McNaboe & Thelma Teach Us Something.

Gramps:

I thought I'd share a different view on the Appoint or Elect to fill an empty seat question.

This week in Grand Terrace Politics we can see that there already needs to be a change. Council Member Darcy Mc Naboe's position that there should be an election to fill the seat vacated by an election proves to be a avoidance of one of the current responsibilities of a council member.

Given the past precedent of prior appointments and those appointments being acceptable practice and that the voters just recently voted and expressed support for candidate she happens not to like she is willing to saddle the community with a 30,000.00 to 50.000.00 expense to avoid the challenge of working with some one who ran against her in an election, some one she may or may not personally like.

McNaboe and Garcia are clearly leaning on the side of the fence that would be characterized as being a personal decision not a representation of what the community of voters wants. Time will tell how they resolve this conundrum. Do they do what the people want or do they do what they want? This decision will tell the voters a lot about how the next few years will be.

For sure there is something to be learned here.

The rules of the election process may need to change. If a council member is going to run for Mayor that council member must resign effective of the election or in time for the seat to be vacated is also on the ballot so there is no empty seat caused by an election. Or an alternative may be like the Recall Election for Governor had a Yes or No for Recall, and IF the Recall Passes who would you vote for. So if a Council Member runs for Mayor it could be, IF the Council Member is elected this person is to replace him kind of a vote. Not a guaranteed opening and filler but the people would have a voice and there would be an election and not an large additional cost to fill the seat.

Perhaps Grand Terrace has a pool of people that can't be trusted to make an appointment in this case or in the future and that option should be eliminated for all future situations where their is a need to fill a seat.

Until there is a change lets hope the city council members will use wisdom in their decision making and that may include appointing some one the public support. If one was being political, just think of the next election that says Vote for 3. Well if you appointed a person that the majority of the public supports your likely to pick up a few votes of gratitude. On the other hand if you don't you may find yourself on the lower end of the vote count, without an empty seat to fill.

We have a Republic form of Government and when our elected officials don't represent us or refuse to do their duty in an effective way they eventually are replaced, at the next normal election cycle.