CURRAN: I don't even know these people

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June 29, 2009

By KELLEY CURRAN The News and Tribune Mon Jun 29, 2009, 05:24 PM EDT

I sat in the car and groaned. The public radio show was discussing downtown development in Southern Indiana with Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan.

I was very attentive as I heard plans for making streets in my neighborhood one-way and the possibility of a convention center a few blocks away. Then he started talking about adding the benches along Spring Street. You know, for the husbands to sit on while their wives shop. Hence the groan.

It wasn’t a huge embarrassment. There certainly hasn’t been any repercussions from it. No one has approached me and said, “Ha, ha, you live somewhere where the mayor indulges in outdated stereotypes while justifying spending tax dollars on the radio for everyone to hear.” No one lost their job. The kids could go to school the next day. I just groaned and still remember it months later.

Actually, I was reminded of it as I watched Galligan berate and seemingly attempt to bully police officers during a press conference for allegedly releasing some photographs to the media. I groaned some more.

Asinine. That’s the word. I won’t rehash the press conference verbatim, but Galligan granted himself powers he doesn’t have, made accusations he had no real evidence of and just showed his rear in general.

On television, it was downright painful to watch. Oh, and I so appreciate the TV stations identifying him as the mayor of Jeffersonville there at the bottom of the screen the whole time. Very helpful. Thank you.

Anyone making any effort to read between the lines would also get the impression they were seeing part of the good ‘ol boy system at work. There were references to the police officers having political motivations and communications from other public persons worried they, too, might be similarly embarrassed.

Who knew we had so many public figures in Jeff doing so many things they wouldn’t want people to know about? And, more importantly, what about the embarrassment of us nonpublic persons?

I do not know Tom Galligan personally. All I have to go on to form an opinion is the image he presents publicly. Lately, that image has been buffoonish. It makes me question just what we got ourselves in terms of city leadership and makes me embarrassed for those in other communities to hear and see our most visible representative make any public appearances.

The chief executive of any entity should know that they are the face of that entity to the broader public. As the image of our country suffered in other parts of the world when we were seemingly being led by a mentally challenged cowboy and has improved some when we put an eloquent diplomat in charge, so to does our standing in the larger community slip when our mayor is acting like a cartoon character rather than someone who should be respected and taken seriously.

Just as a CEO, executive director, governor or, say, head of a group of governors must take into consideration how their actions reflect on the organizations they lead, so too should a mayor think about the impression he is giving of his community before he opens his mouth.

Presenting a respectable image is part of the job. You may be a saint behind closed doors, but for a public role, the public image is what counts to the — well, public. Embarrassing your community because you’re indignant on behalf of a friend is unacceptable.

My understanding is that this city elected Galligan again in hopes of seeing progress in the community. How about a little progressiveness, too? Like not making trite gender assumptions on the radio and refraining from getting on television acting like you’re the new sheriff in town who uses due process as toilet paper? Can’t we get that and some businesses along Veterans Parkway?

Whether it is the downtown core we are trying to revitalize or the sprawl area near Theatair X, those considering investing or moving here are not only going to judge us on tax rates and infrastructure. Surely there is a class factor, too.

Is this the kind of place you want to live and work? Is this a culture you can fit in with? Must you worry the cops are renegades hell-bent on embarrassing people? Is this Galligan guy who you want representing your new home or business community to the broader public? Are you going to feel comfortable being the only woman sitting on a downtown bench with the Jeff/Stepford husbands?

Jeffersonville resident Kelley Curran says husbands don’t need benches because they’re supposed to be carrying their wives’ purchases, walking 10 feet behind and saying, “Yes, dear.” Write her at Kelinawriterhat@aol.com.

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