The Senond in our series of Kenner Mayoral Candidate
Profiles.
When I think of Ben Zahn, I always chuckle as a I remember a
grade school gag that was pulled on me once, and that I pulled many times on
others. For my Louisiana friends, I have
revamped ir, Instead if a Boudreaux/Thibodaux joke, it’s now a
Boudreaux/Zahn joke.
Boudreaux: Thibodaux, how tall are you?
Zahn: 5’4”. Why?
Boudreaux: I didn’t know that they piled dung that high.
Now, I know what you’re thinking --- I was being generous
with the 5’4” height on Ben Zahn.
Just trying to be nice.
Don’t worry though…it won’t become a habit.
But really, that’s what Ben Zahn is – a walking, talking,
lying pile of dung.
Zahn will do anything, say anything and screw over anyone, except
his BFF Mike “Kevin” Yenni, as long as he gets what he wants.
Let’s Make a Deal
While I have written about this before, it seems as good a
time as any to discuss it again.
When I ran for office and when I helped friends like Col.
Rob Maness (early in his first bid for US Senate) and Allen Leone (during his
2011 JP Accessor race), I was offered everything under the sun to get out of
the elections or turn my back on my friends and support others.
But tgat;s not me,
I didn’t run for office to personally gain.
Since he is the favorite, many unlikely folks are supporting
Zahn so they can get their 30 pieces of silver. People who in the past claimed
that they wouldn’t walk into the same room as Zahn, are supporting his
candidacy. Not because he has the best vision for Kenner or he’s a reformer (or
even a real Republican). No, these folks cut deals for future gains for
themselves.
Just drive around and see the signs in front of houses and
businesses. If you go, “Hmmm”, chances are a deal was cut.
Watch who runs for office in 2018. If Zahn and Yenni are
supporting them, chances are, they cut a deal.
It saddens me that people who I thought had integrity have
now cast their lots with Zahn. They didn’t need to.
If you need to cut a deal with scumbags like Zahn and Yenni to
get yourself elected or get a contract, you should reexamine your life choices.
In “Scarface”, Al Pacino said, “I only got two things in
this world – my balls and my word. And I don’t break them for nobody.”
When you sell out and trade your integrity, you can’t get
that back.
No one that sells their soul to the devil ever gets in to
Heaven.
“
“The Annointed One”
Since his election to the Parish Council in 2011, plans have
been in the works for his return to Kenner as Mayor. In fact, many speculated
that he and Yenni would just swap seats at the appropriate time. Unfortunately
for Jefferson Parish residents, John Young’s ill-fated attempt at Lt. Governor accelerated
Yenni’s move and elevation.
Now, the Puppetmaster, Greg Buisson, is using the same Yenni
tactics with Zahn.
Zahn is saying all the right things – “I want to reach out
to everyone and work with everyone.”
Of course, it’s no surprise that he’s not saying that, or
anything, to me.
Zahn also put out a campaign booklet, similar to Yenni’s,
produced by the propaganda firm of Greg Buisson and Associates.
It’s a great gig for Buisson. Take money from candidates.
Bill them more for production of broadcast commercials and direct mail pieces.
Get a commission from radio and tv stations, print shops and mail houses and,
if your candidate wins, get a win bonus for spending other people’s money.
Trust me – there is no bigger whore in Metro New Orleans
than Greg Buisson.
By the way, I particaularly liked the two page photo of Zahn
walking and holding a cell phone to his ear. I guess they were trying to prove
that Zahn really can multitask.
Note to Ben: My 82-year-old mother has mastered the art of
holding a cell phone to her ear. Unlike you, however, she has not mastered
acting pompous and pretentious.
And, that’s a good thing.
Questions without Answers
As I’ve written extensively about Zahn, his lies and poor
ethics, I’m not going to rehash everything again. If you’re curious, just go to
the search box and enter Zahn. It will keep you busy for some time.
If you are a Zahn supporter, ask yourself these questions.
If you come across a Zahn supporter trying to convert you (or offering you a
deal), ask them these questions.
1). In 5 years on the JP Council, what has been Zahn ever
done for Kenner? I can tell you what he’s done for Metairie – LaFreniere Park
is improved; there is decorative lighting on West Esplanade, etc. But, what has
he done for Kenner?
2). In 2011, one year after being reelected, Zahn quit his
position to job hop to the JP Council. Now, one year after his reelection to
the JP Council, he wants to job hop back to Kenner. How does quitting on your
constituents twice qualify you for anything?
3). The criminal Aaron Broussard (a Democrat), gave Zahn (a
Republican) over $50,000 from Broussard’s campaign account (other people’s
money) for “Flowers”. Aside from being an unbelievable amount of flowers, why
would a Democrat seek out an unlicensed Republican florist to do business with?
Were Broussard and Zahn actually laundering campaign money? Why were many of
the payments in even amounts ($50, $100, etc)? Was sales tax charged or did
Broussard just round everything up?
4). Zahn, like Yenni, has spent tens of thousands of
campaign dollars on meals, gifts, gift cards and other non-campaign related
spending. If he is that callous and willing to spend other people’s money to
enhance his own lifestyle, how can you trust you to spend YOUR tax dollars?
5). Considering that, the largest business Zahn has ever run
has been a family-owned flower shop (and that he used his disabled, retired
father’s floral license for years skirting the law), what exactly qualifies him
to run a city with a $60 Million budget?
6). Speaking of the flower shop, why, as a member of the
Kenner City Council, did Zahn seek and receive Parish contracts? Why would the
Parish give a contract to an unlicensed business?
7).
We all know about Ben’s role in the Kenner Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
mess, but there are still unresolved questions including, why did Ben lie to
Nola.com regarding the use of the name of his father’s business on the KCVB web
site (Ben said that the name on the web site wasn’t used since 1999. However,
the KCVB didn’t have a web site until years later.); why did Ben vote to
authorize city funding for an NGO that, not only was he a member of but he was
on the Boardl why did Ben sue me in an attempt to get me to stop talking (and
writing) about his role in the KCVB (he lost btw); and why, after he lost his
attempt to sue me, did he offer to pay a monetary settlement (from his campaign
account of course – gotta spend other people’s money) but only after I (and
CFBK) signed a “Confidentiality Agreement”?
I could keep going but I think you get the point.
The bottom line is, Ben Zahn isn’t qualified to run a
two-person flower shop, let alone a city.
But, none of that matters if he gets enough people to sell
their souls.
