Candidate for City Council Referred to as "Stupid" by Current Council Member
In an effort to explain her decision to decline a (July 11th Candidates Forum), an event sponsored by InMaricopa, Chrystal O’Jon, a current candidate for City Council, received the following response: “hypocritical stupidity.”
Declination Email:
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 1:16 PM
"Given that this media organization is partially owned by a current sitting official and the possibility that questions or audience participants might be selected to ask only targeted, rather than broad and relevant questions, I respectfully decline to participate. I will choose my own platform to address public questions regarding my candidacy for public office. A press release will be provided to all local news outlets with these details."
InMaricopa Media Response:
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 9:57 PM
"Crystal,
I'd like to reiterate that I'm not involved in the editorial side of our business. As you know, Elias is our editor and Scott is the publisher. I have shared their contact information with you on multiple occasions. Please direct any editorial matters to them, as they are the appropriate points of contact.
I would also like to add that attacking me for owning my business while owning your own media company is a clear example of hypocritical stupidity.
Thanks,
Vince"
Clarification on Conflict of Interest:
While it is true that Chrystal O’Jon owns Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine, she consciously avoids using her publication to present Maricopa community members negatively or to receive advertising dollars from the City of Maricopa. This decision was made to prevent any appearance of:
Conflict of Interest: Accepting money from the city could compromise the impartiality of both the media owner and the city official. For the media owner, this might influence reporting on city matters, potentially leading to biased or favorable coverage. For the city official, it raises concerns about decisions being influenced by financial relationships rather than the public interest.
Loss of Public Trust: The public relies on both the media and city officials to act in the community's best interest. Financial ties between these parties and the city can erode trust, as people may suspect that decisions and reporting are driven by financial considerations rather than honesty, integrity, or public welfare.
Ethical Violations: Many jurisdictions have strict ethical guidelines to prevent government officials and entities from engaging in activities that could be perceived as corrupt or unethical. Financial relationships between media owners, city officials, and the city government could violate these guidelines, leading to legal consequences and damage to reputations.
Lack of Accountability: Media plays a crucial role in holding government officials accountable. If a media owner is receiving money from the city, it might lead to softer scrutiny of government actions, reducing transparency and accountability. This could result in inadequate reporting on issues of public concern, allowing potential misconduct to go unchecked.
Perception of Corruption: Even if no actual wrongdoing occurs, the mere perception of financial ties can be damaging. Citizens might assume that financial exchanges lead to preferential treatment or corrupt practices, undermining confidence in both the media and city government.
Undermining Democratic Processes: For democracy to function effectively, there needs to be a clear separation between the media, which informs the public, and government officials, who make and enforce laws. Financial entanglements blur these lines and can hinder democratic processes by influencing public opinion and policy unfairly.
Chrystal O’Jon, owner of Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine, will continue to focus on positive community stories, art, and technology.
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Campaign for Chrystal O’Jon for City Council - P.O. Box 622 Maricopa, AZ 85139
info@chrystalojon4citycouncil.com, cell/text Kent O'Jon 615-935-4451