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Post by casualreader on Oct 11, 2007 11:36:17 GMT -5
People Dudes and Dudettes:
It is obvious that Mayor Mike is mayor for life and he plans to serve out his term.
But, let us take a moment to speculate. In 30 years, when God calls Mayor Mike home to glory or he finally cannot climb the stairs of Borough Hall --- Who will replace him?
I have always had the theory that Councilman Levine dude really wants to be mayor BAD. He would strike the mayor down politically if he could and he is waiting for his chance. This might be the subject of a future short story which I will share with all of you.
But, can anyone see a likely successor in the wings? I do not know the town powers well enough to speculate?
Are any of the Council People likely to succeed the mayor? Who has the best shot besides Councilman Levine dude?
Could our very own Kelso be a consideration if he moves back to town?
How about Juan Reyes if he moves to the borough?
Casually Nostradamus
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Oct 11, 2007 11:57:14 GMT -5
This topic made me think of something that I have always tried to push for, on every level of government...Term Limits.
Why is it that there are term limits for the President, but not Congress or the Supreme Court (only one branch of government, not the other two)
In a state, there are term limits for Governor, but not the Legislative branch or Judicial branch there either...why not?
And as we can see, on a local level, there are certainly no term limits anywhere...which is just ridiculous.
Of course, the flip side is easy enough to understand. How embarrassing would it be if we imposed term limits here in town, and then the inevitable happens...we have an election where no one runs for office?? The lack of interest in this town, the apathy that we show year after year, would eventually catch up to us and expose us for the laxed community that we are.
How embarrassing indeed!! Don't think it will happen?? I beg to differ...just with my short time on the BOE and having heard from my father and others who have been on the board longer, there have been several occassions where members of the BOE have to actively seek out people to run for open spots...and how often do we see an actual race in this town?? Heck, we could only muster one person to run against 2 Council and one Mayor spot.
While I always hope that term limits will find their way into all branches of our government, I see that it will leave us with a huge embarassment in the very near future.
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Post by Libyan Sibyl on Oct 11, 2007 13:38:16 GMT -5
Or, perhaps, more people would come forward to lead if they didn't feel as if there was a power structure in place. Or perhaps people are satisfied or too busy in their regular lives.
I would like to think that people would come forward if there were term limits, and certainly, assuming a "machine" is in place, that machine would be grooming new people to step up.
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Post by andrewd on Oct 11, 2007 15:03:19 GMT -5
Libyan...I hope you did not misunderstand me...I would also certainly hope that people would step up if the opportunity were there...I am just looking at the history of this town and I am not optimistic.
Even when you look beyond this town...as a country in general, we just do not show up to vote. We've been fortunate in the last few years in that the voter turnout rates have been in the 60% range...but still...that's not a very re-assuring number. I know, there are a whole host of reasons why people don't vote, and I don't want to get off on that topic here, but the reality is that voting is the basic foundation to a democratic society "of the people, by the people, and for the people"...and "the people" don't always seem to care that much. And don't get me started on the voter turnout rates in this town...
But I do hope...I hope that someday soon, term limits will become a reality, and I hope that people will step up to continue to fill the leadership roles at every level of government.
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Post by richardkelsey on Oct 11, 2007 16:15:34 GMT -5
Libyan...I hope you did not misunderstand me...I would also certainly hope that people would step up if the opportunity were there...I am just looking at the history of this town and I am not optimistic. Even when you look beyond this town...as a country in general, we just do not show up to vote. We've been fortunate in the last few years in that the voter turnout rates have been in the 60% range...but still...that's not a very re-assuring number. I know, there are a whole host of reasons why people don't vote, and I don't want to get off on that topic here, but the reality is that voting is the basic foundation to a democratic society "of the people, by the people, and for the people"...and "the people" don't always seem to care that much. And don't get me started on the voter turnout rates in this town... But I do hope...I hope that someday soon, term limits will become a reality, and I hope that people will step up to continue to fill the leadership roles at every level of government. You will get less than 30% turnout -- of registered voters -- in this election in Town. (that is really bad, when one considers how many voting eligible un-registered voters there are out there.) Again -- everyone gets the government they deserve -- whether through action or inaction. |
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Oct 11, 2007 16:51:52 GMT -5
You will get less than 30% turnout -- of registered voters -- in this election in Town. (that is really bad, when one considers how many voting eligible un-registered voters there are out there.) Again -- everyone gets the government they deserve -- whether through action or inaction. This is a quote my father has used, and I have noticed that you like using it as well (a few different posts on this site). The more I think about it, the more I have to disagree with it. I would prefer to say that the people who don't get off their butts to vote and try to make a difference, they get the government they deserve. Those of us who do vote, who do go out there and try to make a difference, who try to motivate others to get out and do their civic duty, we don't deserve the government we get, we're stuck with the government that comes about as a result of the lack of action from others. |
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Post by novillero on Oct 11, 2007 23:15:36 GMT -5
"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard." H.L. Mencken.
Thomas Jefferson, however, said that "people get the government they deserve."
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Post by casualreader on Oct 12, 2007 8:59:40 GMT -5
Will no one answer my question as to who is Kane? What are his family connections?
Is he a likely mayoral successor?
How about you Kelso dude? You know everything about everything?
Don't you agree Councilman Levine dude desperately wants to be mayor?
How about Fibber/Miller could he eventually be mayor? Why didn't he run for mayor instead of Council?
What does the Socrates from the Virginia Foothills think?
Casual Needs to Know
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Post by richardkelsey on Oct 12, 2007 9:22:55 GMT -5
Will no one answer my question as to who is Kane? What are his family connections? Is he a likely mayoral successor? How about you Kelso dude? You know everything about everything? Don't you agree Councilman Levine dude desperately wants to be mayor? How about Fibber/Miller could he eventually be mayor? Why didn't he run for mayor instead of Council? What does the Socrates from the Virginia Foothills think? Casual Needs to Know The Kanes are a long time Freehold family. I grew up with and quite liked those of them I knew well enough. His dad was a former Mayor I believe. What Mr. Kane's plans are for future service I know not. I don't know Marc's political goals and aspirations -- I am sure he will answer those questions if you put it to him at the appropriate council meeting. Marc has been a hard working servant for the town -- and of course he and I don't agree on many issues. I think he wants to do the right thing -- and as I have said, notwithstanding his most recent positions, he has demonstrated real political courage by being an active participant on this Board willing to answer to and inter-act with constituents. Right now -- he is caught between a rock and a hard place as I am sure he is getting enormous pressure in this political season to ignore the Board. Pressure brought by the people who appointed him and took him in. Whether it is loyalty to them that he feels compelled to demonstrate without being asked, or whether it has been suggested that he not participate -- the result is the same. It is the political season -- and some people fall easily into the game of politics. As for why there is no organized opposition and additional candidates -- I could right a book on that. It is not a result of uniform satisfaction with local government -- I think we can agree on that. |
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