Folks, This is what you get when you vote for the wrong person for the wrong reasons; being young and invigorating, having the ability to talk in public, race, education, religion, etc., etc. There is but one reason to vote any elected person into office and that is you believe they will do the best job possible for the seat they are elected too.

AJ has been an embarrassment since day one and was praised by many on the board for being the next great elected official in Middletown. Personally I would not have voted for him even if he was the only one running.

AJ has went from one embarrassing situation to another and totally embarrassed this town with his lack of leadership and self control.

I have to also say that Mrs Phillips has also left a sour taste in my mouth with her comment, “It’s a sad situation,” she said. Never one to “run people out of town,” 2nd Ward resident and Health Commissioner Jackie Phillips said she prays for Smith but has “mixed feelings about his extracurricular activities.” “I think his age has a lot to do with it,” she said. It’s up to his constituents, Phillips said, to decide whether to begin a petition to oust Smith. However, Phillips said she still respects him stepping up to serve the community — an action few city naysayers do, she said.
“I think he is making poor decisions but I support him totally because I respect what he is trying to do for the community,” Phillips said. This comment does not reflect well of her judgement of people as a city leader.


Personally if I were Mayor Mulligan I would seek legal counsel on having AJ removed from city council.

John Beagle - You say bad Guys watch out - I say Good Guys Watch Out if he is packing during the council meetings. PSSSST Mr. Becker, between you and me and the fly on the wall for protection of your fellow council members? A person such as AJ, who tends to act on the spur of the moment and with high passion should not be permitted to carry a gun during council meetings or even when in the city building. To the 2nd Ward; considering AJ only got 1200 votes when he was elected (if my memory serves me correctly) you should be able to get him on a recall ballot with 150 signatures and about 30-40 signatures as backups.

Pacman, while I agree AJS has shown an abundance of immaturity, and poor judgment, it is simply undeniable the hyperbole and exaggeration (well, they mean the same anyway) on his antics has been a gross distortion in my opinion. I never supported him nor any re-election (it is quite evident he would never carry an at large position), you cannot seriously be suggesting he got a pass on the Duke employee situation because he was packing heat legally? If he had pulled a gun, and the Duke cut-off employee thought he was in any danger, charges would have been filed.

Not charging AJ is an injustice.  He walked outside to intimidate someone with a firearm.  It was daylight outside. He heard a noise.  Look out the damn window.  

“And oftentimes excusing of a fault doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.”

 

- William Shakespeare

More AJ from the Journal......

Councilman criticized for disparaging remarks about governor

MIDDLETOWN — Councilman A.J. Smith has been criticized for remarks he made about Ohio Gov. John Kasich on his personal Facebook page.

With the defeat of Issue 2 in Tuesday’s general election, the city’s outspoken 2nd Ward representative called the GOP governor “an arrogant little man” and another disparaging name.

NOT A FAN OF SMITH'S ACTIONS AS MOST AREN'T AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE "OTHER DISPARAGING NAME", BUT I REALLY DON'T SEE WHERE HIS "ARROGANT LITTLE MAN" COMMENT CAN BE CATEGORIZED IN THE NAME-CALLING BRACKET. SOMEWHAT DEROGATORY PERHAPS. WE'VE ALL HEARD WORSE, HAVEN'T WE?

Butler County Treasurer Nancy Nix, a former Middletown City Council member, responded on Smith’s Facebook page saying he represents “more than just yourself, you represent Middletown. Please remember that. It’s okay to have an opinion, but please be professional...”

Nix, a Republican, believes council members should “behave in an appropriate manner.” She understands Issue 2 was a very emotional issue for people.“Some may be glad he’s speaking his mind, but when you’re an elected official, you’re held to a higher standard,” she said. “Name-calling is inappropriate.”

NIX'S USE OF MIDDLETOWN, REPRESENTING MIDDLETOWN AND THE WORD PROFESSIONAL SEEM TO CONFLICT. HAS SHE SEEN THE WAY THE TOWN HAS BEEN RUN LATELY? PROFESSIONAL WOULD ALUDE TO COMPETENT WOULDN'T IT? DO WE HAVE THAT IN THIS TOWN AS TO LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION? WITH THE REPUTATION THIS TOWN HAS HAD IN THE LAST 20+ YEARS, IT'S A LITTLE LATE TO WORRY ABOUT REPRESENTING MIDDLETOWN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, ISN'T IT?

I LOVE THE COMMENT "WHEN YOU"RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU'RE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD". COMICAL NIX. I HAVE HEARD/READ ENOUGH ON THE FED, STATE AND LOCAL SCENE TO KNOW THAT MOST POLITICIANS ARE LOOKED UPON WITH CONTEMPT AND ARE RANKED RIGHT ABOVE A FELON AS TO STANDARDS AND MORALS. WHO'S FOOLING WHO HERE NIX?

IF NIX IS GOING TO SCOLD SMITH ABOUT "BEHAVING IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER", WHY DIDN'T WE HEAR NIX SCOLDING PICARD WHEN HE TOLD LAUBACH TO SHUT UP IN A COUNCIL MEETING. AT LEAST SMITH HAS HIS YOUTHFUL INDESCRETIONS TO USE AS AN EXCUSE(OR DID ABOUT FIVE EPISODES AGO) PICARD IS OLD ENOUGH AND A SO-CALLED "PROFESSIONAL" TO HAVE KNOWN BETTER. WHY WASN'T HE PUBLICLY ADMONISHED FOR HIS COUNCIL BEHAVIOR BY NIX, MULLIGAN OR THE OTHER "BEHAVIOR POLICE"? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE SCHIAVONE/LAURA WILLIAMS TANTRUMS THAT EVENTUALLY GOT TO YOU TUBE? WAS NIX AROUND THEN? IF SO, WHERE WAS THE CONCERN THEN?

FURTHERMORE, WHO ANNOINTED NIX THE ETIQUETTE CZAR OF MIDDLETOWN? SHE PLAYED THE GAME OF USING MIDDLETOWN AS A SPRINGBOARD TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS. SHE DID THE REPUBLICAN COUNTY SHUFFLE TO MANEUVER TO WHERE SHE IS AT, CHOOSING TO DISENGAGE HERSELF FROM MIDDLETOWN POLITICS. SHE SHOULD TEND TO HER BUSINESS IN HAMILTON AS SHE HAS CHOSEN TO DO AND STOP PLAYING MOTHER HEN WITH THE LECTURES.

Nix wants someone else to “behave in an appropriate manner”???

This from someone who is listed in a newspaper ad one day as supporting my opponent when I am running for public office, and then mails me a letter the very next day asking for my support when she seeks the Central Committee’s endorsement for reelection. 

Does she think THAT is “appropriate behavior” … or does she just have unmitigated gall???    

Again A.J. needs to go .He is a disgrace to Middletucky.Where has he been at the last 2 council meetings? Im guessing he thinks the budget isnt important.

GO AWAY A.J. we wont miss you at all.

Aj is a fart in the wind. Knowing Nix is not hourly I still hope she not wasting time during the workday on facebook. Who gives a sh t what Aj does. Nix needs to worry about her on world of public life and focus on the pending down turn of property values. Facebook good god lets tell everybody what we had for lunch today and if the sky is still blue.

Ok, that's it! As a resident of Ward 2 I for one have had enough!
I am going to organize a petition drive to recall Mr Smith.
Who is with me?

they didnt embarrass themselves.   The court and city did what they had to do.   It would be a lot worse press if they give special treatment to someone on council and let them slide by without paying and no fine.   The court had to treat it as if it were Joe Normal.