Fairhope, Alabama
CALLED 'FRESH START FAIRHOPE'
In response to continuing conflict among city leaders, a group of citizens concerned about the quality of the city's government held its second organizational meeting last week at the library.
" ... for at least the last ten years the city has been beset with conflict among its elected officials that has not abated even though the people now serving in those positions are completely different than those from several years ago.
This may suggest a systematic problem with our form of governance that may only get worse as the city continues to grow."
According to its website, a slightly different form of government may be the answer (click).
They are advocating for a voter referendum to allow citizens to choose.
Another meeting is scheduled for June 21st.
CALLED 'FRESH START FAIRHOPE'
In response to continuing conflict among city leaders, a group of citizens concerned about the quality of the city's government held its second organizational meeting last week at the library.
" ... for at least the last ten years the city has been beset with conflict among its elected officials that has not abated even though the people now serving in those positions are completely different than those from several years ago.
This may suggest a systematic problem with our form of governance that may only get worse as the city continues to grow."
According to its website, a slightly different form of government may be the answer (click).
They are advocating for a voter referendum to allow citizens to choose.
Another meeting is scheduled for June 21st.
Comments
I didn't see what I hoped I was going to see which were younger, more diverse and positively energized people who want to be more engaged. I saw more of the same on repeat.
This change will not be a panacea for Fairhope's problems which the city being controlled by people who are not elected and apathy from the citizens who currently reside here.
This is what will happen by referendum if they get the signatures. They are planning to start that petition drive soon.
The problem with your line of thinking is that people here will not fully understand what they are voting for and will side with whoever they get their information from. For example, I want to know how much this person would be paid and if they will commit to finding candidates from outside of the state.
This is not a magic wand to solve the problems in Fairhope.
Out of area candidates can approach the job with a fresh perspective and more importantly do not have local connections that could sway their decision making process.
If Fairhope continues to put the same people with the same connections into positions of power then this entire exercise would be doomed for failure.
**raises hand**