Okay, so this one has been a few months in the making. I wasn’t even going to post about it but I finally feel like there’s some closure so I am. So. A few months ago we had Kaylee’s graduation party at our city’s rec center. It was just a nightmare. The post is here if you forgot.
Anyhow…after weeks of frustration and not getting any answers from the city for their bad behavior and communication skills….or better yet, a resolution to my concerns…I did something. I found out my Mayor has a Facebook and keeps up with it on a regular basis. It’s supposed to be ‘promoting the city’ but the entries have almost nothing at all to do with the city (a city comprised of mostly ancient people) unless the city is interested in what celebrity he’s meeting…what rock concert he’s attended…what nude beach he was on (oh yes he did!*)…etc.
So…I friended him and he accepted. I then wrote on his FB wall something to the effect of:
I heard he keeps up with his FB a lot and maybe that’s why he hasn’t had time to respond to an email I sent him regarding issues with the old rec for a grad party. Also, I said something like while it’s interesting that you are planning on what home you’re going to buy in PIB (Put in Bay), touting celebs and posting pics with you and all the celebs you meet…I’m sitting in my house in (my City) dealing with issues that I shouldn’t have to be…Just saying
Well, it was up there for about 1 minute and then quickly taken down but I was then sent a personal message (FINALLY a response!) The Mayor said:
My facebook page has the specific goal of generating interest in (the City). The inclusion of celebrities and fun vacation spots like Put In Bay are merely designed to keep people interested as I intersperse info about (the City), such as the Rain Barrell demonstration or the coming City videos. Although feedback is always appreciated, snarky comments that have no merit or that demonstrate your lack of what our effort is trying to accomplish are not welcome. The 1,200 facebook friends i have in just three months on facebook are intended to be ambassadors for (the City) as we move forward. They – and certainly I – do not appreciate your tone and it is befuddling why someone would publish something so negative that places me/the city in a negative light.
I get paid $14,000 a year to be Mayor and I dedicate well over 40 hours a week to it. I may not be able to afford a lot with that $14,000 – but I certainly could afford to do without your snide remarks. Just saying!
*(OH YES HE DID repeat my ‘just sayin’ line!)* Okay. Now I was…to put it mildly…pissed. lol. We exchanged a few more ‘pleasantries’ including my thoughts on a Mayor calling a resident snide and snarky when they obviously have an issue that has gone unanswered for weeks. *And there was the FB post about him on a nude beach in TX showing his white Ohio tan or some crap…while promoting his book. After I inquired as to exactly ‘how’ this promoted our City, the post was taken off his FB.
I thought I was almost over it. *sigh* as it had not heard from him in weeks. And then…our City Homedays came. Shane and I went to get funnel cakes….remember? Mmmmmm funnel cakes. Well, we’re walking around and who do I see bobbin his head to the music? Yup. My pal. I looked at Shane and he immediately said….”No! You are NOT gonna go over there!” Ooops…too late. I approached him (we’d never actually met face-to-face)…. Mr. Mayor returned a smile….and I extended my hand. As we shook hands, I said, “Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself…I’m Snide and Snarky“.
Interestingly enough by the look on his face he knew EXACTLY who I was. He lost the color in his face, but being a politician, he recovered quickly and said….”Oh, I’ve been meaning to contact you (*yeah riiiight*)….we’re going to send you an $80 refund for all the trouble you had with the hall…and if you don’t receive it in a week or two, just email me’. *huh* “oh, you know I will, I appreciate that”, I said as I walked away to try and find Shane…he was waiting away from me ‘in case he needed to bail me out of custody’ as he says. I think he was just mortified chicken shit.
So…it’s been TWO MONTHS since that meet and greet and I finally got my refund check! Yea ! And I’ve un-friended him and can move on with that chapter. *smile*
*I have intentionally avoided using his name or my city name because he has actually sued a blogger once for voicing an opinion.
I'm Sheila. In addition to raising 1 husband and 3 teens, I've founded 
Sometimes snide and snarky accomplishes what polite and patient did not.
.-= Gettysburg Mom´s last blog ..Technology makes me even lazier. =-.
Good for you. Politicians are a piece of work.
.-= jen@OurDailyBigTop´s last blog ..If You Give a Mom a Moment… =-.
Way to fight for what is right! I agree with Jen…politicians are in a class all their own. Glad you got your $ back. I can just picture you walking up to him…you go girl!
Free speech eh, as long as it gets them (and keeps them,) elected…
You have such a funny way with written words, I guess I’ve told you that a million times.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..The Unbreakable Child: Book Review =-.
snide and snarky wins the race!
hah sorry that made me chuckle
I am so proud of you! I just find it sad that you had to work that hard to get something which should have been given to you from the jumpstart.
I wonder if he’ll get your vote come reelection time…
sheila Reply:
September 18th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
blue violet:
nope.
lol
OMG you are my f’in HERO!! Seriously! I can’t believe you stood up to him not only online, but FACE TO FACE!! That is AMAZING, it really is!!!
.-= Jennifer Suarez´s last blog ..Fun Fact Friday<br> Never Spray A Nest You Can’t See =-.
I’m so glad you got some kind of refund out of it. The guy sounds like a shitheel. I love that you confronted him in person, I don’t think I would’ve had the guts, FB snark is one thing, real life confrontations are something else entirely. I’m totally giving you a high five right now.
.-= mrsbear´s last blog ..Of Course I Don’t Mean You – Spin Cycle =-.
You go, girl. I’m here getting caught up on a week’s worth of blog reading. Is there any coffee? Happy Saturday!
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Better today. =-.
You go girl.
Remind me not to piss you off..lol.
.-= Bonnie´s last blog ..Me Bad =-.
LOL!!! AHAHAHAHAA! I can’t get over it! You rock! Ugh, I wish I could have seen his face draining its color! Hooray!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Aloha Friday – French =-.
Wow! You were brave. Good for you. And you got it done.
warmly,
Erika
.-= Erika´s last blog ..Why musical notes are like people-Being in One’s Integrity =-.
Good for you! It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, even though sometimes it sucks to be squeaky. Or in this case, snarky. What a bunch of bull about him suing a blogger, though!
.-= Cara´s last blog ..You Asked For It =-.
OH MY GOSH! I’m glad you got some money back, but what a fight to get it. Folks sometimes forget the handy dandy thing called Internet and its powers of persuasion. I must try and member to call you Ms. Snide A. Snarky, the double SaS strikes again.
I too will leave out names, because some of us are smart and WE ALL know who they are with their Gestapo tactics.
.-= Paige´s last blog ..Altered =-.
HAHAHA! I love you, Sheila, you rock.
I am unsure if Lt Gov Andre Bauer knows who I am, after I’ve blogged about him and (even though I dislike his dumb-ass politics) defended him against charges of being gay… he comes into my store w/his girlfriend pretty frequently. I don’t want him to make the connection, and don’t think he has!
When I see him coming, I duck behind the Vitamin-C powders.
You go GIRL!!
.-= Alisae´s last blog ..Saturday – Day 446 =-.
This guy must have a serious ego problem. I can’t believe his first words to you on FB weren’t “I’m sorry, what can I do to help?”
Good for you that you said something. You know my dad always says “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
One of my husband’s co-workers is the mayor of teeny little town here in WI and is a complete jackass too. One of those fanatical religious types who enforces goofy town rules and wastes money on stupid shit. I guess you know where not to go for your next big party.
.-= Aliceson´s last blog ..All The Other Kids Have One =-.