CHESAPEAKE
City Councilman Alan Krasnoff, who is running for mayor, used a 2004 schools directory to send targeted letters to several thousand school employees' home addresses urging them to vote for him even though his competitor, Councilwoman Rebecca Adams, is a school principal.
"I realize, of course, that because both you and my opponent work in one of Chesapeake's schools, there may be an understandable affinity," Krasnoff wrote in an April 17 letter sent to school employees. "But this election should look beyond that."
Krasnoff has said that direct and targeted mailings were the best way to reach Chesapeake voters, and he spent more than $18,000 in April with a direct mail company.
But at least one city school bus driver was unhappy that Krasnoff knew he worked for the schools and used that knowledge for political purposes. Adams said other teachers have approached her and were upset about the mailing as well.
Chesapeake school spokesman Tom Cupitt said Wednesday that the directory was to allow teachers and staff to communicate with each other. He said the directory was available to staff, but also to PTA council members and presidents at each school. He is unaware of any other time it has been used for political purposes.
"That's not the intent of the directory," Cupitt said.
Krasnoff would not say where he got the directory, citing campaign strategy, but said he felt OK using it.
"The list is readily available with no restrictions on it," Krasnoff said. "This is no different than a registered voter list. Becky (Adams) has the same information."
Adams, the principal at Great Bridge Intermediate School, said she does have copies of the directory. She said she has not used it for her mayoral campaign or her previous campaign for City Council.
"I definitely have not used mine for that purpose," she said.
The letter is the latest in a series of mailers that have become an issue in the weeks before the May 6 election. Adams' supporters have argued that another mailer sent out last week distorts several of her votes and presents half-truths. Krasnoff has denied that.
The letter sent to school employees was actually sent out several weeks ago.
But school bus driver Frederick Cook drew attention to the letter in an e-mail Wednesday to council members and City Manager William Harrell.
"The question is, how on earth did Mr. Krasnoff determine and/or find out that I specifically worked for the Chesapeake schools system, and how and by whose authority was my address released?" Cook wrote in the e-mail. "This is an invasion of my privacy, and personally an abuse of information that should NOT be available and used in such a manner for one's own political gain."
Cupitt later confirmed that Cook is a schools employee. And Cook later said he was not a fan of Krasnoff even before this letter. Adams said she has never met the bus driver and did not know his name.
The city clerk confirmed that the city did not give out school employees' information to Krasnoff. Cupitt said the same. Workers with the voter registrar's office said a voter's occupation is not available from their office.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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CLEWIS
There are exceptions to my comment, as I noted. My point is that the whole complaint is an obvious set-up. Elitist attitude? I just know a con-job when I see it! The directory was provided legally by someone with the authority to do so, or else Alan would not have used it at all. Alan decided to keep the provider's identity anonymous. That does not equate to "underhanded." It would be nice if the Adams supporters would all stop whining and quit playing the role of the victim and start standing up for what you believe in. If you look at the voting record, Adams voted multiple times to increase or authorize new fees. We are being taxed to death already, and she supports an increased gas tax! Is this you want to continue?
Come on Christopher........
"certain decorum?" You sound like Adams! All Alan did was seize the opportunity to show school employees (most of whom are underpaid and struggling) that he is the best candidate to meet their needs. We are taking about a piece of information sent in the mail as a letter. You act as though he broke the law or something, but he did not. You do not know who provided him with the information. You are just making assumptions. The message: Adams has historically voted many times to take more tax revenue and fees out of our pockets. Alan is providing the voting record as proof. The school employees should appreciate his effort. He is looking out for their interest! We pay enough in taxes and fees already.
got2win1
Your bias in this issue is apparant through both of your rants, however, what's interesting is your insinuation that school bus drivers are not articulate enough to provide the statement quoted in the article. The irony of your elitist attitude contridicts the underhanded practices of the canidiate that you so fervently endorse. Get off your high horse if you're going to back someone who plays in the mud.
Slimy
Chesapeake polotics use to follow a certain amount of decorum... Now they are following our presidential candidates campaign tactics. Makes me feel like they are all slimy slugs.
And another thing...........
Krasnoff has not done anything illegal! Regardless of the school systems' intent when distributing the directory, it was published without restrictions as to whom may have access and for what purposes. For all we know, Alan's source could be a school board member, the superintendent, or the directory could have been left on his doorstep. Real estate transactions reveal more information publicly. Too many people (Saewitz, Adams, Cook) are making a big deal out of nothing. Look how much junk mail you get? Sometimes private info. is retrieved from your credit report! Alan wants teachers to see his record and how he represents teachers' interests. This is a mayoral race, not a popularity contest! Krasnoff is the best choice!
I live in Chesapeake too!
Could this directory have come from maybe someone on the same ticket as Alan Krasnoff, maybe a retired school Principal? Same ticket, same campaign strategy, same campaign manager. This time of the year I don't bother to even read the mail in my mailbox...it is all lumped together as junk mail.
Saewitz Strikes Again!
Come on! As a reporter, you should view use of the directory as RESOURCEFUL. The spin here is so one-sided! Cook is a pawn here. First of all, if he is so concerned about his privacy, why was I able to pull up his and his wife's names,age range, address ,and phone number on whitepages.com? Saewitz quotes Cook as saying "The question is, how on earth did Mr. Krasnoff determine and/or find out that I specifically worked for the Chesapeake schools system, and how and by whose authority was my address released?" "This is an invasion of my privacy, and personally an abuse of information that should NOT be available and used in such a manner for one's own political gain." This could doubtfully be a rare exception, but I have never spoken with a school bus driver that communicates that well. I can hardly wait to see what Saewitz conjures up tommorow.
I Live There
Well I do live in Chesapeake. While I wasn't motivated to vote for Mrs. Adams I can't in good conscience vote for someone who uses an underhanded trick like this.
Oh, I see
So, Adams should have access to these addresses through the VEA, which has them whether teachers are members or not, but Krasnoff should be barred.
It's interesting to see how evenhanded the coverage of this race is in the Pilot.
oh well..........
Sounds as if she didnt think of this first,,,oh well......I am voting for Kransoff regardless....
Use this as a reason to vote AGAINST Krasnoff.
I don't live in Chesapeake, but this story sounds like a good reason to vote for ANYONE other than this Krasnoff character. Perhaps my opinion of politicians is jaded (peas in a pod and all that stuff), but since he cited "campaign strategy" for not revealing his source of the directory, he probably obtained it by less-that-legal or at least less-than-ethical means.
I guess the Chesapeake voters should start looking for more credit card offers in the mail, as I imagine part of his "campaign strategy" for fund-raising will include selling the mailing list.
Politicians
Can you smell a sneaky weasel !!!!!!!!!!