Responding to criticisms of Williams

An email from Greg Hancock:

I think you are  being too hard on Llloyd Williams.

Llloyd said  that his chances in becoming Mayor of Cobourg are very slim.  I am a  supporter of Lloyd and have heard him say this, but he is probably right.  In your column in the Cobourg Daily Star you discuss the great  advantage that incumbents have, and this is what Llloyd is fighting against.  Llloyd may be the only councillor who thinks on his feet ( or even  thinks), he may be the only councillor that does his own research and the  only one who speaks his mind at council, and he actually listens to  delegations. But unfortunately Cobourg has cultivated a don't rock the boat  ethos; remember the Town's motto is "Our strength is our Unanimity" and it  the council plays this to the hilt.

I have heard  Llloyd speak, I have had discussions with him, and I have talked to other  electors.  Many people who I speak to think that Llloyd would make the  best mayor.  If they all vote it will give him a chance of winning.    One of the charms of Llloyd is that he tells things the way that  they are:  he does have only a slim chance off winning, so surely it is  refreshing to hear a politician tell the truth.  Manfred Schumann also  has a propensity for the truth, which is often difficult for people to take  when they have become used to sugar coated nonentities.

On of  your previous blogs was entitled "Williams firing blanks; time to get out  heavy artillery".  It appears that Lloyd can do nothing right in your  book.  I think you misunderstand Lloyd, and to certain extent you  misunderstand, and underestimate, the electorate.  We do not all want  to be charmed with nonsense, we do remember the past, and we do want change.  Lloyd's campaign, and that of some of the other candidates for change,  is not built upon making exciting events for the media but is rather putting  out thoughtful brochures that tell things the way that they are, and talking  to the electorate.  I imagine you do know from Lloyd's campaign  literature that he is highly critical of the current mayor and especially  that Llloyd champions our local police force.  One of the significant  events at the Chamber of Commerce's All Candidates' Meeting was that all the  candidates now champion our police, if you had listened to Delanty you would  have marveled at his hypocrisy. 

I am a regular reader of your column  and your blog, but I would appreciate some balance and understanding. If you  also believe that  we need change there are some good things that can  be said about Lloyd's platform rather than just criticizing his  style.