Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy has repeatedly selected political allies for well-paid town jobs that should be held by qualified professionals.

For the mayor’s executive assistant, McCoy appointed his own deputy mayor, Diane Wheelock — a respected, likable woman who nonetheless has no qualifications for the position. Wheelock makes more money than her predecessor and has an assistant.

For his director of public works, McCoy nominated Bob Kleinhans, a former Republican candidate for mayor and state representative who has no experience whatsoever in public works. Kleinhans cares so much about Vernon that immediately after losing an election, he moved out of town. His years on the Town Council were more notable for his grandstanding and crass political bumper stickers than any actual accomplishments. Fortunately, council Democrats — joined by two courageous Republicans — tossed Kleinhans’ selection.

Both appointments are so outrageous they would be laughable if they weren’t so cynical.

While Kleinhans failed to become Vernon’s mayor, McCoy succeeded with a promise of “lower taxes.” Unable to actually deliver on his pledge, he’s resorted to twisting the facts in his re-election bid. McCoy’s negative advertisements claim our town had “tax rate decreases and nearly zero- percent spending increases.” Yet the taxes on my house went up 6.8 percent in one year. This wasn’t a statistical anomaly. Most of my neighbors and friends saw their taxes increase 5 percent to 9 percent each year under McCoy’s administration.

This shouldn’t be surprising coming from the mayor who thought the biggest economic recession in generations was the perfect time to hire a friend as a lobbyist on the taxpayer’s dime and spend nearly $15,000 on Blackberry phones for himself and 20 other town employees.

In yet another dishonest claim, McCoy takes credit for projects he had no role in, such as the new Town Hall third floor and the reopening of Fox Hill Tower. Republicans such as McCoy brag about road repairs and school renovations when they did not support the bonding package to make those projects possible (as a council member, McCoy abstained or was not present when the council approved the bonding packages). When McCoy doesn’t like the facts, he just makes up his own.

Though I didn’t vote for him, I had nothing but positive things to say about McCoy in previous elections. When he first ran for mayor in 2007, I praised him in this newspaper as an “honorable and decent man” that I “respect.” I fully expected him to be a fair, honest, and bipartisan leader. Regrettably, he chose a different path, embracing cronyism, dishonesty, and cynicism. To say his term as mayor was disappointing is an understatement — and now he wants another two years! In this election, McCoy’s negative advertisements slam the Democrats trying to stop his shenanigans. He calls them a “gang.” I call them hard-working citizens who care about our town.

Please join me in voting for change by electing Michele Arn and the Democratic team Nov. 3. They’ll restore fairness, honesty, and transparency to Vernon government.

Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009 1:16 AM EDT

VERNON — Democratic Town Chairman Tom Didio is asking Republican Mayor Jason L. McCoy to return salary he’s been paid for hours he’s not yet worked, after learning the mayor has received his pay in lump sum payments.

Didio said McCoy routinely has been paid for time he hasn’t worked, and should go on a traditional biweekly pay schedule like other town staff.

“The mayor claims to be fiscally responsible, yet he and his fellow Republicans seem to always have their hands in the honey pot,” Didio said recently. “Why is he being able to get this privilege when no one else is getting this privilege?”

According to payroll records, McCoy has received his part-time, $20,749 annual salary in installments since January 2008, shortly after he took office.

 McCoy was paid $13,000 on Jan. 28, 2008; $20,748 on July 31, 2008; and most recently, $7,581 on July 1, 2009, records show. The most recent payment covers the mayor’s salary until November.

The mayor also has received two stipends of $700 and $600 for opting out of the town’s health insurance benefits, records show.

McCoy, who is running for re-election this year against Democratic challenger Michele Arn, did not return calls for comment.

Town Attorney Hal Cummings said the mayor’s salary is determined by charter and is seldom changed. However, the charter doesn’t dictate the mayor’s compensation schedule.

“There’s nothing that says he gets paid quarterly or weekly or biweekly or whatever — I don’t see an issue here,” he said.

Former two-term Democratic Mayor Ellen Marmer, whom McCoy defeated in 2007, said she took her salary on a biweekly schedule, and said she was appalled McCoy was receiving his pay in advance.

“To me it’s unconscionable,” she said.

The issue also is before the state Freedom of Information Commission after Democratic Councilman Michael Winkler filed a complaint seeking information relating to the mayor’s salary.

He requested payroll records and any signed agreements about the mayor’s salary schedule.