Lead Me … NOT

Folks, I’m about to get a little riled up in this blog, simply because the subject matter hit me on a personal level. Typically, I can separate fact from emotion. This time, though, the facts just lead to more emotion.

So bear with me…

I want to start by saying that I do not like it when someone tries to play me for a fool, or when they look me in the eye and—as our Native American’s used to say—speak with forked tongue.

This story involves a county council candidate for the 7th District named Joe DiCara. You see, it appears that Joe likes to play “hide and seek” with his agenda, all the while dancing to the tune of whatever the audience wants to hear on a particular night.

Let me preface the next bit by explaining a little something regarding my encounter with Mr. DiCara. The rules of common courtesy are, when speaking on a particular subject, the person must tell you up front that the conversation is off the record. In this case, it was not until several minutes into the bull conversation that I took out my trusty pen and pad, upon which Mr. DiCara frantically said, “No, No, Buzz—this is off the record.” I then agreed to that stipulation, which means that this blog will not discuss the events that lead to my assessment of Mr. DiCara’s true nature.

You’ll just have to trust me on that one.

Rather, this blog will discuss his overall character. And my character assessment is, in plain English, “I don’t trust him as far as I could throw him.”

So let’s get to it.

On the matter of the Government Center (GC), in the beginning, Mr. DiCara was in favor of a change. As time went on, the audience changed, and so did his tune when he found out that his way meant the highway regarding his chances for election.

On another note, Joe’s son—Tony DiCara, a Baltimore County Police Sergeant—was transferred out of North Point. Not good for someone running his father’s campaign. That’s as far as I’ll go with that one.

Recently, at the Eastfield/Stanbrook Community meeting in which Bob Staab read the Dundalk United's letter (see PDF) describing certain events (more on that later) regarding the Government Center, Scott Collier of DundalkTV openly challenged Mr. DiCara for flip-flopping on his stance. You see, earlier in his bid for county council, Mr. DiCara supported the sale of the GC; however, he later seemed to realize that this was not the tune the community wanted to hear.

I guess the meeting at Dundalk High—where the vast majority of the citizens gathered to hear the developer, Mr. Leonard Weinberg of Vanguard, speak on his plans—rattled Mr. DiCara. When Russell Donnelly asked for those who opposed to the development to stand and be recognized, the overwhelming majority of people in attendance did just that.

To that end, if Mr. DiCara did not get the message that his agenda was a bit off, then he must have been snoring. So, when confronted by Mr. Collier over this back-and-forth waffling, Mr. DiCara stood up to answer the accusations. He claimed that this issue was a learning process and, after he found out how the community felt, he decided to take that side.

However, there was one caveat that he added to his sudden change of heart. “After we get the complete facts on the development, we can make an informed decision.”

As far as I was concerned, that blurb (or bull, if you prefer) was an escape clause. It appeared that he was against the sale of the GC, but—when all is said and done—his loyalties could potentially lie with his backers, John Olszewski Jr. and the “O” TEAM.

(Blogger’s note: I say this based on a particular document, as well as a non-response from Mr. DiCara, not only on this matter, but regarding our earlier conversation.)

I need to make it clear that, despite Mr. DiCara’s denials about being associated with the Olszewski camp, he was not being truthful. You see, I had seen his son, Tony, at the John Ayers community meeting walking (in suit and tie) behind Mr. Kamenetz, Mr. Mohler, and Mr. Olszewski Sr. When Sgt. DiCara saw me taking notes about this, he disappeared behind a wall.

That is why I challenged Mr. DiCara’s assertion that he was not part of the “political machine.”

One more bit of evidence was unearthed when I asked Mr. DiCara for some straight up answers to a situation on which he claimed to have exclusive information. He provided no details, but his tone was a carbon copy of the Olszewski Jr. agenda.

I told him I would check out his claim and, if it did not match the Olszewski rhetoric, there would not be a problem.

I think you know how that comparison turned out, don’t you?

I do not like someone who misleads me, especially when that person doesn’t know what the hell he is talking about. (Pardon my language.)

I sent Mr. DiCara two e-mails asking for a response to the documents and his so-called information. I waited patiently, but—after several days and an imposed deadline—there has been no response.

Color me shocked. I guess a response by Mr. DiCara might match up with the facts.

In my opinion (and it is my blog), this is not the kind of leadership we need on the council. We need representatives that embody integrity, transparency, and honesty. 

Sadly, I found those qualities missing in this particular candidate.

And that’s all I have to say about that…