Leo Wetula wrote:This is an honest question. This may likely be the last election I experience in Lakewood. Is there anyone to vote for for City Council? When I get advertisements/cards in the mail listing candidates' various endorsements, I mostly think to myself, "now that you have told me that, there is no way I am going to vote for you." Not to pick on any particular candidate, but one one card I received yesterday said the guy was formerly a member of the Lakewood Planning Commission. Um, sorry, no. Not interested in anyone who have ever had a role in managing this City. Is that bad of me?
Signed, Grumpy (or, perhaps just fed up)
Leo
I have been staying out of elections, but I appreciate your thoughts, and partially agree with you.
The members of City Hall that were there during the FitzGerald/Summers Administration which includes in this election Tom Bullock, openly fought in court the residence rights to oversee the administration, through public record requests. This alone would make most people understand that person is not fit for public office.
Of course Mr. Bullock went much farther he worked to shout down, lie and cover-up for his years of work on Council and LHA to close our hospital. Closing the hospital is not the issue, some wanted it closed, some didn't. The fact that an elected official would champion a fight against the residents right to know the truth is appalling. Not forgivable. This is Trump BS we will do what we want, say what we want, and slow you down in the courts, even destroying documents.
Might be a great person to drink with, but a terrible public official.
Dan O'Malley and Tristan and Mayor George were on Council through some of this, at no point did they support lying to residents, or covering up documents. Actually they joined the fight for documents.
Next is actual awareness of this city and our history. I spoke with one candidate who was eager to say, "We need to concentrate on the future." I agree, but unless you know how deep the lying and the rot were, you have no idea what to do down the road. Ignorance is a terrible plank in any political platform.
From there look at who is backing who, and think about why?
The thieves of the hospital debacle are still very active in Lakewood politics and non-profits.
Which gets to my my final point.Lakewoodites do not seem to be sharp enough to understand Government and how it works. Instead they tend to boil it down to friendships and tribes. Think I am lying, I know of only one candidate that has spoken of doing anything NEW or different. Everyone else is riding the couttails of tribes and friends. I mean who would vote for anyone that does not have a platform beyond SAFE, CLEAN, WALKABLE.
On candidate has never sent out a flyer without lots of kids, yet has none. Another is using a borrowed dog. Another speaks of...
As long as this city elects friends instead of visionaries, or competent managers, they will never be willing to hold them accountable the next time a Mayor gives his friends over $300 million in publicly owned assets to manage and have in private.
Oh that's right, we no longer have anywhere near that value in assets left.
VOTE