by Jack Lee
Rather than to quickly and simply appoint Bob Evans, the next runner up in our last city council election, they’re dragging their feet. Our council has voted to seek “applicants” to fill the vacant position and they have one month to see who turns up. This is a departure from our local past practice and what is typically done by other cities.
Oddly, no one, not even the current council members disputes that Mr. Evans is imminently qualified to be appointed. He has an excellent resume in business and education; arguably it may even be the best among his peers. He’s also a distinguished veteran, unlike those who now resist appointing him.
Mr. Evans is an exemplary candidate and he is already familiar with city issues. He was also one our few citizens that cared enough to go through the pains of running for election. He barely missed being elected by 176 votes.
So what’s the problem, why not appoint the man?
Why is this open council seat being put out for applications? It makes no sense at all . . . unless there is a hiden agenda, that being, for purely partisan political reasons. Our city council is made up of liberals, with one exception (newly elected Mark Sorensen). Bob Evans is also a conservative. It appears this is all about our liberals keeping the city council to themselves and shutting the door on any potential opposition. The thought of them having to endure one conservative voice on the council is bad enough, but two…why its unthinkable!
One thing I didn’t say is that anyone who ran for city council should be offended by council’s decision to seek applicants, as if the current field of candidates was not good enough. Quentin, you should never want to hang your hat on the same liberal rack as these people ever again.
Brother! This is what I keep telling you!
These guys are NOT liberals!!!!!!!! (just as you’re not a conservative!)
I wish there was a word that had not had the definition co-opted by both the MSM AND the haters!
They ain’t gonna appoint me (they are totally afraid of me), and I wouldn’t accept it if they did.
An appointment flies in the face of democracy.
I would NOT compromise my principles to accept.
MAYBE, if it was for less than a year, MAYBE we could consider it to save some cash.
Now, I was surprised that Sue Hubbard raced down to the podium to exclaim her distaste for the American Way. I was surprised again when Stephanie Taber said that “Quentin is wrong!”
I know the baggerz have some strange ideas about America, but I was surprised to see them oppose democracy so vehemently!
Heck, even Bob Evans said an election was the only way to go!
It is as a said the other night: Coming in fourth in a three-way race does not make you the winner, and there is no reason for Bob to be appointed–which is NOT to say he should not be elected.
I believe he would win in an election.
Jack: “So what’s the problem, why not appoint the man?”
Maybe they haven’t received enough angry phone calls from the public?
“but two…why its unthinkable”
It’s also gridlock.
Quentin maybe others would listen to what you have to say if you bothered to distinguish yourself by explaining your own “superior” positions…constant derision of others certainly doesn’t do anything to make clear what you think.
Well its about time the 5 remaining Council members of Liberal persuasion, (VERY heavy persuasion) put their money where their mouths are. If they are so afraid of Bob Evens and Mark Sorenson bringing forth better ideas that will help Chico but hurt their own re-election chances, I suggest they pay for the cost of a special election out of their own pockets, not ours.I would possibly think the results would remain the same and it will bring in fresh thinking such as Evans will offer, but save Chico tax payers I read $32,000,(I would have guessed more)
This Council of 5 are so sustainability transparent in their political moves, and just to retain their seats. However if I was as incompetent as they continuously appear to be , I would be concerned how long I could fool everyone all the time as well. This is pure politics as everyone is more than aware of, (they must really think we voters are stupid) and this move is only designed to benefit the current remaining 5 seated liberal council members. And in no way, not now, nor ever the citizens of Chico
Quentin I appreciate your endorsement for the democratic election process, but in practice isn’t this exactly what has happened? Consider, we knew there was soon to be be four seats open (if Larry Wahl was elected) and we directly elected the first three and then Larry’s seat was vacated after his election as to supervisor. So, the 4th place person should get it. Simple. You can call it an appointment because of this technicality, but the people have had their say and he was elected as the 4th place man to the 4th seat. To hold another special election is to squander the taxpayers money for no good purpose, there’s a 99% chance Bob Evans would simply be re-elected. Elections are very expensive and they consue a lot of time and resources – it makes no sense to re-elect Bob Evans due only to a technicality, ie. Larry Wahl didn’t vacate his seat until after the general election to supervisor. We had an election – people cast their votes for Bob, enough already! Let Bob in there and lets get on with the business of the people! And yes Quentin I do believe this city council has unfortunately black balled you, otherwise I would suggest you try for a seat on one the commissions where you could still do your civic duty. I did that for four years and it was a very good experience.
Looks like justification for having the local election of city council and county supervisors being held and seated at the same time. We knew this was going to happen and, hopefully, enough pressure will be brought forth to correct this.
Also, the rewriting of charters/by-laws seems to be in order to have consistency in the process.
Excellent points, Jack.
And I almost agree.
But how many people thought the opposite? How many didn’t vote for Evans with the certainty the liberal council wouldn’t appoint him either?
I tried to get them to find Larry’s seat vacant to accomplish just that, as you know.
Unfortunately, there is just no way to know the mind of a voter–and boy, don’t I know!!!!!!
Seriously, we don’t even know how many people voted, we only know the number of votes cast. I know two people who only cast one vote on the whole damned ballot (ahem) for me. One guy hadn’t voted in thirty years, and the other was a first-time voter. But, I digress. I’ll go with Mark Sorensen’s estimate of 26K voters–that gives me the nice round number of one-in-ten. Not too shabby!
‘Tis good, in a way, to be blackballed. I believe Chico–along with many other cities–is going to go belly up in the next four years unless there are BIG changes in the law. I’m not too sure I want to be around for that!
Speaking of appointments, you guys should have held firm on an election instead of saying you were OK with an appointment. Had you done so–and you still have that chance–the council would know you believe in democracy also. Had you stood up and clapped for an election, things would have been different. You were outmaneuvered, Jack. They got you to abandon your principles! Now, you can only complain when they appoint Mr. Kelley. You cannot complain about the method!
Hey! Y’know, when they do, there will be an opening on the Planning Commission . . . .
My application is still on file!
If I may bring up a Point of Order.
Mark was out of order with his motion.
Once the mayor allowed his motion, however, he was in order. Once a motion is seconded, any discussion is supposed to center on the motion.
I wasn’t going to say anything because I wanted to say my piece, but the motion should have been tabled before I spoke.
It would have been nice if Dr. Sharma had gotten elected. Meetings would be over in an hour.
Quentin, are you saying that Mark should have first made a request to the Mayor to propose a motion, and then having been acknowleged then he should have made the motion?
The City has a video on Roberts Rules of Order that is available to anyone who wishes to check it out. I had it at home for about a month and it was very helpful how to run a meeting correctly.
Not necessarily. He was given the floor, after all.