WM -- "BS"?

When the patch tuned in to 590 on the AM dial at 1:15 p.m. one day last week, everyone thought the electrical storm that temporarily knocked out power (and fried our computer) must have messed up the radio, too.

That’s because iconic talk show host Bob Foltz had summarily been dismissed by station management. What was billed by his replacement as a “leave of absence” is, for all practical purposes, a firing.

Foltz has been a mainstay on WMBS for decades. His political views, which skew conservative, are well known to station management and he has never been shy about sharing them. They must have viewed Foltz as an asset, since they kept him on the air for so many years, through so many controversies. Foltz could stir the pot with the best of them, which is what radio talk show hosts do.

So why fire Foltz? Or more specifically, why fire Foltz NOW? You can bet the last remaining coke oven that something -- or someone -- precipitated Foltz’ firing.

Here in the patch, we suspect that the upcoming primary election had something to do with Foltz’ abrupt departure. He has been an unabashed and outspoken supporter of Republican commissioner Angela Zimmerlink, and has been an equally outspoken critic of the two Vinces, Democrat commissioners Vince Vicites and Vince Zapotosky.

Not long ago, we recall Zapotosky high-tailing it to the radio station, hurriedly plopping down cash to buy 10 minutes of air time on Foltz’ show, because he didn’t like something that was being said.

Foltz has also been kept on a short leash concerning ANY commentary, from himself or callers, concerning two station advertisers, Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and the Herald-Standard newspaper. We in the patch wondered who actually was in charge several months ago, when station manager Brian Mroziak sat in the studio with Foltz, hitting the “kill” switch to cut off callers who dared refer to a list of forbidden topics.

Foltz has also been an outspoken critic of Marcellus shale drilling activity, particularly as it impacts water quality and supply. In this regard he has been the only media outlet in the county giving strong voice to that issue. That industry is also an advertiser on the station.

Was it any or all of the above that precipitated Foltz’ downfall? Knowing the way the game is played in Fayette County, we suspect that the real catalyst for his dismissal was Foltz’ strong views on the upcoming commissioners’ race. Some politicians have notoriously thin skins and cannot take any criticism of their performance.

WMBS, as a private business, is free to hire and fire any employee it wants. If station ownership or management felt Foltz had crossed the line one too many times, or had become hyper-partisan, it has every right to make a change.

The key here is whether the station bowed to pressure, and if so, where that pressure came from. If it came from someone who was merely unhappy with the platform Foltz gave to certain issues, it is censorship, plain and simple.

The first day of replacement host Mark Rafail’s show was replete with an endless parade of folks praising him as a “breath of fresh air.” We recognized some of those folks as supporters of Vicites or Zapotosky, or both.

Rafail represents a change. But given that he sits on the Fayette County Zoning Hearing board, whose members are appointed by the Fayette County commissioners, he clearly has a conflict of interest.

If WBMS truly wants to replace Foltz with someone less partisan, they should require Rafail to resign from the zoning hearing board. If they don’t or won’t, the forces of censorship appear to have prevailed.