Dear Editor,
Here we go again, lining up at the poles to vote on those who will govern our city for the next two or four years depending on the position. My concern is not for whom we vote, but rather how we go about choosing that individual. It seems to me that most often in city elections, the person with the most recognizable name is the one who gets elected, and usually that person is the incumbent or whoever buys the most signs. In this election I think we’d be better off starting with this question; do I believe that the current group has done a good job in managing the city, the finances and our future? If you answer this question with a yes, then you should re-elect the incumbents. If, on the other hand, you find brown parks, understaffed police and the squandering of millions of tax dollars incomprehensible, then you should elect someone new. It seems to me that just yesterday, we were all asked to attend “city conversations” in which we were given the choice of increased taxes vs. reduced services. As I read the campaign propaganda, besides the normal “double talk” we’re being asked to reward candidates in this election for the good job they’ve done. Please do not forget the budget deficits, the lawsuits, the hot chocolate scandal, big dollar settlements, the confusion over eminent domain, the RDA, and the downtown. Give the current group credit for all the positives they’ve been part of, but they should also be held accountable for the problems I’ve mentioned above.
As for me, I think that we should view these positions as managerial positions. Those elected are responsible to manage the city, manage millions in city revenues, and literally manage the future of our community. Therefore we should choose the best managers, those who have demonstrated high levels of responsibility and success. I cannot help but hear the words of former presidential candidate Ross Perot, ” Just because you’ve run the corner drugstore, don’t mean you can run Wal-Mart.”
So for me, show me someone whose personal life and finances are in order, show me someone who’s demonstrated financial competency at a very high level, show me someone who has a passion for their city, and they’ll get my vote.
Lee Schmidt, Morgan Hill
