Mayor Green–Can't you put a muzzle on your girl?
Well over 200 people walked the Port Orange bridge this past Saturday evening to show their support for America’s veterans serving in Afghanistan. The Port Orange walkers were joined by similar groups in Ormond, Daytona and Flagler as part of a two-county event organized by Debbie Kruck of the Ormond Strong group.
The local contingent was spearheaded by former City Manager Ken Parker. Other Port Orange notables in attendance included the current City Manager, several City Councilmen, and Mayor Allen Green (shown here walking with Billie Wheeler, candidate for County Council). I think it’s fair to say that every one there felt good about their participation and were honored to show support for our servicemen.
That is why it was especially distressing to read the following Facebook comment by Sonia Laney about politicians exercising their First Amendment rights at the bridge. Those very rights, Ms Laney, for which our soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan.
Sonya Laney
October 24 at 7:19pm
Tonight lots of folks got together to honor the military by walking the bridge. The outpouring of public support was amazing. What a great event!! For the folks who chose to wear political shirts soliciting support or votes, thank you for reminding me of what respecting our Armed Forces, their sacrifice, and their families sacrifice means to you. I know who not to vote for despite your platform. Because at the end of the day, every life sacrificed matters to me and I want to support leaders who have the good taste to put others first and their campaign on hold out of respect for these men and women whom you have never met and gave you the freedom to live in a democratic society.
It’s pretty obvious why you were given the nickname “Low Blow Laney” in your unsuccessful run for Port Orange City Council in 2014. Is this underhanded attack on good people doing good deeds a precursor of more to come?
Thank you Mayor Green, for your involvement and participation.
I have to agree with Ms. Laney on this one. This was about our veterans not free advertisement for campaign clowns. It’s kind of like taking your kids to the Christmas Parade to see Santa Claus and there are dozens of polititicians parading in convertibles. There is a right place and time for everything. Why were they really there. In support of our veterans or personal interest. I support the First Ammendnent but a little human decency goes a long way. Would the anti war activists been welcomed at this function under their First Amendment Rights. Think about it.
‘ Hey Mike ‘ you should have stopped for a moment and considered that maybe the candidates and their supporters wanted to show their appreciation for our veterans instead of rushing to defend a married woman who is living with her husbands best friend. .
The Mayor’s girl is a brazen immoral hussy with a trashy mouth but then I bet you already know that. .
Well Hey Mike
Looks to me like Mrs. Sonya Laney did not think her criticism through very well. Maybe she did not realize pictures were being taken that would document exactly who was wearing what and who was walking with whom at the Port Orange Bridge walk last Saturday.
Who are the “campaign clowns” you are referring to? Certainly it could not have been your intention or Mrs. Laney’s to disparage Billie Wheeler, Candidate for Volusia County Council, who walked the bridge or Port Orange Mayor Allen Green who was at her side. Billie was wearing her campaign shirt. Michael Cantu’s wife was there with her child also walking the bridge also wearing Mr. Cantu’s campaign shirt. Michael Cantu is running for Florida House District 26 seat.
Several very decent and politically engaged Port Orange taxpayers had their pictures taken with either Billie Wheeler, Mrs. Cantu or Ted Noftall’s supporters. Are you saying these folks are “campaign clowns” or insensitive to our veterans. Some are veterans in those pictures. Are you Hey Mike? Is Mrs. Laney?
My take on this: Mrs. Laney and her supporters are the ones who rushed to politicize this event and disparage the motives and character of others. And by extension their patriotism. It’s what Sonya Laney did in the last election and my guess is what she will do when she runs again. Another Sonya Laney campaign not based on issues. Personal attacks. Her specialty. Why debate real issues when you can sling mud?
I think the Founders of this country and the writers of the Constitution who made the First Amendment the First Amendment for a profound reason would find your argument to be patently self serving and craven. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and unfettered political debate without fear of retribution is exactly what our soldiers are fighting for. These are our sacred values.
Dear Mz. Wheeler,
I thought you and Mayor Green were friends so why is he letting Sonja say these things? This came from https://port-orange.us/ On Facebook the mayors son Lance Green and Sonjas new boyfriend Michael Arminio who are both Port Orange political insiders also agree with her. Also David Lee Davis is agreeing with her. That two-faced has-been was at the start of the walk shaking hands with anyone who would touch him but he drove away in his car while everyone else was walking the walk. Nobody with any sense would hire that hack for political advice.
Keep up the good work.
