The View from Here: Power mongers need not apply
Not Wanted: A Few Bad Aldermen. That’s a no brainer.
I was going to open this column with the exact opposite – that a few good aldermen were needed – because earlier this week, there seemed to be little interest and only a few candidates interested in the November election, setting up little competition.
I could have gone on and on about the importance of democracy and the apparent lack of desire to participate in it, but what a difference a few days make.
As of last count, there were two handfuls of potential candidates who picked up their qualifying papers for the municipal elections, the qualifying deadline of which is Thursday.
But both phrases, however simplistic, should be the rallying cry for every person who lives inside city limits or owns property and cares enough to vote.
We’ve all just watched a county election change the fate of the area and now it’s time to turn to the city election. Half of the city board – three members who actively vote – are up for grabs, including a nomination for vice mayor.
Most who have picked up petitions have not turned them in, except for a couple, the last I heard. For the rest, it only means they’re thinking about running. As someone wise once said, “potential” means you haven’t done it yet.
It will be interesting to learn who decides they’re in the game next week when the qualifying deadline expires. Most people who are in any way, shape or form connected to city leaders or city projects have been hearing for months about this election cycle, and some have concerns – worries that ideas will not see the light of day, despite years of work, are among them.
Some are always too quick to become the great informers of a massive inadequacy, unfairness, wrong doing or the inkling of some wrong doing and it would have been easy to encourage them to get involved.
But it’s good to see several step up to the plate. I believe in cases of government and business, competition is a good thing.
As a point of caution, and from my conversations with various city leaders over the years, good politicking doesn’t appear to be an easy job, however. That’s where education, or at least good common sense, come into play.
And while we desperately need qualified leaders in government, it’s also important to say some people just aren’t cut out for the job.
The power hungry, arrogant, weak-stomached, two-faced, or angry should stay away. People don’t need that. The fear is they will act without foresight, react without considering the consequences or fail to have public interests at heart.
People need and deserve the exact opposite of the above-described qualities in a leader. To be good, candidates should be happy, foresighted, a little humble, courageous, honest and open in general.
It would also be nice if they appreciated the true meaning of the Sunshine Law, which is the cornerstone of communicating with the public and their right to know what goes on within their government.
I guess the biggest thing I’m saying is that I’m hoping for someone genuine – not someone who seeks out the public in good times and hides like a hermit in bad times.
Does that type of candidate exist? Of course. And it’s good to hear several potential candidates are willing to step into the limelight of becoming a public figure, which may or may not be an ideal place to be.
(Amy Satterwhite is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].)