Abzun’s False Attacks Show Lack of Character
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
Being called a liar on social media is a strange and upsetting experience. This is especially true if you are a dedicated environmental volunteer and your accuser is an elected official.
Lisa Cerbone Abzun, who is seeking the office of Mount Kisco mayor, stated on her Facebook page: “John Rhodes has shown he is unable to discern truth from fiction and when the truth does not serve his personal and political agendas, then he resorts to lies…”
Abzun was apparently referring to my letter, published in The Examiner on June 27. In that letter I stated that I could not endorse her for mayor because, among other reasons, she refused, during candidate interviews by the Democratic Committee, to support a strong new local ethics law that would include both full financial disclosure and significant penalties for major violations by public officials.
Abzun claims that I lied and made this up, although four other district leaders confirmed the truth of my statement in a letter published by The Examiner on June 20, just seven days before Abzun’s libelous post.
I have been an environmentalist for decades, basing my activities and statements on facts, science and the principles of environmental justice. I am the chairperson of our village’s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) and co-author of Mount Kisco’s 167-page Natural Resource Inventory, which has been adopted into our village law as a fact-based reference.
While some people have strongly disagreed with what I’ve said or written, no one else has called me a liar (at least not in public), and I recently received an award from the Board of Legislators for my “exceptional service to the community.”
Abzun’s claim that she’s running a polite and compassionate campaign is also contradicted by her attacks on my integrity and her hostile disrespect for the work and humanity of numerous volunteers and candidates. Her “scorched-earth” approach, of insulting and falsely accusing anyone who does not support her political ambitions, is more MAGA than Mount Kisco.
My question is simple: Do you think that someone with such poor self-control and such disrespect for the truth and dedicated community volunteers is qualified to lead our town through these difficult and potentially divisive times?
John Rhodes
Mount Kisco
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
