Rob's blog

This is a good question. People have noticed lots of yellow signs popping up around the city (mostly in my neighborhood, at my church, at places I would pass by), but since the text is so small, you have to get right up to it to really see what it says. The signs bear a resemblance for the campaign for my opponent Sherrin Pelton, but I don't think she has anything to do with it. So, who is doing them?

Well, it seems like we have a 5th candidate in my district! He isn't running for anything, but he is promoting an agenda. That agenda is similar to bumper stickers seen all around this valley; "I love Utah and any team playing BYU" or vice versa. The message here is pretty much "I don't care who gets elected, as long as it's not Rob Bennett."

Q. Does this guy live in your district? Is he one of your constituents?

A. No. He doesn't live anywhere near me and can't even vote for or against me in this election.

Q. Why the signs?

A. Well, it appears he has a message to get out to the poor residents of my district whom I have deluded into not knowing the truth about how I have acted as a city councilman.  This stems mostly from an unfortunate lapse I had in judgement to not turn the other cheek, and thus forgot the old adage, "never get in a pissing contest with a skunk." I am not calling anyone a skunk and do not intend offense to any skunks who may be reading this, but the principle is a well reasoned one if you realize that some people may like to feel important through confrontation and it isn't very smart to give someone like that exactly what they are looking for. Far better just to not allow your emotions to overwhelm the "angels of your better nature."

Q. Does this worry you about your campaign?

A. Heavens, no! I hope that people will slow their cars down to less than 5 mph to read his signs, write down the web address (which I will provide here, althought I expect Tony will not even be grateful to me for helping spread his message for him), and read the National Inquirer (no offense intended to the National Inquirer) version of events from a well-meaning, appearantly well-financed and active individual to exercise his freedom of speech. I applaud him for his civic involvement and only wonder how much he could accomplish if the same energy, driving around the streets at night (I happened to pass him putting up signs in my neighborhood late at night. I thought about rolling down the window to ask for one for my yard, but thought he might wonder what dastardly purpose I would put it to and decided against it) could do if he put it into a positive cause.

Apparently, he has done the same thing in Taylorsville against Mayor Russ Wall when Mayor Wall also didn't do things the way Tony approved of. He passed out cards calling for Mayor Wall's impeachment and recorded city council meetings for "damning" evidence there too. I shouldn't feel singled out. Oh, in case you are wondering what's his big issue, it is advocating for dog parks.

Q. What lesson have you learned from all this?

A. Citizens deserve respect, even when they are acting like their parents never taught them manners. If you get shoved (listen up here, Rocky Anderson), you don't shove them back. You just let code enforcement take care of their signs since almost all of them are put up in illegal locations and have the half-life of a democratic congressman in UTAH of all places. . . oops, maybe that wasn't the best example.

Q. Who is this guy?

A. Here is just what any person can find by doing a google on the Internet. Nothing secret or violation of privacy. Just what he himself has posted about himself.

Name: Tony McGuire

Phone

Occupation

Talents: He is a very good web designer and has put up many web sites, in addition to those about me. He also seems to be a recognized expert in the Paradox database system, a Borland company product that is similar to Microsoft Access. Unfortunately, with the other Borland and WordPerfect products (I did technical support for WordPerfect when Paradox and Quattro Pro were part of the suite like Mircrosoft Office), they kind of went by the wayside. This must be a benefit to have programming and database experience and skills for setting up web sites and tying them in to real estate purposes. I give him kudos for his endeavors in this area.

I would encourage you to visit his web site. Call him and ask him your questions. Get your impressions.

I just ask that you also talk to "the other guy" (me) so you can form your own impressions and make your own judgements without the prejudice of only getting one side or the other. If I was afraid of what he had to say, I wouldn't be encouraging you to do this, would I?

"A clock that is broken is still right two times a day." I certainly don't disagree with EVERYTHING he has to say.