Here we go again with rumors about the Cleveland politician known for years as “the squirrel” switching to the Republican Party. Dual rumors about longtime Commissioner Melvin Hunt being indicted and about him changing parties surfaced weeks ago and, like many of the hot political rumors of 2010, they seemed to fade away – only to possibly come back another day. But is the rumor plausible? Will he be indicted? Will he switch parties?
Why would any well informed Republican activist want Melvin Hunt to switch to the Republican Party? The short answer: they wouldn’t. But many of the people running the party these days were not involved back in the days Hunt and others were effectively and aggressively cementing their names in annals of Liberty County Democratic party history. Their excitement over recent victories coupled with their lack of appreciation and knowledge of the road leading to these victories could cause some unnecessary mistakes.
New Republicans may be uninformed, but any Democratic activist in the party that is well informed knows that Commissioner Hunt has been a loyal warrior for their party. He is somewhat of a living legend. For years he has worked tirelessly to prevent the election of even one Republican. He has made phone calls and called in favors and twisted arms to do everything from stopping a Republican candidate placing yard signs in certain locations to encouraging the public ridiculing of well known Republicans to silencing criticism of Democrats and news stories about questionable activities that could still surface in our local courtrooms one day.
Whether he switches or not and whether he is accepted by Republican leadership or not, Hunt is no Republican. Only late comers to the Republican Party could possibly even consider him anything but a warrior for the Democratic Party. No doubt Hunt would continue being a Democrat if he thought he could continue to win re-election under the donkey banner, and no doubt they want him to continue his long career as a Democrat. He has been an effective guardian of their power. Infamous tales of paying people in one of his precincts to drive around and gather up voters and hand out cash for votes for Democratic candidates are only the tip of the iceberg of the legend of Melvin Hunt and his long career as “the squirrel” running the north part of the county.
Always looking to cut a deal to strengthen his hand, has Hunt found someone in the new Republican leadership circle that is so desperate to say “we win, we win” that they will embrace one of the main sources of the political stench that motivated the efforts of those who revived Republican efforts after decades of total capitulation in the mid 1990’s? Perhaps, if they do, Hunt should be given a new nickname – “the termite”. Because new movements and revived political parties always rot from within and giving Hunt that nickname may make future Republicans more conscious of the political history of the county.
The goal of the original resurgence of Republicans who wanted to run candidates and challenge the Democrats back in the late 1990’s was to rid ourselves of local politicians who were corrupt or who stood by and allowed corruptness and to find people with so much integrity they would not be able to place their names and reputations on the same team with people like the Clintons. Commissioner Hunt was one of the main ones targeted. And now over ten years later he has not even separated himself from Barack Obama at this late date. Will the 2010 election results change that? Who cares? Hunt has defined himself forever. Any Republicans embracing him or any other party switchers (at this late date) do the same.
The party should stand for something. There is an easy answer for when is “too late”? After Obama showed us what being a Democrat was all about, Melvin Hunt showed us he was on board with him. Other local officials along with Hunt who didn’t jump off of that train now deserve to be left at the station next election. If Hunt switches, any decent opponent that runs against him in the 2012 primary should receive a ringing endorsement from Republican leadership. If it means anything at all to run with the elephants, the donkeys should be trampled in a stampede to rid ourselves of the leftover good ole boy system we endured for so long.
What is the problem, do we have to HUNT for better candidates?
Liberty Dispatch Contributor
28 comments:
This marks the bastardization of the Liberty County Republican Party.
This also signals the coming war in the Republican Party, it begins...
Hunt will be the proverbial 'poison pill' in the Republican Party. Thanks alot Karen McNair, Rusty Hight and Lester Wisegerber.
I have said it before and I will say it again, If this Liberty County Mafia member runs as a Republican, I will vote line by line, instead of straight ticket.
Read some of Hunt's comments on facebook. He's gross...writes comments referencing strippers, etc. in a humorous tone, of course. I, personally don't know him! Thank goodness!! But reading his comment could leave one with the impression that he's a slimy, dirty little dude. Yuck...wish just one of our so called " leaders " in this community would represent themselves and the voters with a little class...and maybe, just maybe... a little integrity. Is it possible?
Someone please tell me why Republicans should all of a sudden be for Melvin Hunt? All of you people down in the southern part of this county can accept this as party "growth", but it is a blow to us.
