As the election nears the end I wanted to say thank you both to those who have supported me over the years, and to the candidates that chose to step out on a limb and run for public office this summer. It is encouraging to see folks get involved in local government and take a stand for what is right. This summer has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for my team and I'm sure most other candidates will say the same.
Recently I have been targeted by a negative campaign tactic, not by an opponent of mine, but by incumbent Mayor Betty Superstein's campaign. I have expressed my curiosity to Mrs. Superstein as to why I have become a target of her campaign while she is in a very highly contested race of her own, to which I have received no answer.
As I have said before my goal from day one was to run a campaign based on integrity, thoughtfulness, and the truth. While knocking door to door I have spread a message of what Manchester will be, and how we will get there. I have laid out detailed plans on projects that we need to take on, as well as how we can pay for them without raising taxes. My campaign has reached out, responded, and been as thorough as possible.
This week John Constantine, whom I've never met, took shot at discrediting my record by painting a picture of what he deemed the truth. However when one takes a closer look at Mr. Constantine's claims in support of Mayor Superstein it is easy to see it is nothing more than meaningless nonsense and a complete distortion of the truth. Mr. Constantine is known however for leading charges against others all the while clearly stepping across the ethical bounds he demands others to stay within. Take Mr. Constantine's vivid attack of the Bonnaroo Music Festival for example. In 2011 Mr. Constantine spent hundreds of dollars on advertisements bashing Bonnaroo "for all the bad they bring to our community", all the while Mr. Constantine continued to request and receive thousands of dollars worth of FREE Bonnaroo tickets.
Credibility is earned through constantly displaying a moral standard that one not only sets the bar for but achieves themselves. Unfortunately for Mr. Constantine the only thing consistent about his attack on myself and others, is the lies he tells through out his ad.
As I have said before I will not get involved in mudslinging contest, but I will however present the FACTS of the claims a candidate chooses to make. In doing so here is a breakdown of the actual FACTS Mr. Constantine regrettably left out of his attack.
Constantine's Claim: 2% raise for all employees this year with NO tax increase
FACT: The city did indeed give a 2% raise for all of it's employees this year with out a tax increase, one can argue however that the raise was not properly budgeted. Rather than actually generating a line item for the employee raise and meeting a criteria in order to present it, the mayor's budget simply CUT FUNDS from the city paving budget. This was a one time campaign season raise plain and simple.
Constantine's Claim: Mr. Constantine gives Mayor Superstein credit for "Lynchburg Road sidewalk project complete for safer streets near Westwood."
FACT: In 2010 I presented a 4-phase improvement plan for the Westwood area sidewalks and walking paths. Mayor Superstein was not in support of the project stating "we do not have the funds", just a hand full of days later the Mayor supported a $550,000 land purchase for a peace of property that appraises for less than $150,000. The sidewalk project was tabled and later brought back to the Street Committee where Alderman Parsley, Alderman Norman, and myself voted to fund the project.
Constantine's Claim: Both Lynchburg Road and the green way were funded by grants and not tax money
FACT: The Lynchburg Road sidewalk project was funded 100% by city funds within the budget of the street department. In fact after the project was analyzed by Alderman Parsley, Alderman Norman, and myself before it was voted through and it was our determination at the advise of Street Department Head Bret Carter that the project could be done internally to save a great deal of tax payer dollars. This decision saved some $82,000 as the project came under budget at $44,000 rather than the projected $126,000 had the project been contracted out.
The green way projects were in fact in most part funded by a grant, but a MATCHING grant that did require city funds. Nevertheless Constantine claims neither project was funded by "tax money", 100% of grant funds ARE TAX MONEY.
Constantine's Claim: Candidate Lonnie Norman RAISED TAXES when he was mayor in the 90's reaching 2.85. The current rate is 2.2999.
FACTS: While taxes were raised in the 90's it was due to projects such as the idea of the Recreation Center, and improvements to city hall and the police department. What Constantine does not mention is that as Mayor Lonnie Norman did not have a vote on the tax increase, and as Alderman Lonnie Norman in fact voted multiple times to lower the tax rate, including the final vote setting the rate at 2.2999.
