Should You Have To Take A Test To Run For Office?
February 20, 2007 by Cato
Filed under Campaigns, Salisbury Politics
From all I’ve been told, John Harris is a nice guy. He’s evidently been successful in his business. He also can’t spell.
Politicians make enough mistakes as it is. Do you want someone representing you who claims that blight is one of his 3 Big Issues, but can’t spell it? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me, but I figure that you have a slightly better chance of fixing a problem if you can define it. It sure helps to spell it correctly.
Mr. Harris also doesn’t seem to be too worried about patronizing local businesses. I guess that mail house in Sharon, PA must have cut him one hell of a deal. Of course I don’t think he’ll get too many votes from the local mailing houses.
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Mr Harris seems to be the patron of the house at 426 West College Avenue. This was an illegal conversion from single family to rental. His son lives there, but has several buddies also sharing the mortage/rent. As soon as this property flipped and Mr Harris Jr was in there was trouble with noise, boozing, brawling and swearing in the earshot of neighbors.
This doesn’t augur well for a candidate who claims to be concerned about “blite”. He’s not concerned with obeying the 4-2-3-4 law or making sure his son obeys it. The house has quieted down for the past 6 months or so.
This guy has some explaining to do about his connection with the rowdy house at 426 W. College. Does Harris the Candidate respect the City’s zoning laws? Or does he regard them as his means of ensuring an economical advantage for himself and his cronies? If the latter, then it would explain why he’s being put forth to replace Mike Dunn.
I just got off the phone with Mr John Harris, owner of 426 West College. He is the son of Mr Harris, candidate. He was irate with me for my post above.
The John Harris who lives at 426 W. College Ave denies that there has ever been any trouble or noise emanating from his house. He told me he has never had the police called in on him, that he has plowed a great deal of money into his house, and that he works just like the rest of us in this neighborhood. He says he is committed to staying here, but felt attacked by accusations such as the one I posted above. For that, I’m sorry. We’re not next-door neighbors, or I would have had it out with him face-to-face if/when the disturbance or disturbances happened. I’m reporting what I heard from people who are his neighbors. So it’s their word against his, and just may be that they are wrong.
Mr Harris was kind enough to tell me that he does have a roommate and occasional visitor. He is the owner, and has a roomer. I had the impression there were more from the cars in the driveway, but he told me he sells cars, and that’s why. Not that he had to explain any of that to me.
I apologize for my un-neighborly attack, and welcome Mr Harris to the wonderful world of College Avenue. This is a neighborhood that has had its share of disturbances and conversions from single family house, and now he’s part of it. With his father running for City Council, he must surely understand what is at stake in abiding by the new law. We welcome him in the fight to enforce the zoning laws in this City. He, more than I, has had to endure the noise coming from Doug Church’s house at 428, so he really does understand what it’s like to have no enforcement over a nuisance house.