Dear Editor, We are fortunate to have two good candidates for
mayor in Morgan Hill, both proven council veterans. I am supporting
Greg Sellers although I think Dennis Kennedy has done a terrific
job, and I consider Dennis to be a close friend.
Dear Editor,
We are fortunate to have two good candidates for mayor in Morgan Hill, both proven council veterans. I am supporting Greg Sellers although I think Dennis Kennedy has done a terrific job, and I consider Dennis to be a close friend.
Greg has put together a solid platform of what he wants to accomplish for Morgan Hill. His material and his public speaking articulate what he stands for very well, and I endorse that platform. I have other concerns with Dennis’ candidacy that also lead to my choice of Greg. These include:
Future office: I think Dennis will run for another office (e.g. County Board of Supervisors), in 2006 as he has before. He needs the “Mayor of Morgan Hill” title to be successful.
Full-time mayor: Dennis claims he is able to spend full time as mayor, yet he spent hardly any time as mayor when he was running for other offices.
Thoughtful and deliberate style: Dennis’ style can be frustratingly slow and plodding, an inhibitor to reaching our goals efficiently.
Credibility with neighbors: Issues like Coyote Valley require a mayor that has credibility regionally. Dennis has run unsuccessfully for regional seats, losing credibility.
Public input: Dennis says he listens to the public. I find that he frequently sides with those he talked to most recently or who talk the loudest. Is this best for Morgan Hill?
Last time: Several people say they are supporting Dennis “one last time” and will not support him again. Why support him now if you can’t support him in the future?
Unfinished agenda: Dennis wants to be mayor to get some projects completed, but that is a never-ending cycle, there will always be unfinished projects, more to do.
New vision: Dennis wants to create a new vision for Morgan Hill, but we have a vision and goals already that need to be fully realized. Let’s get on with it, not restart.
Direction: Under Dennis’ leadership, it is seldom clear what course we are on to achieve our vision; we need more clarity of our direction from our mayor.
Efficiency: As mayor, Dennis runs Council meetings and sets agendas. We can be much more efficient with stricter meeting processes as well as more balanced and better sequenced agendas. He also over-commits staff in these lean times by referring almost every question or issue to them.
No term limits: Morgan Hill depends on the voters to know when “new blood” is needed. It is time for a change for mayor of Morgan Hill, Dennis has been there more than nine years.
Steve Tate, Morgan Hill
