Tonight the Neenah Mayor's Forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, took place at City Hall. Mayor George Scherck and Council President Todd Stevenson answered a load of interesting questions from the audience.
The answers to those questions were over-shadowed by the introductory remarks made by Stevenson. I present them here in full:
I had planned to give a general background of myself, documenting my lifelong committment to this area and to confirm the passion I continue to feel towards the people of my home town. However, events of the past couple days compel me to spend this time defending my qualifications and responding to comments made about my abilities to think straight.
This past Tuesday I was copied on an email from an individual listed as a member of George's campaign committee. In the email he states he was visited by a city council member campaigning on their own behalf and soliciting support for both the council member and for George. When the individual indicated that they wished they could be more supportive with a sign but felt that they had two people voting in the house, the council member responded back, "Well, Todd has diabetes, you know, and sometimes when he's not feeling right he does not think straight."
Since I was at work and the email was sent to my campaign web site, I wasn't aware of it; and, to George's credit, he left a message apologizing. I'm concerned, however, about his statement that it was probably an isolated incident because this council member only walked this one street. This council member has been an active door-to-door campaigner for the past two weeks, and the yard sign locations will attest to that.
Because of this misinformation I feel compelled to share the facts. I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 19 years. I am under regular and consistent care. I wear an insulin pump. My hemoglobin A1C readings have ranged from 6.8 to 7.5 for the last 10 years, with my most recent A1C reading being 7.4 late last year.
My recently retired primary care physician, Dr. Paul Macovoy, feels strongly enough about my abilities to think straight that he has written letters to friends and colleagues supporting my campaign. I have promised George that my campaign would be a positive campaign based on issues. I have been approached by a number of people who suggested I challenge George's time out of the office while facing his health issues. I have chosen to communicate to each volunteer that this was off-limits. I am a man of my word.
For the record, I have missed one day in the past five years at Sadoff Iron and Metal and I have had a perfect attendance record at City Council meetings for 6+ years.
Both George and I bring a different skill set to this election for you, the voter, to evaluate. Our job is to communicate those skill sets; your job is to determine which skill set best matches the needs of the city as we move into the new decade.
This issue about my diabetes is done.