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12/19/2007
A tale of two cities
Two cities. Two mayors. And both have cost their residents dearly, presiding over major, multi-multi-million dollar blunders.
Menasha Mayor Joe Laux is running against (so far) four (!!!) opponents lining up to take their best shot at unseating him.
Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna is (so far) unopposed. What’s with that?
So… Calling all able-minded, civic servant-manager-leader types to the campaign table!!
Qualifications for Mayor of Appleton - Must live in Appleton
- Must be a fiscal conservative
- Must return phone calls (or delegate such)
- Must return emails (or delegate such)
- Must acknowledge mistakes
- Must work with alderpersons
- Must lead
- Must demand accountability of self and others
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey had it right in honing in on what he thought to be one of the biggest problems we have in governing this democracy of ours – that we don’t always expect enough of our officeholders – and we must hold them accountable. “All officeholders must come to terms with the fact that they are expected to deal with substantive legislative outcomes, not just political posturing and pandering. The electorate holds them accountable.”
Election time. Time once again to hold the mayor of Appleton accountable.
Do you have the qualifications – and will you serve your city? Will you rush to the City Clerk’s office, take out your nomination papers, and tromp around to get the requisite 200 signatures? The view from the office is stunning. The pay is ok – $84,000 for year beginning April, 2008 – and the health and retirement benefits, phenomenal.
From what I hear, if you throw your hat in the ring, you will have a ton of folks ready and willing to help your campaign. 200 signatures, due no later than 5:00 PM January 2nd!
COMMENTS
JO:
I have said this before, but you would make the ideal candidate for several reasons, the least of which is that you know all the facts of how the city has been run and the mistakes that were made, and have the capability of leading. You would have a lot of support. Think about it!
Thanks Mike. I would if I could, family-wise. Just can't. Wish I could! JE
Mike Thomas (Wed Dec 19 09:36:46 2007)
As far as the Do-Bees and Don'tBees go I think 'fiscal conservative' has to be spelled out (no pun intended.) Fiscal conservative has, for me, more negative connotations than positive ones. Fiscal conservative implies a service cutter or privatizer of those services.
Where was the fiscal conservatism in the Purdy Farm deal? I can't go to FactCheck (see previous blog post) for info on this because it's local. What I've learned about the Purdy Farm deal from nearby residents is that the city of Appleton annexed a 'finger of land' known as the Purdy Farm which is under development for more gigantic "Toad Hall" type residences.
This means that City of Appleton gets to pay for all the infrastructure out in a cow pasture so that maybe a couple of residents (the rest built on speculation?) can live their imagined lives of narcissistic autonomy.
This, I'm sure, is fiscal conservatism in someone's imagination because it conforms to the notion of 'progress' or 'growth.'
Real fiscal conservatism is buy what you need and reuse what you can.
A new model is needed for the way progress or growth is defined. That begins with Full Cost Accounting procedures (FCA) which takes into account the total impact of a project for all concerned and also those who will be footing the bill for community services, emergency response and a variety of other things needed by residents.
Enabling development under the current model with annexations, give-backs, 'easements' and the like costs more in the long run and is not by any means fiscally conservative.
It's fiscally conservative to leave the cow pasture to the cows.
Lon Ponschock (Wed Dec 19 12:30:53 2007)
There are people ready to work, and assist in any way to assist a candidate for Mayor.
Your qualifications list is great. Especially the return calls, e mails and letter criteria. That is common courtesy. Can the City fire unqualified personnel? (joke) That only happens in business.
Mary (Fri Dec 28 08:14:41 2007)
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