To start off on a lighter note, I believe John Curtis has a very good sense of humor. There is no sarcasm here, I really do believe this. I believe it is important for any person, whether he/she be a businessman/woman, politician, teacher, spouse, or everyday blue-collar worker, to have the ability to laugh at their actions from time-to-time. Humor can help bring some much needed relief to even the darkest of moments, and I believe it is one of the cornerstones of good leadership and communication.
I started off with this because of a newly added section on John Curtis’ campaign website titled Rumors. [1] You do not need a vast imagination to guess what is included here, and I applaud Mr. Curtis’ ability to laugh away some of his critic’s accusations (i.e. “You shouldn’t vote for me because I have a nice truck”). Yet there is one ‘rumor’ that stood out beyond the rest, and that is the accusation that Mr. Curtis is taking part of the “StopCindy.com” group. Mr. Curtis responds to this accusation in the following manner:
“Nope. Not even a little truth here. I think this one got started because some saw the 'StopCindy.com' signs near mine. If this were a way to determine my involvment [sic] we would have some strange alliances going on.”
He then provides a link to three different signs in the area which would appear to have him supporting Steve Clark and Cindy Richards for public office. Essentially, Mr. Curtis is providing some comic relief to this accusation. Yet something doesn’t seem to fit in this scenario. During campaign season, it is common practice of all campaigns to saturate signs throughout neighborhoods, trying to ‘out-sign’ the other candidates in order to get one’s name out in the open. In other words, I’m not buying this excuse or the comic relief used to shoo it away.
Do I believe that Mr. Curtis is directly involved in the political workings of StopCindy.com while he is attempting to run for public office? Absolutely not, since this move would prove to be political suicide. However, what Mr. Curtis appears to be missing is that this accusation does hold some credibility, since one of his campaign’s largest supporters is Taylor Oldroyd, the founder and leader of the StopCindy.com campaign. [2] Some might ask why John Curtis would ever ask for an endorsement or support from someone who is openly attempting to unseat a current-seated City Council member; it would seem a conflict of interest to Mr. Curtis’ desire to work with city officials in order to obtain one of his three campaign goals: Unity. [3] Yet Taylor Oldroyd is no common man in the political and social fields of Provo, as he has influence over literally thousands of Provo residents through his positions as Chair of the Utah County Republicans [4] and Chief Executive Officer of the Utah County Association of Realtors. [5]
Most may find Oldroyd’s actions a conflict of interest to two very prominent and professional organizations or in the least of terms very unprofessional and immature. Yet in the political landscape of Provo, PACs and special interest will transform even the best of people into strange creatures. There is not a shadow of doubt that Taylor Oldroyd supports Curtis’ campaign for mayor, as he is plainly listed as a supporter on the campaign website. [6] It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Mr. Curtis would want the support of an individual who holds so much sway over two very large and prominent organizations in Utah County, because when you are running for mayor every vote counts.
There is a little term used by parents and the justice system alike when someone tries to transfer guilt onto another individual for a crime they did not commit, but due to proximity are still accused. This term is aptly titled guilty by association. [7] Even though John Curtis isn’t running a website devoted to unseating Cindy Richards or openly endorsing Sterling Beck (Cindy Richards’ opponent), he is still accepting the endorsement and support of Taylor Oldroyd, an individual who is doing all of this. Along with Taylor Oldroyd’s endorsement also comes all of his dirty laundry, tactics, and political games, and the latter brings to mind something Mr. Curtis promised he would not do: “I hold to the ideal that it is wrong to play political games.” [8] Sorry to be the party-pooper, Mr. Curtis, but you are playing a very elaborate political game right now with Taylor Oldroyd’s endorsement and support, and you are indirectly supporting his causes by accepting his support. You may not feel that you are a part of StopCindy.com, but it is more than fair to say you are definitely guilty by association.
[1] http://www.johncurtis.org/rumors.html
[2] http://www.stopcindy.com/wesupportchange.html
[3] http://www.johncurtis.org/unity.html
[4] http://utahcountygop.org/leadership/steering-committee/
[5] http://www.ucaor.com/utah-county-realtors-staff.php
[6] http://www.johncurtis.org/supporters.html
[7] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/guilt%20by%20association
[8] http://www.johncurtis.org/staffing.html
