Editor:

I would like to respond to a statement made by Mayor Jim Frazier in Samie Hartley’s article “Manager’s mortgage deal dropped.” Mayor Frazier is quoted as saying “Making mistakes is human” and “Admitting your mistakes and decisively rectifying them is what makes us good leaders …” etcetera.

I take great issue with Mayor Frazier’s comments. It is not admitting to a blatant mistake after being exposed in the media and making a quick reversal that makes a good leader. What makes a good leader is someone who exercises sound judgment from the start. This apology to the citizens of our community is empty, wherefore that apology would not have been offered, had they not been caught.

The lack of judgment demonstrated by Mayor Frazier would have been met with criminal charges for any business leader who misappropriated corporate funds and bypassed its board of directors as a “favor” to a hand-picked lieutenant. These are public funds, and we expect our leadership to adhere to the concept of “stewardship” and exercise sound judgment.

We have too much of this “just do it, and if caught … ask for forgiveness” going on at the state and federal levels. We don’t need it in local politics. If this is the game, move on and run for the Senate.

Matthew Dotson, Oakley