I believe in second chances, especially in politics. People tend to forget that politicians are human and that they, like us, make mistakes too. In most cases when the mistake is something that is forgivable, we can forgive and forget and allow that politician to move on. But when the mistake isn’t forgivable OR the mistakes pile up, swift action must be taken.
Such is the case with Albion Mayor Mike Hadick. Hadick was in court yesterday to answer charges that he stole fireworks money from the Village of Albion. This is America and everyone is innocent until proven guilty. But the fact that Hadick is involved in another scandal means that he should resign. He needs to resign so that the Village of Albion can move on with someone who won’t cause distractions and bring embarrassment to the village.
Hadick’s troubles started last year with the infamous “Cover Up.” His silence (he supposedly was ordered to be quiet by the village attorney) did not do him any good. But Hadick wasn’t the only public official who was silent on that issue and he wasn’t the only one who played a role.
Then came Hadick’s DWI last year. He said then (like he has said now) that he wouldn’t resign. The DWI was, while serious, not as big as some imagined it would be. Some citizens who were interviewed by TV stations said that they were willing to forgive and forget and that “everyone makes mistakes.”
Following the DWI, Allegations surfaced that Hadick was photographed nude and the pictures were posted on a political rival’s website. There were also pictures of Hadick standing next to a keg. Remember, this was after his DWI. Not smart.
After the pictures, there was a chorus of people calling for his resignation. I wrote a column in the summer of 2007 (after the DWI) where I called for Hadick’s resignation. It never made it to print because I was interning with the Journal-Register at the time and we didn’t want to jeopardize any chance at covering the Village of Albion. (In the end, I never covered the village.)
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Hadick’s past caught up with him in mid-March – on the eve of the village’s elections no less – when a former mistress verified that the nude photographs online were indeed of Hadick. Hadick had previously denied that it was him in the photographs.
I can’t remember the last time the Village of Albion has been focused on this much by the Buffalo and Rochester media outlets. You would hope that Albion would get attention for something good instead of getting attention for an out of control mayor. But this is what Albion has to deal with in the present and as long as this case continues and as long as Hadick is mayor, that’s the way it will be.
Hadick should step down now. It will only benefit him, his family and the village if he does that. I know he’s fighting it, saying he will stay in power, but that’s not what he should be doing. He should step aside so that the distractions go away.
