In case you have been living under a rock, Lancaster Newspapers owns 50% of the LARGEST corporate welfare project in the HISTORY of Lancaster County. So what does the newspaper do when their biggest enemy Molly Henderson is running for office? Let's just say we don't call them the propaganda arm for nothing! Don't worry - we will show you the video so you can see for yourself! So the candidates were asked about giving money to the Convention Center Authority, how can they make their candidate - Craig Lehman look good and mitigate their enemy Molly Henderson? First completely ignore Molly's answer (no reference by name) and then quote Lehman who was actually quoting Molly when she said that the Penn Square Partners should pony up the money for the convention center!

The order that the candidates answered the questioned stayed consistence throughout the evening. This question was first answered by Scott Martin followed by Dennis Stuckey, Jere Swarr, Molly Henderson and FINALLY Craig Lehman. We say finally, because if you read Intell reporter Dave Pidgeon, you would think that Craig LED the discussion! In part, here's what he wrote:

"If there's going to be any more money for construction, it should come from the private partners," Lehman said, referring to Penn Square Partners, a private developer involved in the project.

Swarr agreed.

Swarr agreed? Swarr agreed? First Craig "me-too" Lehman is quoted parroting Molly and then Pidgeon makes it look that Swarr agreed with Lehman!

The New Era doesn't do better. First reporter Anya Litvak puts the Conestoga View noose around Molly's neck and then completely ignores her obvious leadership in holding the convention center authority accountable by not mentioning her name in discussing the issue!

Here's in part what she says

In unison, all five candidates said "no" to general fund dollars going to help build or operate the downtown convention center currently underway.

OR NOT! Listen to the video - there's no unison "no" given! Then Litvak quotes Lehman lamenting the way the convention center project was pushed forward!

'Diss your enemy and promote your "boy" - all in one paragraph!

Read what the newspaper said yourself:

Intelligencer Journal, October 5, 2007

Lancaster New Era, October 5, 2007

On the topic of the $170 million hotel/convention center, all five candidates said the project would not receive another penny of county subsidy for construction or operating budgets. No county money is directly going to the project, but the county would be responsible for paying back half of a $40 million construction bond should the hotel/convention center fail. "If there's going to be any more money for construction, it should come from the private partners," Lehman said, referring to Penn Square Partners, a private developer involved in the project. Swarr agreed. "General fund money? No," he said. "Guaranteed bonds over what we already have? No. A hotel tax increase? No. "I don't like to make promises in a campaign, but those I will make."

In unison, all five candidates said "no" to general fund dollars going to help build or operate the downtown convention center currently underway. "What it's done to divide this community may be irreparable," Lehman said about the way that initiative has been handled over the last eight years.