Mayor Rick Gray startled Charlie Smithgall and members of the audience when, during his closing statement at Wednesday’s debate, he accused former mayor of having received $300,000 from the county commissioners towards Smithgall’s private shooting range.
Visibly shaken, Smithgall demanded time to respond from moderator Barbara Rhoda who reluctantly allowed him fifteen seconds.
Struggling for words, Smithgall called Gray’s statement “a load of c—p”, denied receiving money from the county, and added that he has long allowed the county to use his firing range, free of charge.
As a long time attorney, Gray knows better than to introduce an accusation during the closing summation, made worse by Gray speaking last, thus not allowing Smithgall an opportunity to respond.
Gray had pretty good evening until the very end, painting Smithgall as being eight years behind the times and out of touch. Yet what he did raises questions about veracity, sense of fair play, and fitness to serve.
To some who have long known him, this is not the Rick Gray of eight years ago.
Eight years ago,Mayor Gray didn’t owe LNP anything…now he is nothing more than their puppet, and wants to continue to get their endorsement.
If he really cared about Lancaster, he would do something about a police department that cannot solve murders… He would be seeking ways to financially improve the Conmvention center, without impacting taxpayers or the county hotel industry, neither of whom derive much if any benefit from a downtown center.
Hotel Lancaster will and of course the adjacent Marriott does….who else? How often?? How much???
Maybe Bernard Harris could do some real investigative reporting for a chance and find out and fully disclose the results.
I won’t hold my breath on that happening though…It might make Mayor Gray and PSP look bad, and we can’t have that, can we??!!