Constantine's Claim: "Alderman Ryan French says it doesn't matter how many meeting he has missed", "Missing 26% of work days would get most people fired."
FACT: Mr. Constantine not only left out a large part of what I said, he changed my actual quote. I was asked by Josh Peterson of the Manchester Times, why I had missed 26% of the meetings during my first term. The answer is simple: I do not miss regularly called meetings. Out of the 26% the Manchester Times claims I have missed more than 90% of those meetings are special called meetings held at NOON during the week. The irony of Mr. Constantine's statement of "missing would get most people fired" is the fact I work during the day and can not attend most special called meetings. It is my belief that government should work within the publicly called and scheduled meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. That is what it reads in our charter, and it is how I believe our government should work. Being an elected official should be open to all citizens, including those who have to work a 40 hour a week job to support their family like myself.
Constantine's Claim: When Alderman French "stated that the new ladder truck could not be used to save live- that is a lie." It passed the same test as a $1M truck.
FACT: In my response to Mayor Superstein's letter I stated that the ladder truck could not be used for rescue. The gold standard for purchasing a new ladder truck has always been the ability to rescue from the top of our highest buildings. Kingwood Arms is constantly used as the example for why we needed a ladder truck in the first place. While some claim the new truck can rescue from the top of the Kingwood Arms complex, the math simply does not work out. While the ladder DOES reach the top of the complex it does so ONLY while parked directly beside the physicality. The problem is that when there is an actual fire, the trucks are required to leave 75 feet of space between the truck and the structure fire, when this criteria is met the truck is no longer able to rescue from the top of the building. While I may have needed a bit more explanation for my comment it was in no way a lie, the math supports my statement 100%.
As of this past Thursday our "gently used" truck has been shelved due to a tie rod and now a possible issue with the stabilizer. The problem is the truck sits on a 1974 chassis and parts are not longer available. At this point parts needed to fix the truck must be custom fabrication parts.
Constantine's Claim: Mayoral candidate Lonnie Norman admitted he would like to "go back to how things used to be" when it comes to conducting city business.
FACT: Again, Mr. Constantine chooses to leave out what candidate Lonnie Norman was referencing in his statement. During the candidate forum Josh Peterson asked Mr. Norman what he would like to see change in how city business is conducted. Mr. Norman said that he would like to see us go back to how things used to be when referencing how the committees use to reconcile their budgets. Our city budgeting process is suppose to allow the committees that govern each department to speak one on one with the finance director in putting together the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. However under Mayor Superstein's administration this process is skipped, and the budget is simply given to the departments in a take it or leave it fashion. There is no pure budgeting process where elected officials are allowed to have discussions about the direction of the city.
Constantine's Claim: "Does this mean reckless spending on unnecessary items like a $310,000 wood chipper he (Lonnie Norman) voted to purchase that was later sold for half price?"
FACT: At the time Alderman Betty Superstein voted to purchase BOTH the wood chipper, and the road grader Mr. Constantine references. Here are the meeting minutes where as Finance Chairman Mrs. Superstein voted for each peace of equipment.
Constantine's Claim: Mayor Superstein has true business experience managing a medical office. What real business experience do the other candidates have?
FACT: Mr. Constantine, glad you asked. Both Mayoral candidates Lonnie Norman and Claude Morse have EXTENSIVE management experience, managing budgets for the base well into the millions and millions of dollars. Myself, I have managed yearly budgets well into the millions of dollars for TWO Fortune 50 companies, and have been doing so since the age of 19. Not only do "the other candidates" have great business minds and experience, each of them are leaders that have ran exceptional campaigns and hold themselves to exceptional high moral standards. I wish we could say the same for you Mr. Constantine.
So today many of you will get a flyer in your mail box that tells you "Reasons to Vote for French". The problem with the ad is that it doesn't have support from any element of truth or MY VOTING RECORD. 
