What Ever Happened To Cape Vincent Councilwoman Michelle Oswald? Was She Sacrificed?

Remember on PBS TV there was a kid's program and the line was "Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego?"

But my question is..."What in the World Happened to Michelle Oswald?"

As I recall Ms. Oswald has been the only official town officer, particularly on the
 CV Town Board that declared outright she was against industrial wind development CV. Good for you Michelle!

Oh yes... John Byrne made a passing anti wind in CV claim when he first declared to run in 2011.  But he was quickly whipped into submission by the Hirschey crowd about publicly declaring to be anti wind, if the agenda is to appease the State and actually write wind zoning regulations that allow some wind development.  Then being anti wind which actually makes sense to protect the community, is a real NO NO!!!

I hope Byrne is paying close attention to what happened to Michelle Oswald if he thinks he has a political career ahead.  

But stop and ask yourself this question.  Does it strike you odd that she didn't win in the 2013 CV  elections. Stop and ask yourself...how did she lose?   I mean, why wouldn't the seasonal/absentee votes have translated over to her as well and put her over the top like the other Hirschey candidates?  Maybe there is something odd about those seasonal votes!!!  Or is it just because she is a woman?  The seasonal/absentee vote put her over the top as expected over Paul Aubertine in her election in 2012...why not now?

A little history might explain it.

Back when former CV councilman Mikey Orvis resigned, there was talk among the Hirschey camp about appointing someone to that seat. By then as I remember both Michelle Oswald and Paul Aubertine were making noises about actually running for that empty seat. I have it from a very reliable source back then, actually 2 sources, that at least Hirschey and Bragdon (to be fair was the excuse) were willing to appoint a pro wind person to the board, and the name that popped up was  Paul Aubertine.   The discussion of some kind of appointment till years end was even in the WDT.  Geee did someone owe his father Darrel Aubertine a favor????     Now that struck me odd.  Why give away that seat to a pro wind Democrat?  In the end Oswald ran in a Rep. primary for that seat and won against Ed Hludzenski  and ultimately won against Dem. Aubertine in the 2012 general election.

Now one of these sources said the Republicans put a stop to that thinking of appointing the Dem. Aubertine and they left the seat unfilled till the 2012 election. 

Of course the rumor had it that Hirschey and Bragdon were not real happy that Michelle was billing herself as anti wind publicly and did so at the candidates night before the Meet the Candidate's night.

Note that nowhere in the Hirschey political or campaign camp or on the town board will you ever see true outright anti wind statements.  In fact they actually drafted and passed a wind law to appease the state Art X process.  Which I find it odd that Johanna Richards of NPR did a recent piece were she called the current town board anti wind as if that was a given.  Wonder how she came to that conclusion?  In fact if you search on WWNY TV back when Hirschey was running in the 2011 Rep primary against Harvey White, Hirschey says he is NOT anti wind right on a TV interview.  Maybe . Ms. Richards missed that interview?

But back to my original question...what happened to Michelle Oswald?  Is it possible the Hirschey supporters got the quiet word and in this case were willing to politically sacrifice one of their own who has declared to be truly anti wind, and didn't always roll over completely to the Hirschey demands?

Here is what Michelle said about wind development in CV at the Oct 2012 Meet the Candidates Night.  Underlining emphasis is mine. 

"But, right now our town faces a huge issue. It's wind. It's a struggle for this community.

I don't support industrial wind development for Cape Vincent. I don't think it's the right place for it to be sited. Our town has spent months working on a Comprehensive Plan; to update it and update our zoning laws. And, I think those documents should be respected. 

Bp is in the process now of starting Article X. And what Article X does is take away that decision making process of siting those large industrial scale turbines. I think these are five hundred feet now."

I think the people of Cape Vincent know what's best as far as development for Cape Vincent. And, I support any efforts that would lead to bringing that decision back to the town. 

 

She clearly says she is against industrial wind  in CV and CV is not the right place for it. That is a pretty direct out right stance.  None that I can recall in the Hirschey govt have said this outright.  There is always a hedge of some sort.  Like 124 500 ft. turbines are not appropriate, or they must comply to our law , or I'm not against wind energy but.... That law allows some wind development.  That would be at odds with Oswald's apparent belief AFTER the Hrschey board had already passed the law earlier that summer on Aug. 1 2012.  Maybe this didn't sit well with the Hircshey players.  Even though she says the law should be respected, that would not align with her NO wind development in CV since that Hirschey zoning law allows some wind development.  And she doesn't seem to grasp that any wind development allowance in our zoning makes it incompatible with our new com plan which is so protective of CVs scenic resources.  How do you justify a few industrial turbines without
violating the idea of strict scenic protection.

 

Seems that in order to lose, Oswald would have had to lose some of the local vote AND the seasonal/absentee vote, the seasonal/aansentee vote which still went strong for Hirschey and Bragdon...so what happened, how did she lose?  Makes you wonder doesn't it?  Was Paul Aubertine really such an attractive candidate for BOTH sides.

  Certainly being a women doesn't play well with the local good ole boys...no matter if you are a Dem. good ole boy, or if you are  a Republican good ole boy!

I also find this comment odd from Mr. Hirschey after the absentee mostly seasonal votes were counted and he won. 

"I’m very very happy that it’s all over and I’m very happy that I won,” Mr. Hirschey said. “I’m also happy that Brooks Bragdon won. Now we have a supermajority and we can continue our good work for the town.”

What?????  He apparently expresses no feelings that Oswald lost???  And  "NOW" we have a supermajority...NOW?  But he had a super majority...and more... with Oswald.  He had all 5 seats voting his way.  Didn't she count???  This is like a real slap in her face!

In the end  the Hirschey camp could afford to sacrifice Oswald if they wanted too because she may have been too much of a true anti wind wild card, with more of a mind of her own than the other Hirschey players, and they still retain a super majority anyhow without her.

I think Oswald was considered expendable and was sacrificed by her own side.  Looks like Hirschey and Bragdon got the board they wanted back when they were willing to appoint Aubertine!

You could say that  Hirschey and crew are right not to be outright anti wind and Michelle being publicly anti wind is why she lost the election with the overall community local and seasonals.  I don't believe that, but if it were true then what does that say about the stance of the community?  Maybe not as anti wind as everyone would like to think, and BP's Chandler was right that the community gives his wind farm wide support?  Was Hirschey's Zogby poll  right?  As I said...after all the Hirschey govt. did pass a zoning law that did not prohibit wind, it actually allows some.  Is some industrial wind development what Hirschey and the community are shooting for...is that why they stick so faithfully and appease the Art X process?  After all my strong anti wind stance and stance against Art. X certainly has taken a hard beating.  So why is that???

And if you have been paying attention to videos there were some times both Oswald and Byrne presented some very mild questioning (not quite opposition) to the other Hirschey players.

Of course without Oswald  this kinda leaves Byrne now politically twisting in the wind by himself now doesn't it. 

Better behave John!

Michelle's loss when you critically examine it raises a lot of interesting questions.  Personally I wish she had won, but I wish she had been much more forceful in her view against industrial wind  and Art. X  instead of being so willing to tow so much of the Hirschey line.