In that extended Facebook thread ‘ Lance the lizard ‘ had this to say about the Mayor ” you can’t fix stupid ”
You are right about David Lee Davis being a fraud and a phony. He has some nerve criticizing anyone who completed the bridge walk when he jumped in his car and drove off without walking one step to honor our vets. Right after he glad handed Billie Wheeler that is. Guess he was in a hurry get back to his computer to start criticizing her.
What a loser but then again he does hang with Mrs Sonya ‘low blow’ Laney and Mike ‘the Italian stallion’ Arminio.
Sonya as a right to say whatever she wants, as do citizens who have negative opinions about what is going on in national and local politics.
Those who think that Sonya is an immoral person have a right to voice their opinion as do the Holier than Thou group does.
The attack on Sonya’s marital and relationship problems just turn me off. It is something I have to accept as the people’s right, but I suspect the constant repeat of this complaint will wear me down. The attack on Mike A. as a coward does not help me in my complaints about who the Chamber of Commerce prefer to represent. If the attacks on Sonya’s and Mike’s alledged moral characteristics would stop, I think the push to get Ted Noftall re elected would be enhanced. Those who aided Bob Ford in his re-election efforts did well, and I note that at the time they did not have to resort to making a moralistic marital judgment on Sonya. — hank
Please excuse my unfounded complaint about attacks on Mike A. about being a coward. Through my own fault I mistakenly got confused on a post by an anonymous donor, and in re-reading I see that anonymous person was not writing about Mike A. — sorry for my mistake. — hank
Hank–I agree with much of what you say. Politics should be more about issues and less about personalities.
Please note that I did not mention Mz Laney’s past indiscretions in my post. Please also note that she took the first low shot (in my opinion) at people I like and respect and that this type of behavior seems to be a pattern with her.
I, for one, LIKE to see people I vote for at these types of events! Let’s me know they care.
Yes, Mike you did not mention Sonya’s past problems, and I appreciate that. I was in a general way responding to some of the comments by anonymous writers.
I think it is quite ethical for politicians and candidates to show their support for causes and groups. It does not bother me that some advertise who they are or what position are they are candidates for.
Again, I think Sonya has a right to her opinion, regardless of her past marital problems.
I might suppose that even Mayor Green who marches without his name on a T shirt still enjoys the advantage to show his supporters and the public what cause he supports. Supporting our military is patriotic although some hold the opinion that our military should not be engaged in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
What I would like to focus on, and yes Mike you did not approach the issue, is dropping the issue of Sonya’s past marital problems.
I appreciate what you do for us Mike. Thanks again – hank
Henry I am not sure if your are confused but you sure got some of us confused
First you say ‘Sonya as a right to say whatever she wants, as do citizens who have negative opinions’
Does that mean that Sonya never has negative opinions like other citizens?
Also on one hand you say it’s alright for Sonya to say whatever she wants — then you do a 180 and say it is wrong for others to talk about Sonya’s credibility, ethics and moral character
So what’s the real story Henry? Should we really have double standards?
I don’t agree with Mayor Green on much but I do agree with him on supporting his friend Billie Wheeler in her elect Billie Wheeler t-shirt without impugning her motive for walking as she did to show her support for our area vets.
I was there as were some of my supporters to make clear the Ted for Mayor campaign supports our veterans. I feel confident the Cantu for Statehouse campaign was there for the same exact reason also.
Shame on Sonya and her ilk for taking the low road on this one.
Sonya would be wise to keep it issues based or keep it to herself.
Ted Noftall
Candidate for Mayor
City of Port Orange – 2016
Sonya and Arminio are not in any of the pics…are you people sure she was there and did the bridge walk??
I just wanted to make one thing clear, I was not campaigning Saturday for my husband Mike Cantu during the local bridge walk to honor our soldiers. If that was the case, I would have walked the Daytona Beach bridge instead because that is his district and not Port Orange. Yes, I was there in a campaign shirt with my grandson, because I was at a Homecoming Parade at Bethune Cookman along with our friend Bille Wheeler and had not changed clothes. We were not handing out political literature. I wanted to walk the bridge and honor our son Cody who served our country in Iraq, my father who served our country in Vietnam R.I.P,, my husbands father who served two terms of duty in Vietnam, My husbands brother who just retired from the Navy, and countless other family members who have served in the U.S. Army, Marines, and Navy. I also wanted to honor all of the other Veterans who have served our country and is serving with honor. Maybe you should read the names on all those campaign T-shirts and burn them into your memory so that you will know who was there to support the veterans, and who really cares about our heroes in uniform. My husband Michael has always supported our troops and will continue to do so when he is elected, and I’ll bet Billie feels the same way. I can;t tell you who to vote for next year but the names on those t-shirts are a pretty good indicator of candidates who care and will stand by our troops at home and abroad!….