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February 27, 2006
Appointments Should Not Usurp Electoral Power
Our good local government reporters at the daily paper, Ian Berry and Herman Wang, wrote several articles for its Sunday edition that deal with how recent vacancies will be filled.
The primary article contrasts the City Council's decision to avoid appointing a candidate this close to an election with the County Commission's stated intent of considering candidates first. The issue is reported fairly neutrally, which is the right thing to do there; but over here on this blog, I have the opportunity to come out against the County Commission's method. I'm taking that opportunity. I agree with Councilmember Sally Robinson, who says that if the City Council had appointed one of the four candidates seeking to fill Yusuf Hakeem's shoes, it "would have given the incumbent candidate an unfair advantage in the election." I applaud the Council for its wise decision.
I do not think that either Brian Caldwell or Warren Mackey should be appointed at this time to William Cotton's former seat. I think the voters in District 4 need to decide between these able men on August 3, but not with one of them having the incumbent edge. That just doesn't seem fair to either of them.
I understand Floyd Kilpatrick's concerns: appointments made without sufficient public input can effectively disenfranchise the people. The comedy of errors that was the replacement process for former School Board member Charles Love was of course referenced in this story. Commissioner Curtis Adams reminded us that it "took seven votes" to install Jeffrey Wilson; but Adams either declined or missed an opportunity to remind us that it was William Cotton, the subject of the current replacement activity, who was the culprit behind the repeat failures to conclude the School Board matter.
In fact, this whole thing is William Cotton's fault, now that I think about it. If he hadn't [allegedly, I know] cheated in the 2002 primary, Warren Mackey would already be Commissioner. Replacing Charles Love wouldn't have been so difficult, and we wouldn't have needed to replace a District 4 Commissioner.
Ah, but that's all wishful thinking. The fact remains that an appointment should be made. I hope those who agree with me will join me in asking their County Commissioners to reconsider appointing a "caretaker" who is not a qualified candidate, and thus letting the people have an unbiased choice in the August election.
Elections | By joe lance | 02:57 PM