I want to thank the council for including the topic of a Ward 4 replacement in a workshop session.
A year ago, our city was in a quagmire of controversy with a mayor who wanted to appoint her friends and associates to not only the city council, but important positions such as Chief of Police and City Attorney. At that time, the citizenry stood up and said NO to such cronyism.
Our city has had not only a year of controversy, but decades of stagnancy that have lead to the disappearance of businesses, jobs, and city-paid services. When people have examined why that was allowed to happen many come back with answers of apathy, antagonism and cronyism that have infested our city government.
It is these three things that all candidates in the last election said they would eradicate in an effort to put the city back on the path to healing. However, we cannot heal if we continue to allow these things to fester within our city. My main concern with the process of filling the Ward 4 vacancy is cronyism.
At the last city council meeting, the mayor stated he was nominating his choice because this person “stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him through two campaigns.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines patronage as “the distribution of jobs and favors on a political basis, as to those who have supported one's party or political campaign.” How are we, the citizens of Ward 4, to see this as anything other than just another example of cronyism that will continue to hurt our city.
I am disappointed that this could not have started out as an open process. Since before he filed to run for mayor, Mr. Schneider has stated that Mr. Dills would be his choice—where is the openness in that? And, unfortunately, you can’t unring that bell. An appointment of Les Dills will leave some with questions of cronyism and a continuance of the patronage positions to fill city openings.
It is unfortunate that Overland couldn’t research on how other cities have handled this issue. In Saturday’s paper there was an article on a similar situation in St. Peters (where the special election of a mayor opened a city council seat). In the article, the Post-Dispatch informs us that each candidate was able to “earn an interview by gathering 150 petition signatures” from voters in their ward. What a novel idea to assure that the person has the backing of some of the constituency before proceeding!
However, we have what we have and we have the process that the city council has brought forth. And that process is important because the vetting process is important.
A year ago, our city was in a quagmire of controversy with a mayor who wanted to appoint her friends and associates to not only the city council, but important positions such as Chief of Police and City Attorney. At that time, the citizenry stood up and said NO to such cronyism.
Our city has had not only a year of controversy, but decades of stagnancy that have lead to the disappearance of businesses, jobs, and city-paid services. When people have examined why that was allowed to happen many come back with answers of apathy, antagonism and cronyism that have infested our city government.
It is these three things that all candidates in the last election said they would eradicate in an effort to put the city back on the path to healing. However, we cannot heal if we continue to allow these things to fester within our city. My main concern with the process of filling the Ward 4 vacancy is cronyism.
At the last city council meeting, the mayor stated he was nominating his choice because this person “stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him through two campaigns.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines patronage as “the distribution of jobs and favors on a political basis, as to those who have supported one's party or political campaign.” How are we, the citizens of Ward 4, to see this as anything other than just another example of cronyism that will continue to hurt our city.
I am disappointed that this could not have started out as an open process. Since before he filed to run for mayor, Mr. Schneider has stated that Mr. Dills would be his choice—where is the openness in that? And, unfortunately, you can’t unring that bell. An appointment of Les Dills will leave some with questions of cronyism and a continuance of the patronage positions to fill city openings.
It is unfortunate that Overland couldn’t research on how other cities have handled this issue. In Saturday’s paper there was an article on a similar situation in St. Peters (where the special election of a mayor opened a city council seat). In the article, the Post-Dispatch informs us that each candidate was able to “earn an interview by gathering 150 petition signatures” from voters in their ward. What a novel idea to assure that the person has the backing of some of the constituency before proceeding!
However, we have what we have and we have the process that the city council has brought forth. And that process is important because the vetting process is important.
Normally, one obtains a council seat by running for election. During that process the voters have the opportunity to ask the candidates about current issues, pet projects or long-time problems. We are unable to do that during this process. You, our remaining elected officials, must do this on our behalf.
Because you are doing the vetting process, I would like to state what is important to me—a resident of ward four—in a council member. There are the obvious requirements. Age, residency and tax issues that are part of state statute to run for election to the city council should also be applied when appointing the same position. The other obvious factors are attendance and participation at council meetings and workshops, as well as responsiveness to all of the ward 4 residents. (Which doesn’t mean he or she satisfies all our wishes, but at least listens.)
However, there are attributes that I, as a resident of Ward 4 need to see in the appointment to this position.
First and foremost, independence. While the open seat will be nominated by the mayor, I do not want this person beholden to the mayor or any other person or entity. I want to know that when this person votes it is truly their vote.
Second, I want someone with fresh ideas as well as creative ways to implement existing policies. Let us not be guided by “that’s the way we’ve always done it” type of thinking.
Third, I want someone who is truly for progress. The person who is willing to examine new ideas, someone willing to look at what other cities have done with success and incorporate that into Overland. We need someone who is looking forward and who only looks back to examine past mistakes.
Part of that progressive mentality is my fourth wishlist attribute. And that is someone who supports the city in obtaining professional management. Of course, by this I mean that the Ward 4 seat should be filled by someone who has the desire to fill the City Administrator position with a quality and qualified individual and does not desire to weaken the position.
From personal experience, I know it is a lot easier to campaign for someone else than to go out there and stick our own necks out on the line. It is nice to get to skip the door knocking, the forums and debates. It is nice to not have to answer the questions that the electorate would pose to any and every candidate and have someone hand them a position on the council. Again, that is why the council's input into the opening is so important. I thank the council for doing this on behalf of the entirety of ward four.
