COMMENTARY: DON'T DENY CITIZENS A TIMELY VOTE

Fairhope, Alabama


LET THE REFERENDUM PROCEED AS SCHEDULED

Its disappointing the city council has chosen to essentially intervene on behalf of the opposition and ask the courts to call off or delay the October 2nd government reform referendum, effectively pulling the rug from under the grass-roots group organizing it ... and the over 800 citizens who signed their petition (in only 2 weeks time). 

Elections are sacred, we know of no other instance where one has been called off after being duly scheduled (except for weather disasters) and hope the court will not set an unwise precedent by not allowing this one to go ahead too.

Many have fought and died protecting our right to vote where the people decide the issue one way or another in a democratic fashion as they see fit; any one of them may change their mind as new facts become available in the intervening two weeks.

Giving the opposition more time to organize, if that's the real end game as has been suggested, is a slap-in-the-face of proponents who have diligently followed the timeline prescribed by the Judge of Probate two months ago.

Afterward, private individuals may challenge the result in the usual manner ... or the city ask courts for direction as necessary: its not the place of city government to choose sides before the vote.

Citizens always have the option to petition for another election as well.

By promoting more chaos and division and rebuking those whose only agenda is better government,  the city council is only making Fresh Start's point that reform is sorely needed.

Those objecting to districts routinely vote in other elections that have long had them without objections, county commission and school board for instance.

In the face of rapid growth and development, it is extremely important Fairhope's government be the most effective and efficient as possible; a succession of election cycles have failed to bring that about.

EDITOR





Comments

Publisher said…
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Anonymous said…
Most of these councilmen do not have time for there jobs. that is why it is so bad. They aren't showing up for there commitee meetings either.
Anonymous said…
Why make a big brouhaha about it Fairhope? Just vote against it and move on.
Anonymous said…
Why is the one closely related to the ex employee lady who is running for mayor being allowed to talk about it at all?
Anonymous said…
They don't want to call it .

They say they just want to delay it awhile so people can understand.

What's wrong with that.
Anonymous said…
all we really need is a new mayor. she was never qualified for the job. people who voted for her oughta have their brains examined!
Anonymous said…
This entire fiasco is typical #thefairhopeway and these folks look like amateur hour.

If my tax dollars weren't involved by being spent on attorneys while valuable time and resources are being wasted it would be hysterical. Its not.

Anyone who would vote on something without being perfectly clear about exactly what it will do and the impact it will have is a fool.

And for those who are saying "its the new people who want to change things"? They need to do their research and find out who is behind this latest debacle and Fresh Start Fairhope. They ain't new. These are the people that brought you the airport.

You want more of that???


Anonymous said…
I worked for Fresh Start Fairhope and am sick of hearing people demean the Mayor. None of this has anything to do with her (and she supports the Council/Manager system). The issue appears to be that the current Council is fearful of losing power and being undermined by a smarter City Manager. Anyone who is not aware of what the vote is about is simply disinterested in Fairhope politics. We are a small town and I don't know a single person who is unaware of what is happening; however, there are many who never vote at all and never take a position because their lives are 'too busy to bother'. Those of us who worked hard for the Fresh Start because we know that our tax dollars will be better spent and more wisely managed should not have to 'mollycoddle' the lazy who will never get out and vote. The stab at Chuck Zunk for being on the airport commission is probably spiteful from someone who will never own his/her own airplane......get over it.
Anonymous said…
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Anonymous said…
Chuck has done a fine job! Districts are good like the mgr system. Voting yes. Worked in Mountain Brook.
Giorgi said…
Fairhope needs a fresh start. I have doubts about some council members' real interests.
Crusty said…
What is the hurry? Let us take the time to get it correct.
Anonymous said…
There is no doubt at all any delay helps the opposition and hurts the proponents, whether that is what is intended by the city council is another matter entirely.
Anonymous said…
Zunk the skunk strikes again!
Anonymous said…
This isn't Mountain Brook. Use the google and compare the two. Not even close.
Anonymous said…
Zunk may be a skunk but council is acting like a pack of mad dogs protecting their territory.
Anonymous said…
Life long Fairhope resident. Hmmm does that count
Anonymous said…
Who do you think will hire the City Manager? Council and Mayor
Anonymous said…
People always vote their self interests which is why I believe we do not need to switch to districts. People will campaign for what is good for their district and not necessarily what is good for the entire community. People will also vote that way. Just my opinion. Plus the petition people signed mentioned at large. Let the the hate begin in 3...2...1...
Anonymous said…
Those on the Council will regret this decision forever. They are always duplicitous but they have totally gone outside of what is reasonable. Good news is that they will never be re-elected to anything, but one would think that they would care about what residents think of them and their families moving forward. If Fresh Start Fairhope is not wanted, it will be voted down. Blocking the election moves them into pretty hostile territory. I hope that Connors and Robinson come out on the right side of this before the vote b/c they have children here.
Anonymous said…
I miss Mike Ford.
Anonymous said…
What the opponents to this really want is to bring back the former mayor or his "vice mayor" assistant at the to start getting their free handouts again. The local newspaper editor is supporting one and the radio station the other one.
Anonymous said…
We just need to elect adults who are up to the job.