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October 17, 2006
Chattanoogans, Help Me with a Referendum
As you'll see in tomorrow's Pulse, I couldn't make a recommendation on the proposed ordinance about replacement board appointments. Oh, and by the way: Chattanoogans, you'll have three ordinances to vote in or out (would've been four if the recycling petition had succeeded), so don't say I didn't try to avoid you going into the voting booth unprepared.
What say you? If a member of a city board ceases for any reason to belong to that board, should the member be replaced by the remaining members, with mayoral and city council approval (current practice), or by mayor appointment with city council approval? As I type this, I seem to be leaning for changing this process as propsed (equals a Yes vote). Just because you've been tapped to be a board member, you don't possess an inherent responsibility to name additional members to that same board. That smacks of cronyism -- but so does a strong mayor handing out political favors. However, the mayor and council, by being elected, theoretically bear a more direct responsibility to the public than do the additional board members.
Sometimes it's just hard to tell what to do. I put most people to sleep if I bring this kind of thing up in conversation, so it's good to have you out there mulling it over with me. Would/will you vote for this change? Why or why not?
Elections | By joe lance | 10:17 PM