Keep in mind while reading this that Max Stoker did NOT get a majority vote of Preble in his last election. Part of that is because he told many of his friends that he would not run again and they did not like it when he broke his word and ran. Shows the character of the man doesn't it.

This following is a transcription of the tape of a portion of the 12/10/01 Town Board meeting. This tape was made from Jane Davenports tape (Town Clerk) and background noise is from people in the town hall at the time I made the copy and not from the meeting. The places where the tape is inaudible are marked on the transcript. I apologize if there are any errors.

John Steger: "Max?" (Asking Max Stoker to give his Legislator report.)

Max Stoker: "Well this will be my last uh (inaudible (perhaps 'crack')) you guys take against me. (Audience chuckles) I'd like to make a little speech here for what it's worth.

I've represented this town for a good many years and I'd been proud to do it. The last few years haven't been as good because we have this activist terrorist group here in town that I refuse to represent and so they've been real nasty to me. I'm a little old man with a heart problem, that was the latest, but it doesn't bother me. They want to take over the Town Board and divide the town. Their latest thing is they want to, ah tell business people how to run their business, which I think is pretty odd. The point I'm making is the town of Preble does not have a good reputation in the county, that they used to have and it's because of this group and I have not figured out any way to handle that. They get on the Internet and they beat their gums before their brain kicks in and come out with some things that are nowhere near true and I can hardly go hardly anyplace in this county but what people that recognize me will say, "Well, what's the group in Preble stirring up now?" And I just thought maybe this board would like to know that. And John he'll ah sure he'll he'll be getting the gaff from now on.

Now back to the budget of this year is not ah not good. I'm not happy about it but ah they've cut everything out of the budget except ah services. I'm confident that they've done the (inaudible) best job they can do unless the county wants to give up some of their services. And as of today if the budget stays as it is Preble's rate will be (inaudible) within a few pennies, in case there's a change $2.70. Which I guess we'll probably have to live with. That hearing is Thursday night at 7:30 (12/13/01) (inaudible) Thank You."

John Steger: "Thank you Max to have your representation and after that many years. We certainly appreciate it by a large group in the community and I think you ought to deserve a round of applause."

Applause then end of tape.

Let us look at what Max had to say more closely.

"I've represented this town for a good many years and I'd been proud to do it. The last few years haven't been as good because we have this activist terrorist group here in town that I refuse to represent. . . "

Perhaps Stoker doesn't have a dictionary and does not know the meaning of the word terrorist.

ter-ror-ist n
somebody who uses violence or the threat of violence, especially bombing, kidnapping, and assassination, to intimidate, often for political purposes

ter-ror-ize vt
1. to intimidate or coerce somebody with violence or the threat of violence
2. to fill somebody with feelings of intense fear over a period of time

Several points here:

1. In the past three years members of our group have received death threats, Song Lake signs have been destroyed and the most recent when Barb Frier had two-dozen eggs trash her car. All of this from Max Stokers side of the town. We have done nothing violent or threatening. We have used the law and the courts to win our fight and so far we have not lost once! Apparently Stoker does not understand what the word 'terrorist' means. It is troubling that he decided to use that word on the eve of the third month anniversary when real terrorists attacked our country, killing thousands and driving us into real war. Stokers comments are more unfortunate as they might incite violence from low-life's that consider Stoker their hero.

2. Stoker's job is to represent ALL of the people and if he did not want to do that he should have resigned three years ago when he started all this by offering to sell his land to Song Mountain for their illegal well. The Stoker's lawyer in that transaction, Don Armstrong, town attorney, did not feel he had a conflict of interest when he advised the town people and myself there was nothing the town could do about the illegal well. This was untrue and Armstrong knew or should have known that and perhaps he has an ethical problem with that. Stoker's friend Supervisor Knapp greased the way for the well that also created an atmosphere of distrust in the people about their town officials. This is especially true because town people remembered Supervisor Knapp permitting his brothers Cell Tower over objections from the neighbors. Armstrong also advised the town people they could do nothing about that which was untrue and he knew or should have known that. He also should have advised councilman Anne Brennan that she could have filed a complaint with the ZBA when her motion to do so was not seconded. (I believe this is correct.) It appears Armstrong has some real ethical problems here.

