tony jeter dot com

Is the community intelligent enough to make a decision via the ballot box concerning the Charter’s conflict of interest provisions?  Apparently there are some on the Council that don’t think so. At issue is the practice of elected officials significantly benefiting from construction projects paid for with taxpayer dollars.  I believe that it is wrong for elected officials to be involved in the formulation, discussion and approval of construction projects that they know full well they will bid on in the future.  By bidding I mean whether as a contractor, subcontractor or supplier. I also believe that the awarding of construction contracts to elected officials is in and of itself fraught with peril.  Do you think City employees look forward having to supervise a boss? It is common knowledge what can happen to a City employee when they get crossways with a Councilperson.  History is replete with tales of employees run off by Councilmen (and women).  Is it really right or fair to put City employees in this position? Finally, I also believe that it just doesn’t look right to the public.  In this day and age we need to be doing everything within our power to build the trust of the voters not to diminish it.

I have requested, on more than one occasion, that we place a Charter amendment on the ballot for the voters to approve or disapprove. My proposed amendment would prohibit the elected officials from benefiting from construction contracts that are paid for with taxpayer dollars.  I was informed by others on the Council that this was not an option because the “voters will approve anything when it comes to Charter amendments”.   Furthermore, I was told the Charter was not broke so there was no need of having an election in the first place.  I must admit I have a lot more confidence in democratic process than some.  What about you?

I like being independent. I think it makes for a better public servant. I don’t have a boss that tells me how to vote. My wife doesn’t have a boss that tells her to tell me how to vote. I don’t have to worry about negatively impacting my employer with my votes. I don’t have to worry about losing customers due to my actions or inactions. It’s hard to be squeezed when you don’t owe anybody. Yes sir, I think independence is a good thing.  What do you think?

The elections are over. It’s time to take the signs down. Apparently there are some that think leaving signs up for their losing candidates can somehow alter reality as we now know it. C’mon folks swallow the frog and pitch those signs.