The Observation Deck

The “discussionâ€￾ taking place on this thread indicates pure and clear the importance of an informed electorate. With all due respect to our current elected officials, Lakewood’s vision and future must be in the hands of its citizenry. I, for one, can do more in this regard.

I agree with the substance in one of Ryan Demro’s early posts regarding folks who win one seat in November then put their names out for another just a few months later. If someone wins a seat and opts to retire before the end of the term, well, that I can accept. Life happens. Things change. However, it upsets me to no end that elected officials have the power to appoint an individual to an unexpired term as they leave for another elected position.

Perhaps an amendment to the charter could be adopted that calls for:

1. Special elections to be held within 45 days to fill any Lakewood unexpired term; and
2. The cost of said special election will be paid by the campaign of the outgoing officeholder should their election to another position create the vacancy (not in the case of a retirement).

Any reactions? Thanks.

I'm getting there Jim, but still have a long way to go.

Mr Anderson

#1 Doable
#2 Clearly unconstitutional. not even close

Kerplunk, twang... (tunes up banjo)

Well,

Gotta say it...

I've had a few differences with Ryan, Tom, and Ed from time to time...

Even (briefly) considered running for office m'self a time or two, but it's just kinda nice when you are retired, not to HAVE to be a a certain place at a certain time of day and all, but I digress....maybe someday....

I will, however, say this.

I have a great deal of respect for ALL of them, for coming forward into the public eye to serve the citizens of Lakewood.

Whatever their personal motivations, they came forward to serve.

Not to get too preachy here, but I do believe they deserve respect, whether they serve their whole term, or 5 minutes only.

Heck, we ALL deserve that, don't we?

Respect, I mean.

At the same time, I think that they need to respect each other too. If, for example, there was some remark regarding religion, it needs to be addressed, and apologized for. All of us have said things that we have regretted from time to time. That is just a human trait.

There are things that I've said over the years that I've regretted deeply. Where possible, I've tried to correct those remarks. The ones that one regrets far more when one is older, are the ones that for one reason or another, cannot be taken back or undone......

That's why forgiveness is such a wonderful gift.

As we approach that black day, when the Son of Man was lifted up, to take away the sins of the world, perhaps we all could reflect on those quick tongues of ours, along with those pens, (and keyboards) that are, after all, so much mightier than the sword.

Kumbayah my Lord indeed....

Whomever came up with that song on those southern sea islands, a century or more ago, had it right.....

Mr. Demro,

I would like an opportunity to vote for you. What will you run for next?

As a disclaimer, due to the sensitive nature of 99% of the threads on the Deck, I would like to state that the following are not directed at an individual, but rather are intended as a general observation.

It is highly ironic that the people who are crying foul are not the majority of constituents or of the electorate. I think it is safe to assume that anyone who posts on this board on a fairly regular basis goes slightly above and beyond in community involvement, even if that involvement is just voicing their opinions online.

That being said, I don't think it is fair to attach so great a power to the opinions about Mr. Bullock's supposed conditional departure in 2010 since they are not representative of the general public. It is one thing to express that you are personally upset, but it is another matter entirely to assume that everyone else is or should be.

Most voters don't judge politicians on dogs or chickens. Realistically, I would care much more about bigger and more life-changing issues than whether or not a city councilman should leave before he came in and "cleaned up this town".

I will reiterate, most posters on this thread are relying too much on their passionate feelings on issues to dictate how they feel they should respond. This is ceasing to be a level-headed debate and is instead morphing into a free for all where everyone dishes on why they dislike facets of local politics.

With all of the residual problems that Mr. Bullock won't be solving on his impending departure, shouldn't we be spending our time more wisely and look for solutions? Seems more productive than blowing hot air.[/b]

Jim Sage wrote:Mr. Demro,

I would like an opportunity to vote for you. What will you run for next?

Are you saying that you would vote for him, regardless of what position he might run for? Without regard for his qualifications and positions on issues?

YIKES!

.

I said I wanted an opportunity to vote for Demro. I am anxious to learn what political office he will seek next. Running for council again is probably not going to happen because that would be a step back. What else is available for Mr. Demro?

Jim Sage wrote:What else is available for Mr. Demro?

I wish him the best of luck in a private sector job.

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Thanks for the reply, Steve.

