Kim Bergel and her husband filed bankruptcy in July of 2012 and listed $222,514 in unsecured creditors along with $233,794 in secured and priority creditors for a total of $524,248.◼ Bankrupt? You too can pay off $524,248 with just $51,720 - John Chiv/Words Worth
Soooo........
Here we are. In a year when almost every item on the ballot is asking for MORE money. Which means the budget is Issue #1.
So. This is sad. And yet it is very relevant. Because you're asking for a position that will oversee public funds, and which arguably will make decisions, or pass ordinances which will involve punishing people who don't pay their bills or follow rules.
I've spoken to John, who is working without a scanner, and he has transcribed the documents listed amounts.
And, on another note, I sit here shaking my head, thinking - what if?
What if this were the 'other side'? You'd be seeing interactive charts, complete with analysis, and comments threads with 1,000 denunciations.
J. Eric Bergel Responds: It's interesting to note Mr. Chiv's obvious bias as evidenced by the fact that he didn't brother to report on Mike Newman's 2004 Chapter 7 (non-repayment) bankruptcy. I'd be curious to know if his pre-economic meltdown bankruptcy was a result of a nearly fatal accident as ours was. I'd also be interested in ascertaining whether or not he made an effort comparable to our nearly four years doing everything within our power to avoid bankruptcy.
We deeply regret the damage we caused to local business as a result of our misfortune. We only exercised our right to protection under the law as an absolute last resort after exhausting all other avenues. Then, against the advice of our attorney, we filed a repayment plan (chapter 13) rather than walking away from our debt (chapter 7) as we were legally entitled to do.
The unfortunate reality is that after all the damage caused by thirty years of trickle down, voodoo economics and deregulation which resulted in the latest devastating economic melt down, financial success can no longer be relied upon as an accurate gauge to measure a person’s intelligence, aptitude, work ethic or character. Because the playing field is no longer level, it makes it very difficult for working class people to achieve or even maintain the American dream.
I understand campaigning for political office often turns to blood sport, especially when a candidate is seriously threatened, but I really do believe in the golden rule as well as the adage that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Perhaps it could be modified in this case to state, those who have soiled there own reputation should not sling mud.