IF this actually happens Republican party chairmen and executive committee people need to realize thre is no more effective time to get the word out to voters about someone like a Melvin Hunt than when they switch. YOU CAN MAKE HEADLINES BY INSERTING YOUR NEGATIVE OPINION OF THE HUNTS AND THE LITTLES IN THIS COUNTY WHO WANT TO HIDE BEHIDE THE ELEPHANT.
This sounds like something Wisegerber may have done but we voted him out of office. Most people who vote in Republican primaries believe it does make a difference whether someone has a "D" or a "R' by there name. People like Rusty Hight, Lee Groce,and Melvin Hunt are "D' s.
This story makes me sick. It is like if the Cowboys went 11 and 5 and to try and get to the Super Bowl quicker they got Donovan McNabb. It ruins any victory it might add.
A promise was made yeras ago that when we started winning we would not just start changing officeholder's partisn affiliation to finish a sweep. What happened to that promise? I swallowed when we gave a thumbs up to Cain, but at least he came in with news he was sick and tired of politicians like Fitzgerald and their behavior.I was less enthusiastic about Norman Brown, but since Melvin Hunt is my commissioner I had little first hand info on Brown.
Whoa! I have met Andy McCreight but I voted for him and this just sounds like a "what if" story. McCreight is not quoted. What does he say about this?
Newsflash. Now Republicans will start to be indicted.
I promise you Andy and Akins don't like this.
"Not knowing history dooms a people to repeat their mistakes." Melvin Hunt is a mistake.
Great! I can see the headlines in a few weeks: " Republican Commissioner indicted".
I have no beef with the McNair's or any of the new people getting involved in the party. I voted for them. But as a matter of respect leaders who are forty or fifty or sixty years old that have just gotten involved in County politics since the election of Kim Harris a few years ago need to allow wisdom to catch up with their new role.
Melvin first, then Mike Little, then Chip Fairchild?
Here is what Melvin Hunt advertises as most important for facebook friends to know: "There will be a golf tournament on October 2nd at Cape Royal. Price is $300 per team. Contact me on facebook." Us voters, especially us Republicans, would like to kniow if any of that $300 comes from us and if any of the time spent playing or practicing for the MANY golf tournaments Mr.Hunt has played in since taking office come from time he is suppose to be working.
So will Meeelviiin Huuuunt be blacktopping Republican's driveways now?
I seem to remember someone said many years ago, “Politics make strange bed partners”. I do not think it so bizarre to think that we could not see Mr. Hunt running on the Republican ticket…because it has happen before in our political history. What’s important, will we as Party members, new and old, recognize those within our own Party who would support Mr. Hunt in his endeavors? If not, its business as usual!
First big move of Republicans - cutting budget? Announcing reforms that guarantee a fair jury selection? No. Melvin Hunt is the first big move! I may never vote again!!
Anyone not from the Cleveland area wanting to know why Commissioner Hunt should be bombarded by Republicans distancing themselves from his party switch should talk to Bob Foote. He has been specific in his criticism and it is of record. Mr. Foote was beaten by less than two points back when being a Republican was not cool around here. He did well because people know the Squirrel is really a Skunk.
By Anonymous on HUNT For Repu
One BIG BIG problem with accepting Melvin Hunt is all of the stuff Democrats know about him. They can drop that stuff out in the media whenever they need to blast Republicans.
Yes the people in South Liberty County are fed up with the Melvin Hunts,Mike Littles,Fitzgeralds and Groce's. I don't think Hunt would get past the Republican Primaries. If he thinks switching to the Republican party will assure him of winning his Commissioners position,he has a big suprise comming.
Take a deep breath.
Andy does not get to 'decide' who is on the ticket.
If the commissioner switches parties, he will have to win in the primary. If the folks up there vote for him, then it will be their decision to continue to keep him around.
If the voters want change, and informed citizens can find a viable candidate to run against him... then you'll get change.
Exactly right. No one can decide who runs on the Republican Party ticket it is up to the voters to decide who their candidate will be. I do not imagine that the party chairman or anyone else in the executive committee, or any elected officials from the Republican Party will be openly supporting or opposing any candidates in the primary simply because they want the voters to have the choice.
OK, it is up to you now, North Liberty County.
Re:Yuck...wish just one of our so called " leaders " in this community would represent themselves and the voters with a little class...and maybe, just maybe... a little integrity. Is it possible?.....
Well, why don't you run big shot?
Post a Comment