Replying to Mr. Hankey

I rarely get critical email any more but a “Mr. Hankey” wrote me this gem yesterday that I was too swamped to reply to:

From: bob hankey
To: harrywelty@charter.net
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11:27 AM
Subject: correction

I disagree with the label of Mr. Hunter as the taxpayers’ attorney. I am a taxpayer in this town and I did not hire him nor did 99% of the people in this community. It was a group of people from Let Duluth Vote who continue to stand in the way of progress. You will fail and when you do, I will laugh at you from the new school buildings and the increased opportunities they provide to children in this district.

I have some hope that today may be the beginning of some relative calm for me so, I decided to offer Mr. Hankey this reply:

—– Original Message —–
From: Harry Welty
To: bob hankey
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 7:59 AM
Subject: Re: correction

I’d suggest, Mr. Hankey, that you will laughing at me from Dr. Dixon’s buildings as the money they drain from the classroom lead to more dire stories like the ones recently published in the Trib pointing out a collapse in Duluth test scores.

I’d frankly prefer to be able to call Mr. Hunter the “voter’s attorney” because that ought to be the core of our argument. However, since the School Board and JCI kept taxpayers out of consideration as they foisted this disaster on Duluth we have had to push a “taxpayer’s rights” case instead.

I would hardly expect 99% of all taxpayers to agree with our case. You are obviously someone more concerned about new school buildings than preserving our fundamental rights. We will find out in November, however, whether our side can claim majority or minority support when the incumbents who gave us these new building face reelection. Its possible I might be able to do a little laughing after that date.

Harry