mention it, when did this guy have time to pee or sleep much less vote? Guess we have to cut him some slack.
What in the world is a sortie anyway?
11:40 and 11:51, the post at 11:39 was not Jared. Obviously this has become a place for slinging insults and nothing more productive. I'll find intelligent discussion somewhere else!
I can say that if I went to Harvard, I would be proud of it! It would not be the most important thing about me but it would be important. I think many of you are turning the fact that he went to Harvard and is proud of that, into some kind of personal insult. As for the military service, I am thankful to ALL of the armed forces, whether they face actual combat or work as support staff. Without them we would not have the freedom to sit at our kitchen table and blog. To any of you that think differently, go sit in the coffee shop on Main St and ask those guys how they feel!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Rally Spreads Anti-War Message
The sleeping giant of student activism has finally awoken on the College of Charleston campus. It seems that 4,000 flag-draped caskets and the spilt blood of over 29,000 injured Americans in Iraq finally justifies rising up against the war. Thursday the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), an unofficial group on campus, organized an Anti-War Walk Out to Marion Square. With close to 200 students, staff, and community members in attendance, the mood was focused but friendly. Several guitars were present with a few drums, and the air was filled with speeches and songs, mostly anti-war and anti-Bush ballads that vented the grief that participants felt towardsthis generation's Vietnam. The participants ranged from tie-dye wearing students adorning hemp jewelry, military veterans standing tall, curious community members and professors with small but proud smiles on their faces. There was even a bandana clad anarchic-communist waving a red and black flag and occasionally calling for revolution.
Among the speakers was Jared Esselman, a junior Political Science student as well as an Iraq veteran who served in the Air Force. His passionate speech brought up the importance of such protests to prevent the illegal invasions of other countries deemed members of Bush's "Axis of Evil," namely Iran. The words of an Iraq veteran add a special potency to the conversation; this was not an average student speaking it was a man who tasted the dirt of the desert and watched his friends lay down their lives for a country they love and a war they don't believe in. In addition, he not only spoke for himself but also spoke for the voiceless men and women half a world away. These service members are facing the brutality of an enraged community protecting their own nation, as well as the betrayal of an authoritarian president who answers to none.
Whatever Jared. Wearing hemp and tie dye makes you un- american. People do have a right to speak out and disagree. That's what makes this a democracy. And that little post is propaganda.
It doesn't tell us one damn thing about hoe you will run the town now does it? And if you are lifting stuff out of publications you had better cite them. There arelaws a out that.
So what have we learned here, boys and girls? We ha e learned that if you thump your chest and say that you have a fancy degree and you served in the air force ( by figuring hot how to load up the planes) you really don't have to tell us what you really have in mind but you can slip emails behind everybody's back and then scream bloody murder when this gets out. Poor pitiful you.
When you are called on you voting record, we are told you voted in charleston presumably in an election there. So you were involved enough in a city wher you were living temporarily but not enough in your hometown. True son of Mooresville indeed.
We get it. It's what's convenient and what you think you can explain. I think the carpetbagger definition is pretty succinct here. Clearly you have wider ambitions and you are using this as a way to get your feet wet but we say not at our expense.
It's all well and good to have a degree and military record but what have you done lately? I think you need a little more maturity and experience. This town is in real trouble and you are way over your head.
"Among the speakers was Jared Esselman, a junior Political Science student as well as an Iraq veteran who served in the Air Force. His passionate speech brought up the importance of such protests to prevent the illegal invasions of other countries deemed members of Bush's "Axis of Evil," namely Iran. The words of an Iraq veteran add a special potency to the conversation; this was not an average student speaking it was a man who tasted the dirt of the desert and watched his friends lay down their lives for a country they love and a war they don't believe in. In addition, he not only spoke for himself but also spoke for the voiceless men and women half a world away. These service members are facing the brutality of an enraged community protecting their own nation, as well as the betrayal of an authoritarian president who answers to none." (SOURCE: http://republic-writer.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html).
Question to Oct 5 @ 8:58 PM: Is this the same Bush administration Jared interned for? The "Axis of Evil", "authoritarian president who answers to no one"? Do tell!!
Oh, yes, we get it. Was he shot at? He calculated loads for planes. This is not to marginalize his service but...
There are an awful lot of faceless men and women and their children struggling everyday right here in Mooresville who cannot get by on a daily basis while the good times are rolling at Town Hall for them and their associates. We are under siege 24/7 here in no small part here because of the economy that started during the Bush White House by the way and that stuck us with Obama.
All politics are local. Our local politics suck. Up until he announced, it didn't look like this young man gave a damn one way or the other. HE DID NOT VOTE. That alone speaks volumes. He found political science in college and he's now trying out what he learned. Do we really want to be his on the job training?
Wonder why old Skippy didn't go after Redmond the way he has gone after Mr. Esselman. This stuff is small potatoes in comparison. Good thing that Skippy didn't win the Sheriff position since he obviously is afraid to deal with real corruption.
Redmond isn't running right now. He's trying to save us from this kid. We are jareds little experiment on his way to somewhere else. Hence the term pepper/thesis thing. He wants something else like congress or the legislature. This is just an entry on his resume. I fail to see anything he's going to do. Where's the beef?
Oops paper not pepper. Damn auto correct.
The unfortunate thing is that Jared thought having Chris present at his kick off at the high school was a good idea. And he never considered that the email he sent to the board would be released? Really? What hole did Chris step in, again?
Apparently Jared attended Harvard but neglected to learn common sense.
Okay. We have determined that Jared never 'fought' and we have learned that his attempt to obfuscate his email to the board was not research, but, his first attempt to turn the Mayor's office into a full time and well paid position.
The only thing left to question is the Harvard degree. Hopefully it's been waved too much to be a fiction like the rest.
Hopefully he will learn something from this and perhaps spend some quality time gaining some useful political experience On a real politician's staff before he does his on the job training here.
1:03 I was talking about when he ran against Redmond. Not a peep about corruption or wrongdoing then.
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