Reply to How Come BOE Candidate Stephen Austin Won’t Say What His Employment Is??

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Reply to "How Come BOE Candidate Stephen Austin Won’t Say What His Employment Is??"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Didn't read the whole thread.  However, the premise of the threat title is wrong - what business is it of anyone where Stephen Austin works? (yes, I know people have indicated where he does work, but I'm not going to repost that info).  If Mr. Austin has complied with the requisite election and ethics disclosures, he has no obligation to disclose more.  In this case, his non-disclosure is apparently warranted because some folks would like to misuse that information to get him fired.

If you're demanding to know where Mr. Austin works, and think he's being dishonest by not disclosing that information, then don't vote for him.  Would knowing where Mr. Austin works really change your mind about him?  Somehow I doubt it.

This goes for any politician.  If you want information about a candidate that s/he isn't legally obligated to disclose, then you have two options: (i) advocate for a change in the disclosure requirements, or (ii) don't vote for that candidate.

Just because someone runs for public office doesn't mean every aspect of their life becomes an open book.  Everyone has a right to privacy, except apparently where someone may want that information in order to ruin someone's life.  Being a "public figure" doesn't entitle you to know their personal business.[/quote]

There are so many assumptions and gaps in logic in your post. As you noted, he currently works at a Lockheed  Martin subsidiary. You then claim that “some folks would like to misuse that information to get him fired.” Really? A multi-billion dollar defense contractor is going to fire a guy because of some sort of pressure coming from “some folks” involved in a local BOE election? C’mon. I assume Mr. Austin is good enough at his job to keep it.

You then say Mr. Austin shouldn’t supply information about his work history because there is no disclosure requirement. That’s true, but it misses the point. Mr. Austin calls himself a “finance guy” and touts that as a key reason to support him. If his expertise is so important, some details about that expertise would give voters the information necessary to evaluate that expertise. A resume that outlines his skills is hardly akin to “every aspect” of his life becoming “an open book.” He worked for a couple of hedge funds. Is that a good thing? A bad thing? When did he work for them? Which ones? Why did he leave? You’d think a guy who portrays himself as a financial expert would want to show what he’s done. But, he hasn’t.[/quote]

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