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October 09, 2007
The votes are in; I'm not.
Last week I asked readers to vote in an online poll that asked what I should do about the open District 6 council seat.
Twenty votes were cast (suggesting that "turnout" was typically light, given the estimated number eligible), and here are the results:
Submit an application for appointment as caretaker in the seat until the Feb 5 special election 55% (11 votes)
Do not run for the seat, but keep readers informed 20% (4 votes)
Run in the March, 2009 citywide election 15% (3 votes)
Run in the Feb 5, 2008 special election 10% (2 votes)
Stay out of the race altogether; don't even write about it 0% (0 votes)
The majority spoke, but I did not apply for the caretaker position. (Read about the nine who did here.) A significant contributor to my decision is a lack of time/logistics: the wife is in night school, including on Tuesday evenings, and unless the other council members wouldn't mind me toting along the boy to each session (uh, I'm sure there are rules about that), it just isn't possible to attend -- let alone the neighborhood meetings and other venues at which my presence would be expected.
Another determining factor was the advice that has come from those who have chosen to speak, publicly or privately, which largely cautioned against becoming a politician. I have lately started sensing that I can add value in my current role as a "non-objective citizen journalist," and I hope to expand on my ability to contribute meaningfully in that regard. It could be that serving as a representative in government would detract (or distract) from my media-related goals.
Then again, 80% of the votes cast were in favor of some variation of my seeking a seat on the council, so there's that. (Truth serum time: only one of them was cast by me.)
Thanks to all who participated, in whatever way. Now let's see who gets the temporary appointment, and then focus just as keenly on the upcoming elections.
Chattanooga City Elections | By joe lance | 01:31 PM