Your point about us electing folks to represent us is part of the point I was making. However, I read on another thread about the incredible devotion non elected citizens are making to the Phase III process and am in awe. Between all the things that keep us all busy - jobs, parenthood, homeownership, church leadership - I just don't know how folks have the time to do anything but vote and am deeply respectful of their efforts.

Also, I wasn’t suggesting that our charter does not prescribe the process for filling vacancies. I know it does and thanks for including this in your response. My thought was whether anyone thought it should be changed. We can also change part of the job description of Lakewood’s elected officials so that they don’t have to, as you put it, “make appointments to vacant positions.â€￾ Let’s put this responsibility in the hands of the voters.



Thank you, also, Dee.

I am not a constitutional scholar but think there is an argument to be made to hold an office holder liable should the public be required foot a $50,000 or so special election bill to fill a position they have left for another elected office.

Perhaps there is case history regarding this. I don’t know. I’m just thinking and typing.

David - There is a reason that they call politicians public servants - salary for councilpersons right now, as far as I know, is $7,500.00 per year.

Most people run for council because they believe they have the knowledge, community experience and passion to make our town better. It certainly isn't done for financial gain. Phone calls all the time from constituents, problem solving off the clock, meetings, commitee chairmanships and much more.

We have a couple of councilpeople that are talented and devoted beyond the job and probably have the qualifications to move on.

Would you turn down a promotion on your job? Are you that altruistic?

Let's face it, some people may actually have the talent, drive and experience to serve us on a higher level and Lakewood would be better because of it, yet you propose fining them?

I appreciate your point, Sharon. It is up to us citizens to make sure we identify and vote for candidates who fit the description you provided.

Are you suggested that we would have fewer qualified/quality candidates from which to choose should the charter be amended to what I suggested? You may be right - this could be an unintended consequence. However, the opposite impact is also possible. Just maybe candidates would show more interest in Lakewood’s future and less in becoming career politicians. (We all know the old saying – You’ll never meet a career politician who is poor.)

Also, perhaps I am suggesting we light a cigar with an ICBM. There doesn’t seem to be a history of Lakewood council members leaving for other elected positions before their council term is up, is there? Having only lived here 10 years, I don’t know.

As far as my job and promotions, I would doubt that my company would allow me to campaign for my boss’ job then, if I win, force the same company to pay to select my replacement.

At any rate, I do enjoy this conversation better that what was on display between a couple of folks on page 3.

I happened to be at the debate where the supposed heinous Catholic/Children bashing incident took place. All the candidates tried to appear witty. Some even attempted to construct a facade of false folksiness. I and many others in the crowd who have children found the comment amusing and took it for what it was: A colorful metaphor depicting what every good parent knows: kids take up your time, the more kids the more time as Monte Python so hilariously depicted in The Meaning of Life.

I have disagreed with Demro (you might as well make that everyone) on various issues and although lacking tact at times, he has followed through with those things he said he would do and for that I have some respect for him. Whether or not he holds public office again is up to the electorate.

As for elected officials leaving? If you want to leave more power to you but don't tell us it's about serving Lakewood, it's about serving yourself and that's alright. If you're thinking about moving on your heart's not in your current job. In fact, you should just quit now because your decisions from the time you decide to seek another office will be used to further this goal.

It's also not about the money, it's about perceived power. Everyone seeks more power. It may be about changing peoples perception of you, it may be control over others, or it just may be the ability to emerge victorious from battle in sport, debate or political campaigning but it's power just the same and that's human nature.

Steve Hoffert wrote:It's also not about the money, it's about perceived power. Everyone seeks more power. It may be about changing peoples perception of you, it may be control over others, or it just may be the ability to emerge victorious from battle in sport, debate or political campaigning but it's power just the same and that's human nature.

Steve,

You paint with a pretty broad brush. I'm not altogether disagreeing with you, but I optimistically believe, or hope, that some people choose politics as a career path for not entirely selfish reasons. I think that if you have the interest, personality, and skill sets for that job, you can, and should, use it for good.

Achieving power and control within any occupation can (Not always.) make you more effective. People count on you to be effective.

We certainly need good and effective politicians. We can't do all that needs to done individually, especially while we manage our own lives and follow our own career paths.

Again, I'm not disagreeing, but I think intent should be considered, and I don't believe it's always evil.




Steve the Naive

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