Now that some of our local politicians have brought the divisive, negative and personal attacks so common in national politics into our beautiful town, I have to ask: Is anyone else in Park City tired of the divisive political rhetoric in this years local Park City election?
The worst was what I would call a hit piece against John “JK” Kenworthy’s personal character by our current mayor, Nann Worel, and nine others on Aug. 2, conveniently right before the Primary Election on Aug. 12. Don’t you find it odd that not one of these outraged women who signed this letter to the editor was at the meeting where they accuse JK of basically being misogynistic. I really should call them girls and not women because to me they acted like seventh grade catty girls, not respectful women in leadership positions representing Park City.
Do Nann and Tana forget that it was JK who was central in helping both of them get elected? They did not seem to mind JK being a mentor and helping them like a big brother when he helped them get elected. What a complete lack of integrity and more than that a betrayal to JK and his wife, Nancy, who considered them friends and advocated so much for them during the prior election in 2021. But this appears to be much more than simple backstabbing by catty girls. Instead it appears to me that there was political motivation to smear JK. Are those the type of people you want representing you?
How embarrassing is it that our mayor and these women are supposed to be representative of the women of Park City? They certainly don’t represent me or the women I call my friends. We would pick up the phone and call or meet privately with JK and ask, “I heard you said this, did you really say that?” Give him a chance to explain his point of view. The women I call my friends have integrity and respect for others and would not have stooped to the level of a personal attack and public smear campaign in The Park Record against a friend who has now become a political opponent. I believe what Nann and the other women did was nasty and disgraceful. I obviously won’t be voting for Tana Toly and I hope other women (and men) find this behavior offensive and choose not to support it as well.
I find that the character attack against JK borders on defamation, but I guess they consider this fair game when one enters politics. Quite frankly I find it very sad, especially in our beautiful town we all love so much. JK is positive, supportive, funny, kind, generous and always trying to help people. He is the reason I voted for Nann and Tana in the previous election in 2021. Not only did he hold events for Nann at Flanagan’s, but he had a couple of our friends hold large events at their homes for Nann and Tana as well.
How sad Nann and Tana forget that it was JK who helped them get elected. If I were in politics, I’d want a supportive “big brother” like JK! Are we as women never to ask for help from men or are men never to ask for help from women?
I wasn’t at this meeting, but unlike Nann and the others who signed that mean-spirited letter, Fritz Edelstein and Pat O’Connell were at the meeting. On Aug. 6 they wrote a letter to the editor entitled “Righting a wrong to clear the air,” where they stated that JK “used ‘big brother’ as a metaphor for his years of public service and more aggressive style. Contrary to the letter’s claim, they said Kenworthy never said Toly needed him on the council to “supervise and help her make decisions.” I can say that this aligns much more with the JK I have known for years — always trying to mentor and help people.
I believe the best way to vote is to vote for Jack Rubin for mayor and Jeremy and JK for City Council. Yes I know that JK is no longer in the running for City Council, as he withdrew. I truly believe that it is crucial to only vote for one City Council person — Jeremy Rubell and then also fill in the circle for JK (this makes a statement that you don’t condone the divisive political smear Nann and Tana and other women waged against JK).
I urge you to really read all the letters to the editor in The Park Record. Notice who gives you details and who just talks about a general narrative. In my reading, I have learned that Ryan Dickey, Tana Toly and Diego Zegarra support rezoning part of Clark Ranch for housing. Jeremy Rubell and Jack Rubin oppose the rezoning. They really do stand with residents and support keeping all of Clark Ranch as open space. In addition, in the Park Record Jeremy states he is “opposed to reducing open space requirements in Bonanza park.”
Please realize if you vote for Ryan Dickey for mayor, then his City Council seat will end up vacant. We the residents of Park City will not get to vote to fill that empty city council seat. Instead, the City Council members will get to fill the seat with whoever they want. Therefore, we will end up with an unelected City Council person. By voting for Jack Rubin, you still get Ryan Dickey because he will remain on the City Council until 2028.
Let’s hope that the political character smear attacks stop. I believe an important letter you should read in the Park Record is by Vanina Torreyra on Sept. 21 about JK and Nancy and how they helped her. Instead of saying to be kind, actions like JK’s speak volumes about his character. Despite the nasty smear campaign against him, JK still went on to win in the Primary Election because the people of Park City know the real JK.
Suzanne Smith
Park City
Editor’s note: Tana Toly attended the session and did not sign the Aug. 2 letter. She wrote her own critical letter after the primary election.