Letter to the Editor: Setting the Record Straight – It’s about Character, not Politics!

I married my husband, Pat Hurley, almost 24 years ago at here in Summit. When he decided to run for City Council this year he warned me about all the personal attacks on his character that would come his way as a result. I thought after having been through the first eight years of our marriage I had developed thick skin and that none of this would bother me. But, Mayor Glatt’s orchestrated and inaccurate attack on him does bother me, a lot.

During those early years of our marriage, when I assume Mayor Glatt was just getting his feet wet in his father’s business, I, like thousands of military wives today had to live through month after month (totaling years) of my husband, a pilot in the Navy, being deployed first to the drug war in South America and then to the Middle East for the first Persian Gulf War.  

Each day he was away brought many challenges including maintaining a house, paying the bills and raising — while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy — our pre-school aged daughter who was our only child at the time. Sometimes I would come home here to Summit to help avoid the often overwhelming fear I had to live with every day, fear of receiving that dreaded phone call or knock on the door.  Somehow, I hoped if I were here in Summit they wouldn’t be able to find me.

Even when he was home he was constantly flying training missions and, even now, it’s hard for me to explain the relief I felt every night when his car pulled into the driveway knowing he was safe. During this time I was also with him on numerous occasions when he found out about the deaths of friends from or flight school. I can’t remember how many times this happened but each time he changed a bit, becoming more caring but also more deliberate with a decreasing tolerance for “BS” as he often put it.

I was also able to share his joy when he was successful at turning a troubled sailor, often from a poor inner city background, into a top performer through his remarkable leadership and just plain humility. He did it many times and I was overjoyed when a group of these formerly troubled sailors pooled their own limited money to throw him a surprise party when he decided to leave the Navy to thank him for (I will argue) saving their lives, and giving them hope.

I write this to give you insight into my husband’s character. Character that Mayor Glatt, in an unprecedented move for a sitting mayor, has chosen to attack. The same character and deliberate leadership style Glatt likes to celebrate when it’s politically favorable for him to do so, but seems more than willing to trash when he feels his political agenda is threatened.

It seems strange to me that Glatt was the one who called for civility in this election but, acting as a mouthpiece for his hand-picked candidate, misrepresents and mischaracterizes Pat as being on the “attack” when he, not a spokesman, stands up to defend his position. A position aimed at creating a thoughtful debate that will hopefully ensure the long term success of our public schools that unlike the Mayor’s, all of our children have attended.

True to form, it doesn’t seem any of this bothers my husband (he just says if I don’t have to worry about anyone shooting at me I am better off than I was early on) and I hope the voters of Summit will see through this and elect the best qualified candidate and, most importantly, the best leaders.

God knows after the last eight years we need it. And, I can guarantee when the going gets tough, Pat will lead honestly and directly — not turn his back on the residents and walk off the dais.

Cindy Hurley