3. As Stoker refused to do his job of representing all of the people of the town perhaps he should be required to refund half of his pay for the last four years. That would help in the current budget crises that he helped create.

" and so they've been real nasty to me. I'm a little old man with a heart problem, that was the latest, but it doesn't bother me."

1. If it didn't bother him why mention it?
2. He IS an old man and he DOES have a heart problem. The comment made in this story was not meant to be a slur but I guess he is sensitive to his age and condition. I apologize, as it was not meant as an insult.

"They want to take over the Town Board and divide the town. "

Apparently Stoker does not support the time honored American election process, or is ignorant of it. I first became aware of his odd feelings on this when he said at the Republican caucus that the challenge by Jim Millis in the primary was 'a problem'. Perhaps he should educate himself on the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Stoker and company have done a very good job of dividing the town with their one sided treatment of the citizens. When we speak up for our God given rights Stoker makes this stupid claim.

Stoker told all his friends that he would not run again and he lost in Preble in the last election. He ran after swearing he would not run. Armstrong and Stoker did nothing at the public hearing when Stokers friends were making threatening comments about us. They prevented people from speaking, made catcalls and Lidia Oliver was stopped from speaking. In his mind he thinks WE are dividing the town?

"Their latest thing is they want to, ah tell business people how to run their business, which I think is pretty odd."

I assume he is talking about our insistence that Song hold to the agreements made with the ZBA that protect the lake and its residents. If that is the case then YES we will tell them to do that. The only thing 'odd' here is Stoker's selling his neighbors down the river (lake) when he sold Song the land for that illegal well. It is the governments job to tell business what to do. That is what our town laws are for. Stoker and his ilk make selective use of those laws, enforcing them for people they don't like and giving a pass for themselves and their friends. (Knapp's Cell Tower, Stoker land sale to Song and whoever is making it on the Flying J deal)

"The point I'm making is the town of Preble does not have a good reputation in the county, that they used to have and it's because of this group and I have not figured out any way to handle that."

All of the things we have done are legal and all of the things Stoker and the town have done are illegal as witnessed by our continued winning in the courts. Stoker and company would have had to abandon their illegal ways in order to 'figure out a way to handle that'. The leaders of the town control the reputation of Preble and the results he refers too are testament to that. If Stoker would stop cow towing to Linda Hartsock and his buds on the IDA it would sure help.

"They get on the Internet and they beat their gums before their brain kicks in and come out with some things that are nowhere near true..."

Again with the baseless claim of my lying. Show me proof or shut up! I only write about what our leaders do. If they want to stop seeing stories about their illegal activities perhaps they should consider reforming. Plus I am not being accused of perjury (lying under oath) like Stoker is.

"and I can hardly go hardly anyplace in this county but what people that recognize me will say, "Well, what's the group in Preble stirring up now?" "

I wonder what they really say to you. Somehow this just doesn't ring true to me. Perhaps the 'group' they are talking about is Stoker and company.

"And I just thought maybe this board would like to know that. And John he'll ah sure he'll he'll be getting the gaff from now on."

Yes he certainly will, IF he follows in your footsteps. Stoker then talks about the budget.

John Steger: "Thank you Max to have your representation and after that many years. We certainly appreciate it by a large group in the community and I think you ought to deserve a round of applause."

AND it appears he is going to do just that!

Final Thoughts: I arrived at the town board meeting late and just missed Stoker's outrageous terrorists comments. Perhaps it was best that I did for I don't know how I would have reacted to hearing them. In retrospect I am amazed that not one town board member chastised Stoker for his comments. That night, the 10th of December 2001 was the eve of the three-month anniversary of the day that terrorists attacked and murdered thousands of Americans and we are now at war. For Stoker to use the word 'terrorist' to describe citizens that have political differences with him is unbelievably Un-American. Stoker should be ashamed of himself for his witless comments and our town board should be ashamed for supporting Stoker in those comments. I have made the effort to put his exact words here for the whole world to see and hear. We can all be comforted by the fact that after the first of the year he will no longer be in office. He has disgraced the Cortland County Legislature, the Town of Preble and himself with his comments. He is a public official and he has to be held to a higher standard. IF he is any kind of a man he will apologize for his comments.

Frank Hogg
12/17/01