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So, the city council interviewed the four applicants for the interim alder appointment tonight (actually, each of them made a statement covering the 5 questions see my earlier post: Job Opening). The four applicants are Jeff Wiswell, Paul Ament, Jerry Nelson, and Larry Miller. Each of them did a creditable job presenting their qualifications - and they are all qualified.
It is an uncomfortable job for the council, to choose one of its members, but here we are and we have to make a choice next Monday.
Unfortunately, the behind-the-scenes nastiness has neared an all-time low. Alder Miller related tonight that he has been 'accused' of being my political partner simply because he told me about an interesting lecture in Madison on the Iraq war by an award-winning author. And I mentioned it in my blog. So, now I'm wondering should I even write that I thought Alder Miller was right on target tonight in calling out the unseemly personal attacks and asking for people to cease and desist.
No doubt this blog rubs some people the wrong way, although my goal in discussing Monona is gets news out about city government and to express my viewpoint about that news.
Hmmm, a while back I also thanked Alder Kugle in my blog for donating used computers from his business to the library. Does that mean Dennis is in 'my camp' or that I'm in his? Or maybe I just thought it was a cool thing for him to do - just like when Bob invited me to Iraq book talk. God forbid that we should actually get along.
Friendships have been damaged because certain people don't like the process that the council chose and are taking it out on their alder friends (not happening to me; I guess these people think I'm beyond redemption).
And then there's the rumor that three members of the council belong to Progressive Dane and want to select a fourth PD'er as the new council member! Where do people get this stuff? Well, apparently they just make it up.
The sad thing is about 99% of the nastiness comes from the same relatively small group of people. I guess that could also be seen as the good thing, too.
Monday, October 29, 2007
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Doug-
ReplyDeleteI have only lived here a few years, but in that time I can see that there is a core group of really nasty folks who will never be happy and will say just awful vicious things to both City Council and the School Board just to be mean. Please do keep in mind that the rest of us out here are reasonable folks who may or may not agree with you- or any of those who serve- but we certainly respect your willingness to serve. I don't know why these folks are so intent on voicing their opinions in a rude way, but they are. So, thanks for doing what you do- City Council and the blog. Ignore the 2% who did not learn their basic kindergarten lessons.
I heard that there are very qualified people in our community who'd have loved to have served in a short-term capacity on Council, but who decided against it after the nastiness started. It seems a shame that level-headed people with budget and real-world business experience would be so turned off by these antics.
ReplyDeleteAs for the last post, I'd like to point out to that author that many of our "representatives" have been less than forthcoming and truthful, which in turn feeds the fire of this vicious political circle. When political representatives feel that they need to lie in order for an agenda to be successfully accomplished - or when they feel like the best way to "beat" their competitors is to bash them personally - via blogs, telephone calls to constituents, open letters, etc. (all of which have occurred in recent times in our community) - it speaks volumes about their integrity. Frankly, the constituents aren't always being represented!
I guess it's pretty simple. Start thinking now about what kind of person you want to be represented by, and encourage them to run for City Council or School Board. The only way to change the tide is to change our representation.
You should be proud of the fact that the 2% consider the idea that Bob would be your political ally a bad thing. It means that you don't kowtow to their small-minded and short-sighted opinions.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? It wouldn't matter if the Lord himself (or herself) would descend from the heavens and clone into 6 council members and 7 school board members, this same little group of paranoid people wouldn't be happy. Besides, this isn't unique to Monona. Just talk to any elected official from a smaller community. This group has affiliates everywhere. Most of them probably believe the moon landing was a hoax and that the government is keeping aliens from outerspace in New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteAs for friendships being harmed, at the risk of being trite, these weren't real friendships. Real friends don't ditch you over something as trivial as an appointment to the Monona city council. Real friendships transcend such silliness. Anyone who thinks this issue is a big deal needs to get some perspective on the human condition. Spend a few weeks in a place like Darfu and then tell me the issue of this appointment is worth a friendship.
Those were the days, when politics included friendly debate of opposing opinions, all for the common good of the people, and the community.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand what goal the nasty's hope to achieve.
Well, keep up the good work. You won the last election by a good margin.
I don't think we are nuts-just normal by todays standards.
ReplyDeleteI have a problem with local, state or national politicans-who state one thing in public and then do quite another in private or who are not open.
"I have a problem with local, state or national politicans-who state one thing in public and then do quite another in private or who are not open."
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's the time change, but that comment is a bit too crptic for me to decipher. Care to expand on it?