Stop, Look, and Listen Before You Vote...but VOTE I would like to expand on what I wrote here last week about the two types of people who run for office, the “politicians” and the “public servants”. These are my observations about our current council meetings: First, one member speaks at great length, campaigning for her latest ideas about what the council needs to spend our tax dollars on. Just because someone is very busy and vocal does not mean that she speaks for the majority of residents. After a few thoughtful questions or objections from other council members, their input is ignored and she, along with the mayor and a few of his yes men, go right ahead and do whatever they wish. I see that committees work hard to advise the council, and their advice is often ignored as well. This controlling group is a majority on the council now, but they do not represent most of us. Do we want a council that does what they want or a council who listens to what we want?
Misleading ad signs and talking points have been put before the voters, touting “accomplishments” that they completed, but some of these were made possible by others before them who applied for grants or were the result of hard work from committees, not council. They also post parts of city surveys to tell us “what the people want”, but only the parts that suit their agendas. Don’t be fooled by how much we like our new streets. Public outcry accomplished that. We all wanted new streets, but drainage was not considered, and I know that in one instance, it is likely that drainage may be worse.
You have power to change all this. VOTE for new leadership, Bob Hambrick for mayor and Aurora LeBrun and Jamie Bonniwell for council.
— Marguerete Tormo
