Dear Editor,
Between 1930 and 1940, the medium of commercial broadcast radio grew into the fabric of everyday life in America. One of radio’s most memorable dramas, The Shadow chronicled the adventures of crimefighter Lamont Cranston, a man with unique powers that made him invisible to men and able to watch and battle crime in action. The city’s people would ask, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?” and all said, “The Shadow knows!”
It has now been many weeks since the close of the 2024 Primary Election here in Kingman, and I do believe the Kingman City people are left frustrated with that same iconic question, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men,” but the only “Shadow” they have is a massive cloud of doubt and anxiety. How will their lives change for the better in 2025 when their voices are not being heard by the city leaders?
I hate to use certain catchphrases that may have a negative connotation, but since we are a railroad town, “let’s back up the train”. I made my intentions to run for Kingman City Council known over a year ago and last February, one of my very first initiatives were to introduce the idea of a Kingman Town Hall meeting. The meeting would be conducted by the city to facilitate direct, one-on-one, two-way communication with the people and hear their issues, ideas, and concerns. I published articles in the newspapers and in social media, and the city turned a blind eye.
Next, I jumped through several hoops and wrote a formal letter to the mayor to officially request the topic of a Town Hall meeting be put on the agenda for the City Council meeting. I received a letter in reply denying my request and stating previous Town Hall meetings conducted in Kingman were not productive. Despite the fact my request was denied and never put on the agenda, the topic was discussed late one night at the end of a council meeting a few weeks later, promoting the legal advice from the city attorney. At that point, it was made clear the agenda for such a proposed Town Hall meeting would be dictated by the mayor and the city council, which completely negates the purpose and the intention of such a meeting. At this point, it is obvious the city was playing tricks in the process of communication with the people, and incredible as it sounds, it appears to be fearful of directly addressing the dozens of issues on the minds of Kingman residents.
Bringing this to date:
I just heard by “word of mouth”, (in the Shadow) of all the pushback, closed lips, switchbacks, and deception, the city plans to conduct a Town Hall Meeting very soon. The city claims they took a survey, and the people’s TWO most critical issues are Crime and Homelessness in the city. “What evil lurks in the hearts of men?” The hand must be quicker than the lie. Sheriff Schuster was just re-elected based on his statistics that the crime in the county has gone down. The city has been one of many community partners that, for many years, have made a huge ongoing impact on reducing the homeless in the city. How many people took the survey? Where and how was the survey advertised? Where and how is the Town Hall meeting being promoted? It is an illusion to say the Kingman people rank Crime and Homelessness as the top two issues with so many other critical issues in the city: Poorly Maintained Roads, Increasing Taxes, Insufficient Medical Providers, Uncontrolled Growth, Inadequate Infrastructure, Water Rates, Water Supply Sustainability, Electricity Rates and Deficit Spending, to mention a few. I don’t know about you, but as a city resident and a former candidate for City Council, I am deeply disappointed and insulted by the city’s lack of righteousness and deafness to the voice of its people. The letter they sent me claims former Kingman Town Hall meetings were ineffective and now they tout, this will be the first-ever Town Hall meeting.
As a former candidate for city council, I am forever grateful for all the support I received. To those who voted for me, I will be back to become a candidate again. I am more motivated than ever before to remove the SHADOW of illusion that dominates our city. I am more compelled than ever to expose the illusion of the majority when those voting were not a majority of Kingman residents. I am more dedicated than ever, projecting the voice of the people as a Kingman citizen and community activist. I am tired of the illusion of truth controlled and manipulated by the city and the Kingman Establishment.
“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?”. “The Shadow knows”, and if you live in Kingman, so do you and I.
Elliot Chalew
