I have talked about Mary Catarineau in the past and questioned her true intent about entering politics and now it seems that my instinct was right. Mary has stepped-down from her new position only months after getting the nod from Harry Johnston.
Here is the story from the Cherokee Ledger….
Catarineau resigns amid controversy
By Gerry YandelMary Catarineau, a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Council, has resigned from both positions following a controversy over comments about Israel she published on her Web blog.
However, the controversy may not be over with Catarineau’s resignation Saturday because the woman who raised complaints about the comments said she has informed a “multitude” of people, including the Anti-Defamation League, to look into the Web site, mydiarywithgod.com.
The comments, which included calling for disbanding Israel to “give the land back to the Muslims” and the claim that “God’s chosen people have been a disappointment” and “Israel has caused nothing but problems” have since been removed from the site.
Shari Cutting, who is Jewish and the wife of former Planning and Zoning Chairman Rob Cutting, said she hasn’t decided yet if she’ll pursue the issue further.
“I think her resignation is an admittance of her guilt (about being anti-Semitic),” she said. “I think anybody who has any type of anti-Semitism in their blood does not need to serve in political office or serve in any kind of public decision-making job.”
Catarineau, who was appointed to both boards by Commissioner Harry Johnston, said she is not anti-Semitic and never intended to cause anyone harm.“I was really trying to get people to think differently and have a paradigm shift to stop where we are at and to think of something different about the Middle East crisis,” she said Monday. “I’m also sorry if my blog hurt or caused anyone pain. I’m sorry this controversy occurred.”
Catarineau said she reached the decision to resign after praying Friday night.
She said her decision to quit is an attempt to end a controversy that was escalating and becoming disruptive, and she didn’t want to do anything to disrupt the work of the planning and zoning board, the steering council or the board of commissioners.
Catarineau suggested that Cutting’s e-mails were the result of a campaign against her that began when she was president three years ago of the slow-growth group Cherokee Citizens for Responsible Growth (CCRG).
“What I sensed from her e-mails was she was going after Harry for appointing me, and she had contacted people outside, like the Anti-Defamation League, because she felt I was harming the reputation of the county,” Catarineau said. “I felt the attack was going to escalate for the commissioners and was going to mushroom. But, no one is responsible for what I write but me.”
Cutting disputes that her response had anything to do with Catarineau’s membership in CCRG.
“I’m neutral. This isn’t about Mary Catarineau’s (history with CCRG),” Cutting said. “Frankly, I was shocked. I’m even more grieved that the county commissioners knew about this and still appointed her.”
Johnston said that although he doesn’t agree with the opinions about Israel on Catarineau’s blog, her personal views should be independent of her work on Cherokee County’s planning commission and the land use council.
“I don’t think a minority political view on an unrelated subject should disqualify someone from serving on boards like that,” he said. “I appoint members of boards and committees not based on personal religious positions, nor on their views on national or, in this case, international politics but instead based on their views about that board or committee.
“Still, if in fact she is calling for the dismantlement of the state of Israel, then clearly I do not agree with that position,” Johnston said.
Johnston said he did not ask Catarineau to resign, and, in fact, asked her to “think carefully and not over-react” about her decision.
The vacancies leave Johnston with a decision about a replacement for both positions. He said he is looking at filling the slot on the steering council immediately because there are only four scheduled meetings left for that group and the planning commission only meets once a month and lasts until the end of his current four-year term. The steering council is in the process of defining the characteristics of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan that will be sent to the state for approval toward the end of the year.
Johnston said he has a couple of candidates in mind, and that Catarineau’s replacement would be someone who shares his ideas about Cherokee County’s growth.
“I’m certainly looking for someone who shares similar views on… responsible growth, which means, keeping growth limited to a level that gives roads, schools and other infrastructure a chance to keep up and which preserves some degree of our rural and small town character,” he said. “I’m certainly not looking for a no-growth person.”
Catarineau said she will probably take some time off from being active in the politically charged growth issue in the county.
“It’s a painful decision, because I worked hard for over three years, and I was proud of the work we were doing on planning and zoning and the steering council,” she said. “I’m going to step away from that right now because this is a painful situation.
“My goal was to preserve the rural character of Cherokee, like the voters wanted. I know others want the same thing, so I trust they will continue.”
