My Thoughts on Council and Candidates
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:47 pm
Starting next January, with the retirement of Council President, Bob Seelie, after 16 years of service, and the absence of Ryan Demro, Lakewood’s City Council will go through some changes that will really alter the makeup of that body.
Councilperson-at-Large Fitztgerald’s status on council will be determined by the upcoming mayoral election. If he is elected Mayor, Council will make an appointment for his seat, otherwise he has 2 more years.
Some things will not change. Councilpersons-at-Large Dever and Antonio are not facing elections for 2 years. Councilperson Madigan is running unopposed in the upcoming election for the Ward 4 seat. That will give her another 4 years.
Those are facts. What follows are my hopes and opinions, with various facts mixed in. Some of you will disagree with me. That’s okay.
I think that if voters and Council members consider the chemistry of the Council, they will see the opportunity to move beyond some of the divisive/polarizing influences of the past 4 years. I will be encouraged if certain things happen.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
I hope the new Council will elect Michael Dever as their president. He is rational, sincere, and stable. He will be professional and calm. He is Lakewoodcentric, not egocentric.
WARD 1
I hope that Kevin Butler is re-elected in Ward 1. Kevin is pretty sharp, has grown a lot, and does not showboat. He has been good about using this forum and e-mail to keep the community informed. I am not in his ward, but I always appreciate his communications to me. I expect good things from Kevin. The right chemistry in Council will enhance his effectiveness.
WARD 2
While I have nothing against Tom Bullock, I have to give the nod to Dan Shields in Ward 2. I worked with Dan on the Charter Commission. He is pragmatic and open. He will act in the best interest of Lakewood. I partly choose him just because of his Charter Commission experience. It is important to have someone on Council that understands home rule and the mechanics of our city government. Not having a member that is familiar with the Charter is like having an entire U.S. Congress without knowledge of the Constitution. (We have not had a Council member that has a deep understanding of the Lakewood City Charter since Mike Skindell. Skindell’s academic approach to the Charter is unmatched by any other councilperson that I have known.)
WARD 3
I live in Ward 3. This is the only Council seat that I will be able to vote for in the upcoming election. I considered running for this seat, but dropped out when Mike Summers decided to run. I follow this race with great interest.
From what I’ve heard and read, Diane Helbig is an interesting and sincere candidate. I think she should make it through the primary, but I will cast my vote for Mike Summers. If Ms. Helbig gains some experience and recognition, I hope she would consider running for an At-Large seat in 2 years. This time around, I want Mike Summers to win.
Mike will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that far surpasses any other Council hopeful. He was a Lakewood School Board member. He understands the pressures and mandates put on schools and cities by the state and federal governments. He has worked on committees for years, studying our city’s finances, housing, and development plans. He has a lot in the pipeline and can hit the ground running.
He is a listener, and a hard working consensus builder. He has done, and will do, his homework. I’ve worked with him. He is a roll-up-the-sleeves and hammer-out-the-work kind of guy.
Summers is entirely pro-Lakewood. I think that other Council members will enjoy working with him, and his work ethic and skills will improve the body as a whole.
OVERALL
Lakewood’s City Council must be an effective and efficient body. There is serious work to be done. Voters should consider the chemistry of the entire team. Here is our chance to have a more functional Council. Councilpersons should agree, and agree to disagree in a civil manner. Lively, informed debate and consensus building should prevail. Individuals and ideas are important, but well matched skill sets in the ensemble of City Council are equally important in the management of our city.
Steve Davis
Councilperson-at-Large Fitztgerald’s status on council will be determined by the upcoming mayoral election. If he is elected Mayor, Council will make an appointment for his seat, otherwise he has 2 more years.
Some things will not change. Councilpersons-at-Large Dever and Antonio are not facing elections for 2 years. Councilperson Madigan is running unopposed in the upcoming election for the Ward 4 seat. That will give her another 4 years.
Those are facts. What follows are my hopes and opinions, with various facts mixed in. Some of you will disagree with me. That’s okay.
I think that if voters and Council members consider the chemistry of the Council, they will see the opportunity to move beyond some of the divisive/polarizing influences of the past 4 years. I will be encouraged if certain things happen.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
I hope the new Council will elect Michael Dever as their president. He is rational, sincere, and stable. He will be professional and calm. He is Lakewoodcentric, not egocentric.
WARD 1
I hope that Kevin Butler is re-elected in Ward 1. Kevin is pretty sharp, has grown a lot, and does not showboat. He has been good about using this forum and e-mail to keep the community informed. I am not in his ward, but I always appreciate his communications to me. I expect good things from Kevin. The right chemistry in Council will enhance his effectiveness.
WARD 2
While I have nothing against Tom Bullock, I have to give the nod to Dan Shields in Ward 2. I worked with Dan on the Charter Commission. He is pragmatic and open. He will act in the best interest of Lakewood. I partly choose him just because of his Charter Commission experience. It is important to have someone on Council that understands home rule and the mechanics of our city government. Not having a member that is familiar with the Charter is like having an entire U.S. Congress without knowledge of the Constitution. (We have not had a Council member that has a deep understanding of the Lakewood City Charter since Mike Skindell. Skindell’s academic approach to the Charter is unmatched by any other councilperson that I have known.)
WARD 3
I live in Ward 3. This is the only Council seat that I will be able to vote for in the upcoming election. I considered running for this seat, but dropped out when Mike Summers decided to run. I follow this race with great interest.
From what I’ve heard and read, Diane Helbig is an interesting and sincere candidate. I think she should make it through the primary, but I will cast my vote for Mike Summers. If Ms. Helbig gains some experience and recognition, I hope she would consider running for an At-Large seat in 2 years. This time around, I want Mike Summers to win.
Mike will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that far surpasses any other Council hopeful. He was a Lakewood School Board member. He understands the pressures and mandates put on schools and cities by the state and federal governments. He has worked on committees for years, studying our city’s finances, housing, and development plans. He has a lot in the pipeline and can hit the ground running.
He is a listener, and a hard working consensus builder. He has done, and will do, his homework. I’ve worked with him. He is a roll-up-the-sleeves and hammer-out-the-work kind of guy.
Summers is entirely pro-Lakewood. I think that other Council members will enjoy working with him, and his work ethic and skills will improve the body as a whole.
OVERALL
Lakewood’s City Council must be an effective and efficient body. There is serious work to be done. Voters should consider the chemistry of the entire team. Here is our chance to have a more functional Council. Councilpersons should agree, and agree to disagree in a civil manner. Lively, informed debate and consensus building should prevail. Individuals and ideas are important, but well matched skill sets in the ensemble of City Council are equally important in the management of our city.
Steve Davis