The Observation Deck

The next council election will be the most important council race in the history of Lakewood.

The City is going to face a budget crisis sometime during the next two years that won’t be solved by politics as usual. The Council and Mayor must be willing to take a stand against the Seven Sisters who view the City as their personal piggy bank. The fight won’t be made any easier if those representing the City have their eye on higher office.

The political dynamics in Cuyahoga County are such that any member of council who has ambitions for higher office must sacrifice the economic health of the City they serve in order to preserve their political viability within the system. Translation: “Give us (the unions) want we want or you aren’t going anywhere pal.”

It is important that Nickie Antonio, Brian Powers and others who are running for the council at large seats commit to serving their full term. If they can’t commit to that they should withdraw from the race. If they can’t commit to that then at least they should tell us the name of the secret someone who will be appointed to their seat and what price was paid to secure that seat.

I hear that some familiar names may be appearing on the primary ballot (Brennan? Demro?). If the incumbents cannot commit to serving their full terms perhaps the challengers can.

This election is too important to be left to the carpetbaggers.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carpetbagger

Bill Call wrote:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carpetbagger

"any opportunistic or exploitive outsider: Our bus company has served this town for years, but now the new one run by carpetbaggers from the city is stealing our business."

Bill

While I am not sure the term "carpetbagger" actually applies to Tom Bullock and others
that have chosen Lakewood for a stepping stone instead of a home.

I would agree that it is a problem here in Lakewood. Is it a self esteem issue?

I know if I were to run for school board and/or city council it would be one of the first things
I would lay down, and promise in writing. I agree in the future we must seriously consider
this when pulling a lever.

I do see a difference between a resident moving on, and a wash-a-shore changing course
after making promises. It bothers me that "some" have dropped in desperately try to
make serious changes in our city for nothing more than bullet points for thier campaign
in their next "port."

I would say our larger carpetbagger problem would be people taking serious $$$$$, some
taking two checks for the same 40 hours, and not liking Lakewood enough to live here.
One should look seriously at that and who approves it.

Another thing we should look at is PUBLICLY FUNDED civic groups that get paid serious
$$$$$$$$$$ to enact their change, without public conversation.

But then we have a nother problem with bitter people running great thinkers out of Lakewood,
because they DARE to question things once or twice.

To summarize, IF I was to run for public office I would be eager to sign such a pledge.
And promise to bring these things and others into the spotlight, and push for transparency
honesty, and push for public policies that work for the city, not just a small handfull.

You know IF I were to run.


.
FWIW

ETA: Nevermind I was looking at the wrong time stamp.

Would that it were possible that truly altruistic motivation could run a city.

My thought would simply be that our salaries for elected officials are so abysmal that we can expect little else, but that candidates would wish to go elsewhere at the first opportunity arising.

Gosh, you just have to PAY people sometimes....

Gee, maybe if we paid them a decent wage, then Lakewood would perhaps not be such an enticing stepping-stone.

Hmmm...time to get back to that banjo...

Gary

No one is speaking of pay. Though I believe that the mayor and council do not make enough.

It is the act of landing in a city for moments, collecting bullet points and leaving.

I have no problem with Ed FitzGerald seeking higher office. I spoke with him the
other night. I could believe that the thoughts of Lakewood would still resonate in his
mind. Nicki seem like a lifelong Lakewoodite.

In some cases it makes all the sense in the world to push out politicians to higher office.

I do not see them as carpetbaggers.

FWIW


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I have no problem with Ed FitzGerald seeking higher office. I spoke with him the

I have granted Mayor Fitzgerald special dispensation for any decision he makes to seek higher office. He served many years on council and has paid his dues. Even more important he has accomplished more in his first year in office than others accomplished in four or more.

However, I don’t know why anyone would want to support Ms. Antonio or Mr. Powers or Mr. Shields or Mr. Brennan or Mr. Demro or Mr. O’Bryan unless they are committed to serving their full term. If they cannot make that commitment then they should at least tell us who the secret someone is who will be anointed their successor and what price was paid for that support.

Bill

I want to make this clear. I have not decided, but the day I file it will be
here that it is broken first.

I want to make sure that I could add to the city not merely hold
office for sake of something to do, and certainly not to seek higher office
outside of the city of Lakewood.

I hsve been speaking with other candidates and would need to tell
them as well, out of a sense of fairness, and their fairness with me.

.

As a resident of Lakewood's 2nd ward I do have to say Im tired of being represented by political climbers. Give us a break and let us have a council person who just wants to represent the ward for a few years, without having his eye on the next office.
The 2nd ward represents all the opportunitys and challenges of Lakewood. I admit to being pretty disgusted at being just a step on the ladder.

Dee;

This might be a dumb question to ask, but I'm extremely curious to hear your opinion- will your disappointment in Councilman Bullock's decision to seek higher office affect your vote when you see his name on the ballot? Let's say... even if you, as a voter and Ward 2 citizen, think Councilman Bullock is the best candidate for the job of State Rep., would you not vote for him out just because he used your Ward as a ladder?

Ivor - If he couldn't represent the 2nd ward properly how the heck is he going to function at the state level.

Anyone interested in voting for him, go watch a council meeting.

Very interesting stuff for those with a sick sense of humor.

However, I don’t know why anyone would want to support Ms. Antonio or Mr. Powers or Mr. Shields or Mr. Brennan or Mr. Demro or Mr. O’Bryan unless they are committed to serving their full term. If they cannot make that commitment then they should at least tell us who the secret someone is who will be anointed their successor and what price was paid for that support.

I have stated before that I will serve the entire four year council-at-large term if elected. I have been involved with and have made long-term committments to many local groups/organizations, and I will make this pledge here for Lakewood council. Thanks, Dan

I do not want to get roped into the political finger pointing and name calling, but I will say as far as the last Council Meeting goes, Sharon is right about Bullock. When looking at the issue of letting dogs into Lakewood’s parks he defiantly dropped the ball. By not doing the research he should have before bringing it to the council at large he made himself look a little like a fool, from my perspective. Now I’m not saying this is always true of Councilman Bullock, since I go to every meeting, however it did make the last meeting a little more interesting.