I posted this on the Bedford Now forum earlier this past week. Considering Mr. Steinman was very much a part of some serious controversy that occurred within our township’s government I feel that this forum entry would be an excellent piece to kick off this blog.
I have known Mr. Steinman and his family for a majority of my 29 years and I still have respect for him, his wife, and his children; they have all made considerable contributions to this community. Furthermore, Mr. Steinman’s 28 years of service as a Township Trustee deserves to be commended.
There were many aspects of the controversy that I struggled to accept; such as the vindictive nature in which things were brought about and the childish name calling and finger-pointing it led to during the township’s bi-weekly meetings.
I also didn’t care for statements that clearly came back not to be true. Such as that the allegations made were not politically motivated and that there was no intention of Mr. Steinman running for the Clerk’s position. A more recent assertion that Mr. Steinman made in regards to why he ran for Clerk clearly becomes much more difficult to accept at face value. Mr. Steinman and his supporters made it known that he took out two petitions one for Clerk and one for Trustee and allowed petition signers to decide which position he should run for. Considering the overwhelming support that George Welling received in last Tuesday’s primary it just now seems to be political talk … in other words, to say what you think people would like to hear. Or as we say at work, a CYA statement.
Without further interruption, here is the open letter to Dennis Steinman that I posted on the Bedford Now forum. Thanks for reading.
Dear Mr. Steinman,
First of all, please allow me a moment to thank you for your 28 years of service to this township. Your service and commitment to this township has been nothing short of commendable and for that, I am sure, many Bedford Township residents are thankful. The fact that your children, Doug and Tim, are also highly involved in giving back to the community is a testament to the dedication that you and Sue have shared for this township we call home.
But Denny, the residents of this township have spoken. I can appreciate being disappointed in a loss, especially a surprising loss; that is a lesson that I was helped in learning growing up playing baseball with Tim and throughout the rest of my youth. Sometimes losses are a hard pill to swallow.
It is time to hang up your hat and help the township move forward. You said to me yourself during a recent phone conversation that you knew you could not do this (be on the board/work for the township) forever and that eventually a new guard would have to seize control of the township.
You also told me you wouldn’t make this a negative campaign. I promised you I would hold you to that.
You have come out and made allegations I have seen others make here on this forum; allegations that show either no validity or no impropriety, or better yet, they show neither.
I have seen some say that they saw signs for Mr. Welling and Mr. Schockman in the same yard. My response was, “who cares.” Perhaps it was a split household. My neighbor had a sign for Tillman Crutchfield and Troy Goodnough in their yard and it never struck me as funny.
You also mention that you saw, or others saw, Mr. Welling and Mr. Schockman campaigning together in certain neighborhoods. You ought to know, after serving for 28 years, that this is certainly a possibility. You even mentioned that they were seen in the same car which I find to be both funny and absurd. I know for a fact that when Bob was campaigning in neighborhoods he was generally on his Segway.
You even mentioned that they spent many minutes together in Bob’s office weekly and you’ve reviewed security tapes to validate this. Again, what is the impropriety? Or, is this your measure of proving they were working together against you? Either way it sounds like sour grapes. There is no political or ethical violation in regards to this.
Now you’ve purposely and vindictively decided to go for the low blow and bring about Bob’s ‘illness’ as if health is to play some sort of role in this upcoming election. Should we have candidates sign a waiver at the time they submit their petitions that they guarantee they will be alive throughout their tenure should they be elected? It cannot be done by anyone. A very good friend of mine at work recently passed away unexpectedly at 53 years of age; the man was in perfect health. Bob’s health whether it be good, bad, or indifferent, is not and should not, be an issue in this election.
Finally, Denny, you’ve stated that this whole thing has wreaked of Detroit style politics and not Bedford Township politics. I think the book of Matthew, chapter 7 hits the nail on the head on this particular comment:
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Again, I want to thank you for your years of service to our community. I hope and pray that you will make the right choice in stepping away graciously and chose not to cast another black eye on this community; I am just one person, asking you respectfully, please.
Respectfully Yours,
Keith Godfrey
