Wednesday, October 7, 2009

JNS BLOG EDITORIAL: Lennie Chism Needs To Go To Jail...

Stock photo by John Hoff, Lennie talking b.s.

First, check out the Star Tribune and its recent article about Lennie Chism. Chism, a candidate for the 5th Ward, has charges pending against him in a domestic assault case stemming from an incident with his girlfriend. Click here for that article. Chism is married, although involved in what appears to be a very long separation from his wife which has gone on for, like, years. (One report says 15 years, this is unconfirmed)

Several months ago, Lennie took a plea deal to a theft case involving the woman's bed, so apparently the new charges will make that old charge come back to haunt him, like the Ghost of Furniture Past. (Addendum: it appears the "haunting" will be in the public eye by having the old charge brought up and mentioned again, if the charge is indeed beyond the threshold of however many months as one commenter to this post asserts)

Lennie has truly made his bed and now will have to lie in it. The Star Tribune article is informative, but unfortunately had only police and Lennie Chism as sources. Thus, Lennie is simply allowed to blast his victim as a "woman scorned" without any response from the victim, if she feels like speaking to the media at all. In fact, Lennie has gone even further and characterized the assault case as a...

..."set up," as though political opponents or personal enemies somehow contacted his girlfriend and arranged an elaborate espionage-like scenario to use Lennie's mooching of her vehicle to create a domestic violence incident. This complete lack of remorse, along with blasting his victim through quotes to a reporter--a fine reporter, just doing his job with the sources available--is something the prosecutors should take into consideration when dealing with the charges against Lennie Chism.

Lennie's actions would be bad enough if he were just an ordinary, standard-issue version of the big-talking two-bit player, all flash and no cash, involved in various business schemes and dreams that don't pan out, mooching a car off his long-suffering girlfriend and then blowing up when she wants the car back. That's bad enough. But Lennie is running for public office. Lennie (who can't take responsibility for his own messy, failed relationship) now asserts he is good enough to take responsibility for an entire city council ward.

Frankly, I'm not terribly concerned Lennie could win this election. Roger "Garden Gnome" Smithrud has a better chance. Lennie has put relatively little energy into campaigning. I see that he did erect a campaign sign at 1901 Glenwood Ave. N., the location of his Springboard Economic Development Headquarters.

(Gee, since that's the headquarters of a non-profit, why is there a political yard sign erected on the property? Am I unclear about that rule? Somebody feel free to explain the application of that "non-profits not being involved in political campaigns thing" to me)

No, I'm more concerned that a ruthless character like Lennie Chism might produce fake voters, and that the second choices on those votes could tip the election now that Instant Runoff Voting is being used for the first time.

I sincerely hope the prosecutors involved in this domestic violence case take note of Lennie's lack of remorse and his harsh words against his victim, blasted into the world via "dead tree" media and the supporting Star Tribune website. No disrespect to the reporter, Steve Brandt, but I felt a response was warranted in defense of the victim.

And now here's a little song, click here. Let us think hard about the reality of domestic violence and what it does to our society.

To Lennie Chism: you are off the rails. You need to get some professional help. Be contrite in public, drop out of the Fifth Ward race and cast yourself on the mercy of the court before it's too late to salvage your messed-up life and you go to jail for a good long stretch.

19 comments:

Al's Bong Salesman said...

I am suprised that womens groups aren't calling the Commissioner of the DOT as we speak, demanding that Lennie's grant (gravy train) be revoked. I am upset that state money is being used to give Lennie legitimacy.

Margaret said...

It depends on who the property owner is. If Springboard 501c3 actually owns the property, then no, political signs are not a good idea. If Lennie owns it as himself or as an LLC and "rents" it to Springboard then there is probably no problem, except for the appearance. Of course the IRS can investigate how you are doing things any time it wants to if it thinks you are doing something wrong.

I would be concerned about IRV and the 5th ward. But it will only be a problem if your preferred candidate does not make the threshold.

Anonymous said...

Oh JNS, now you really gone too far with your hatred of Lennie Chism. LMAO

Anonymous said...

If im not mistaken the threshold on that previous incident was 12 months Johnny. June 08 to Aug 09 goes beyond the 12 month period.

Johnny Northside said...

As far as I can tell, the bank owns the property and lets Lennie keep using it after foreclosure. That's kind of how Lennie described it at a WHO meeting, when asked about the 1901 Glenwood Ave. N. property.

