Chief Horner to Mayor: "Put Up or Shut Up"

Click on link below for WSAZ.com's story about Mayor Murray's corruption comments. http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/99198264.html

From WSAZ.COM (9/1/10):

Show us the evidence. That’s what an angry police chief is demanding after Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray’s recent charges of city corruption. The mayor's comment -- made here on WSAZ.com -- sparked community uproar and more corruption claims.

Under fire since taking office from several sides and facing a November recall, Mayor Jane Murray's accusing response is still the talk of the town. “This is probably the most corrupt city and corrupt government I’ve ever seen,” Murray said.

Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner says he investigates criminal wrongdoing. The chief, who basically works at the pleasure of the mayor, says his boss needs to basically put up or shut up.

“It’s highly improper for anyone to make allegations of corruption unless they are reported,” Horner said. “It's the law to report a felony. If you want to know if this was real or rhetoric, ask the mayor.”

The mayor said her corruption claim is real, not rhetoric, but she's not ready to get specific -- yet.

"With my experiences in office, I know things, but it has to be given to the right authorities, and when I'm ready to do that, I'll do that," Murray said.

After the caustic comment by the mayor, City Councilman Richard Noel, who supports the mayor, talked at a council meeting about his own corruption probe. He said he would not go on camera until he had his evidence ready.  Noel did tell WSAZ.com he stands by his remarks to the newspaper, saying, "The things I know can't go to local law enforcement, or judges, or the solicitor -- it has to go to the Feds, and someone will go to the penitentiary."

"I challenge him to bring it forward, it only hurts the community to make wild or absurd statements about corruption if the evidence does not exist," Horner said.

Murray blames -- in part -- subversive, underground Internet blogging with fanning the flames of city corruption.

We agree with the Police Chief. If Madam Murray is aware of any real corruption, she is obligated  to turn it over to proper authorities. Not doing so is misfeasance. We also noticed in the video that Horner said, if she was not willing to relveal it to him, as the Police Chief (if she believes Horner is part of the so-called corruption), she is obligated to go around Horner, to State or Federal  authorities. There are other well-established channels she could take advantage of.


If she IS truly aware of corruption in Portrsmouth, and if she reported it as she is obliged to do, she would be a real hero to our town and even WE at P-Town Undergrouund would support her actions 100%.


So far, the only specific allegation of corruption we have seen from Murray was her accusation against Water Works Director Sam Sutherland:

Jane Murray, WSAZ.com ("Portsmouth's First Female Mayor Takes Office; Fires Workers," January 4, 2010):


That ridiculous claim blew up in her face and she was forced to re-hire him. Recently she made the following statement praising Mr. Sutherland.

"I found gross negligence and mismanagement and I promised to clean up this government," Murray said. (Murray) fired longtime Water Works Director Sam Sutherland and his assistant. Sutherland said he did nothing wrong, but Murray says he may be the subject of a reopened investigation into water department mismanagement. "The statute of limitation has not expired," she said. She also said she's consulting on union contracts with former (Water Works) employee Roy "Bubb" Payton who was convicted last year on felony charges involving city property. Murray said her probe shows Payton was the victim (of improper firing by Sam Sutherland).

Jane Murray, Ports. Daily Times ("Sutherland Decides To Stay," August 24, 2010):

“Sam had not submitted a letter of resignation so he and I had a chat and he has decided to stay,” Murray said. “I’m very glad that he has changed his mind. He is a dedicated public employee with a 20 plus year record of service to the people of Portsmouth.”

Of course, she has never shown the class to publicly apologize for her statements against him. The only other public allegation of corruption was a rambling, incoherent accusation by Sixth Ward Councilman Rich Noel (and a crony of Mayor Murray's) against former State Representative Bill Ogg, who apparently got a position that Noel felt that he was entitled to.

Richard Noel, Ports. Daily Times ("Noel Speaks of 'Corruption'," August 24, 2010):

Noel said. “I can also remember in 1980 I was appointed a City Council person, and I was removed the following day because I wasn’t with the right group. And my case went to the Ohio Supreme Court and I won six months after Bill Ogg had won a rigged special election, and he is in a lifetime job in the state of Ohio now. Not that I wanted a job in the state of Ohio. I did get one when they sold my job out at the mill. But that’s just life. And I don’t want to go on and on, but I can understand what the people here are talking about.”