City is best served with an elected mayor
Much has been written, said and published about why we the people of the city of Oshkosh should or should not elect our mayor. But no matter what kind of propoganda has been put out there in recent weeks and months, this is really very simple. In fact, it's a no-brainer.
So, why is it so important that the citizens in Oshkosh elect their mayor? Let's examine the reasons...
We should have an elected mayor, because:
• First and foremost, it’s the democratic thing to do. As citizens, we elect our president; our senators and congressmen; our state representatives; and our local officials – of which, our mayor is one. Some have argued that the city council members best know who among them should serve as mayor because they work with each other. If we use that logic, then only the state senate and legislature should elect our governor; and only the House of Representatives and Congress should elect our President. That’s not democracy. Nor is it democracy to continue allowing only our city council members to elect our mayor. The people in this community are smart enough to decide who should serve in the position of mayor, just as we do for all other elected offices.
• Second, we should elect our mayor instead of allowing the city council to choose that person for us because it’s time we take back the reins of control. The majority of our city council has become drunk with power and doesn’t care what the citizens think. That's very apparent by practically every major vote they take on matters of spending. An elected mayor is a significant step toward righting that wrong. Will it immediately solve the problems our city faces or will it immediately turn our city council members into public servants who are completely responsible and responsive leaders? No, it will not. But it is a first step toward getting us there. We all had to learn to crawl before we could walk. That's part of growth and development. We keep hearing from the opponents to this referendum that this city needs to be progressive. Well, the most progressive communities in our state -and the nation, for that matter - elect their mayor, albeit they are electing mayors who have some real power with their title. Nonetheless, growth must begin somewhere and it is time we begin our own growth process. A mayor of any kind - one elected by the people who pay the bills in this city - is the first step toward that.
• Third, opponents of this referendum have also argued that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The correct word should actually be “broken,” but broken from whose perspective? Frankly, with things going in the direction they have been, not only are we headed toward being “broke,” but when the majority of citizens tell city councilors they disapprove of the job they’re doing; others call for their individual resignations; and many citizens refuse to get involved in the process overall because they are so disheartened, it is sending a deafening message that something, most assuredly, is “broken.”
Contrary to what has been said and published, having an elected mayor DOES NOT add another position to our layer of local government. Nor does it add more cost to the budget. We already have a part-time, salaried mayor in the city of Oshkosh. The only difference here is that by voting YES on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the people will decide who serves as mayor, not the city council by themselves. They make enough decisions for us. Shouldn't this be one that WE get to make?
There can be no doubt, this city would best be served by a mayor with some strength and veto power. That’s what citizens have overwhelmingly said they want. And even though this elected mayor would not have that power, this is a wonderful first step toward getting us where we need to be – on track to having a responsible, responsive and accountable government - one that truly does answer to WE, THE PEOPLE!
The Oshkosh Common Council has been sending us a message with every vote they make that takes more of your hard-earned dollars out of your checkbook. And with the proposed operating budget and Capital Improvements budget having just been released, I can tell you there appears to be no end in sight to the frivolous spending some of these council members want to do. So when you go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2, join with me and other concerned citizens in sending our own message and voting YES for an elected mayor in the city of Oshkosh. It's a step forward that we can't afford not to take.
Cheryl Hentz
So, why is it so important that the citizens in Oshkosh elect their mayor? Let's examine the reasons...
We should have an elected mayor, because:
• First and foremost, it’s the democratic thing to do. As citizens, we elect our president; our senators and congressmen; our state representatives; and our local officials – of which, our mayor is one. Some have argued that the city council members best know who among them should serve as mayor because they work with each other. If we use that logic, then only the state senate and legislature should elect our governor; and only the House of Representatives and Congress should elect our President. That’s not democracy. Nor is it democracy to continue allowing only our city council members to elect our mayor. The people in this community are smart enough to decide who should serve in the position of mayor, just as we do for all other elected offices.
• Second, we should elect our mayor instead of allowing the city council to choose that person for us because it’s time we take back the reins of control. The majority of our city council has become drunk with power and doesn’t care what the citizens think. That's very apparent by practically every major vote they take on matters of spending. An elected mayor is a significant step toward righting that wrong. Will it immediately solve the problems our city faces or will it immediately turn our city council members into public servants who are completely responsible and responsive leaders? No, it will not. But it is a first step toward getting us there. We all had to learn to crawl before we could walk. That's part of growth and development. We keep hearing from the opponents to this referendum that this city needs to be progressive. Well, the most progressive communities in our state -and the nation, for that matter - elect their mayor, albeit they are electing mayors who have some real power with their title. Nonetheless, growth must begin somewhere and it is time we begin our own growth process. A mayor of any kind - one elected by the people who pay the bills in this city - is the first step toward that.
• Third, opponents of this referendum have also argued that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The correct word should actually be “broken,” but broken from whose perspective? Frankly, with things going in the direction they have been, not only are we headed toward being “broke,” but when the majority of citizens tell city councilors they disapprove of the job they’re doing; others call for their individual resignations; and many citizens refuse to get involved in the process overall because they are so disheartened, it is sending a deafening message that something, most assuredly, is “broken.”
Contrary to what has been said and published, having an elected mayor DOES NOT add another position to our layer of local government. Nor does it add more cost to the budget. We already have a part-time, salaried mayor in the city of Oshkosh. The only difference here is that by voting YES on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the people will decide who serves as mayor, not the city council by themselves. They make enough decisions for us. Shouldn't this be one that WE get to make?
There can be no doubt, this city would best be served by a mayor with some strength and veto power. That’s what citizens have overwhelmingly said they want. And even though this elected mayor would not have that power, this is a wonderful first step toward getting us where we need to be – on track to having a responsible, responsive and accountable government - one that truly does answer to WE, THE PEOPLE!
The Oshkosh Common Council has been sending us a message with every vote they make that takes more of your hard-earned dollars out of your checkbook. And with the proposed operating budget and Capital Improvements budget having just been released, I can tell you there appears to be no end in sight to the frivolous spending some of these council members want to do. So when you go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2, join with me and other concerned citizens in sending our own message and voting YES for an elected mayor in the city of Oshkosh. It's a step forward that we can't afford not to take.
Cheryl Hentz
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 4:34 PM
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