But most non-profits RENT their buildings. So you're telling me a non-profit can plaster a building with political campaign material and then say, "Oh, but see, we don't own our own building"?

Anonymous said...

Are you not blasting Lennie Chism from hatred of him? Common we are not that stupid.

Johnny Northside said...

It's only a "blast" because there's just so much to criticize. I don't hate Lennie. I actually kinda feel sorry for the guy. But the thought of him representing Ward 5 is a nightmare. For one thing...he stands a good chance of being in jail.

Anonymous said...

so it would be fair to say your blog is your opinion with a bias, huh? So you have a "closed mind" to his guilt or innocent, or for that anything.

Johnny Northside said...

Feel free to state YOUR opinion about his guilt or innocence.

Anonymous said...

the question was asked JNS, how bout an answer to Anno 2:52 question.
Closed Mind or Not?

Anonymous said...

@ anon 2:52. "opinion with a bias" is redundant.

In terms of Lennie's guilt or innocence, he's already got a restraining order granted against him as a result of this situation. That should say something.

And I'd bet that a lot of the same people wanting to wait until the legal process plays out before we say anything remotely negative about Lennie "Ike" Chism are among the first to point to the crazy/frivolous suit by Morris Klock as supposed "proof" that Don Samuels is unfit for office.

Anonymous said...

Good gosh people, Lenny doesn't even OWN his own ride, for cripes sake. Get a clue, Lennie Lovers. You get 'em JNS. xxoo

Montana

Pond-dragon said...

To Anon 12:47, 1:51, 2:52, 3:45,
Guys like Letterman, Leno, Limbaugh, the talking heads, the news, etc, etc, etc, make commentary/opinions about public figures all the time, and Lenny is a public figure, he is running for public office. Immediately putting things into a love-hate, good-bad, with-us/against us relationship, is pretty narrow minded, and perhaps self serving. JNS is providing informative commentary/opinion about NoMi, and for those of us looking at candidates for 5th ward as well as what is happening in NoMi, we appreciate the work being done. We may not necessarily always agree, and we don't, but this is a great place to get NoMi neighborhood news, and JNS's recent award supports that fact. Of course this is just my opinion.

Margaret said...

Johnny, I was actually saying the opposite. If citizen Lennie owns the building, he can plaster the place with whatever he wants. Or if the bank does and permits him to use the property as if he owned it. It's the property owner's right to post signs. A non partisan charitable institution like a 501c3 is not supposed to display any partisan or campaign materials anywhere in its place of business. But if it rents space, it obviously has no control over what the landlord does. In this case, they are one and the same but at the end of the day, the IRS really only cares about money. If Lennie is keeping his books straight (and isn't financing his campaign out of Springboard funds, I doubt anything will happen here.

Anonymous said...

Montana you idiot how do you know Lennie doesn't own his own ride. Agaain assumptions assumptions and you know what happens when you make those.....

Anonymous said...

I,ll make a couple assumptions, I assume that since Lennie dosn,t have a good decent reliable car becuase if he did he would be driving it instead of his girls car. I also dont really know anyone who gets caught their first time usually it is repetitive behavior. So I also conclude Lennie is a P.O.S. non car having, women beater, show me I'm wrong
Anon 3:39.
p.s. hey mom
T Jaramillo

Anonymous said...

Ok here is my problem.. If the DA can step and make decision about dead beat dads and low end domestic threats. Why have they not stepped in on this case. The guy is a dead beat women beater. He hit her with his car. COME ON are you serious. Lets be real even if you support his efforts do you support a cheater slum lord and a women beater. I dare you to say yes. Sex outside of your marriage is normal these days so take that with a grain of salt. But he has as history of getting over and its time to let this clown know the people are not happy and we will not stand for it. I wish it was my mom he beat on the head line would be all the way different.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:27 Finally a man amongst you. Go ripe is nuts off. All talk and no action I bet - you too JNS.

Live And Learn said...

When I was trying to break up with Lennie; Lennie let his abusive behavior get him arrested and charged with 5th degree assault. Not me. I did not set him up as he is asserting in the media.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that I am not "a woman scorned"; rather I am a woman free of Lennie; which incidentally means quite the opposite.

I have peace again without him and have found again the tranquility that I thought the world had no more of while I was seeing him.

-Monika Shannon