Let's understand what we're really voting for
I am sick and tired of these people who write letters to the editor or speak in public about the mayoral referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot as if they actually know what they are speaking about.
One of the most recent is Mrs. Vida Allen of Oshkosh.
Mrs. Allen wrote a letter to the editor recently in which she made comments about how we shouldn't have to pay a salary to a part-time mayor. What Mrs. Allen apparently doesn't get is that we are already doing just that. The mayoral figurehead in the City of Oshkosh gets paid slightly more than the other six city council members do. I believe the current salary is $3,000 per annum. To suggest that by voting "YES" to an elected mayor on Nov. 2 we will somehow be creating an extra position or costing the city more money is wrong on both counts and says to us that either the people spreading this misinformation either don't have the full understanding of city government that they think they do OR they intentionally want to spin the issue their way in order to confuse the electorate. But let's get the facts straight right here and now, once and for all, BEFORE the election. That way people can head to the polls armed with the facts rather than a bunch of BS and gobbledygook.
To vote YES to the people electing a mayor is only to allow the people to elect our mayor rather than the position being deciding on by the city council members. That is it! Period, end of story! There will be no extra position created and we will still have a total of 7 people on our city council. There will be no extra money spent on council/mayoral salaries, but rather we will continue to spend exactly what we're spending now. Again, I repeat for those who don't understand or who have thus far refused to hear: The only thing this referendum does is allow the people to decide who we want as our mayor instead of the council deciding.
And just so you can see exactly how the referendum question is worded - because it is written in a way that could be misunderstood - here is the text of the question as it appears on the ballot. It is also the subject of a poll on this web site...
"Shall the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code be amended to provide for a part-time, salaried Mayor, nominated and elected from the city at large for a two-year term?"
The City Council in this community has taken enough of our power and rights away from us. Let's NOT let them take this one away, too. Do yourself and all other taxpayers in Oshkosh a favor and vote "YES" to the mayoral referendum question on Tuesday, Nov. 2. It'll be a step in the right direction. Thank you!
One of the most recent is Mrs. Vida Allen of Oshkosh.
Mrs. Allen wrote a letter to the editor recently in which she made comments about how we shouldn't have to pay a salary to a part-time mayor. What Mrs. Allen apparently doesn't get is that we are already doing just that. The mayoral figurehead in the City of Oshkosh gets paid slightly more than the other six city council members do. I believe the current salary is $3,000 per annum. To suggest that by voting "YES" to an elected mayor on Nov. 2 we will somehow be creating an extra position or costing the city more money is wrong on both counts and says to us that either the people spreading this misinformation either don't have the full understanding of city government that they think they do OR they intentionally want to spin the issue their way in order to confuse the electorate. But let's get the facts straight right here and now, once and for all, BEFORE the election. That way people can head to the polls armed with the facts rather than a bunch of BS and gobbledygook.
To vote YES to the people electing a mayor is only to allow the people to elect our mayor rather than the position being deciding on by the city council members. That is it! Period, end of story! There will be no extra position created and we will still have a total of 7 people on our city council. There will be no extra money spent on council/mayoral salaries, but rather we will continue to spend exactly what we're spending now. Again, I repeat for those who don't understand or who have thus far refused to hear: The only thing this referendum does is allow the people to decide who we want as our mayor instead of the council deciding.
And just so you can see exactly how the referendum question is worded - because it is written in a way that could be misunderstood - here is the text of the question as it appears on the ballot. It is also the subject of a poll on this web site...
"Shall the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code be amended to provide for a part-time, salaried Mayor, nominated and elected from the city at large for a two-year term?"
The City Council in this community has taken enough of our power and rights away from us. Let's NOT let them take this one away, too. Do yourself and all other taxpayers in Oshkosh a favor and vote "YES" to the mayoral referendum question on Tuesday, Nov. 2. It'll be a step in the right direction. Thank you!
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 7:43 AM
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