RICHMOND — Incumbent Richmond City Commissioner Mike Brewer is breathing a sigh of relief today. He knows he is very fortunate to survive Tuesday’s election. Even though Commissioners Robert Blythe and Bill Strong haven’t openly admitted that same sentiment, they are very fortunate likewise. That’s what happens when citizens are given quality candidates to choose from that provide the opportunity for change.
It’s also what happens when experienced incumbents become complacent using a rubber stamp mentality on issues they feel aren’t important such as Camp Catalpa. This issue exposed their inherent weaknesses and created a movement for change. Rita Smart’s victory is just the beginning if the incumbents don’t get their act together.
It’s important to note that newcomer Smart leapfrogged over all of the incumbents in the primary and significantly increased her margin of victory in the general election top to bottom. It shows the trust and leadership citizens have in her to provide the leadership they have been seeking and that we will see from her as she takes office. Furthermore, Bryant and Thomas had the largest percentage increase in votes from the primary to the general election, further supporting a growing sentiment for change.
If these results don’t resonate with the Blythe, Brewer and Strong, they should because in two years they each may be on the outside looking in. That happened to four incumbents in Berea this election. If Blythe, Brewer and Strong continue to lead with emotions and not logic as they have in the past with their actions regarding countywide 911 dispatch system, they will further jeopardize their chances for future re-election.
With the economic outlook looking rather bleak, the Richmond City Commission will need to evaluate opportunities for efficiencies in the city budget to manage the challenges ahead to maintain and improve services, especially public safety.
Commissioner Blythe was disappointed with our editorial endorsement that didn’t include any of the current commission. I can only say that they each earned it with their past actions, but I hope they’re astute enough to learn from it. In our opinion, the challengers as a team brought a lot of positive and fresh innovative leadership to the table. That’s why we endorsed them. They gave us hope for change and effective leadership as a team which was missing from the incumbents. In many ways, our endorsement was about positive change similar to that of the presidential election.
The incumbents have the opportunity to redeem themselves if they just look at what we liked about all of the challengers. They also need to take a step back and review all the things that went wrong with the Camp Catalpa fiasco. That shouldn’t be difficult to do because they are the basics of creating an open and transparent government with fairness. That’s all citizens expect.
To help them, I’ve listed a few suggestions listed below that may keep them out of hot water, if they just practice them.
• Make sure meeting agendas are written so that they fully describe what business is being discussed; nothing should be left to chance.
• Make sure the agendas are accessible to all citizens and that may require posting them on the doors of City Hall.
• Abide by the open meeting policies with consistency and fairness.
• Provide the opportunity for citizen input after each meeting addressing any first readings of any order or ordinance.
• Conduct more public forums dealing with any projects involving public funds or public land with the private sector.
• Practice sensible fiscal responsibility within current limits of our infrastructure and current services.
It’s our job to make sure the city commission does these things and when they don’t, we will hold them accountable using all of the tools at our disposal. Our expectations are high, but not impossible to meet.
Commissioners Blythe, Brewer and Strong have received a wake-up call, but they have the opportunity to improve on their past miscues and provide the leadership needed and working as a team with newcomer Smart.
Whether any of our newly elected city commissioners will earn an endorsement in the next election is up to them and based on their ability to work together for the greater good of Richmond and Madison County.
Nick Lewis is publisher of the Richmond Register. He can be reached at nlewis@cnhi.com or 624-6682.
Opinion
Related Photos
Incumbents delivered a wake-up call
- Opinion
-
-
A tearful goodbye
Friday was my last day as editor of the Richmond Register.
With much consideration and many tears — as well as guidance from those who mentor me — I’ve decided to take on a new challenge, one that allows me a little more time to spend with my family. -
Coffee makers and a gaggle of little girls
Our Keurig coffee maker has died and I am grieving big time.
Loretta has washed it out with two gallons of white vinegar — twice — and followed all the instructions that came with the book that tells about cleaning it and all that, but I knew, weeks ago, that cleaning it was like dressing a corpse. -
Fretting over Christmas choices
Right around now is when people start fretting over creches in the public square and arguing as to whether publicly funded Christmas symbols violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. And right about now is also when certain Jewish groups begin insisting that the answer is to place a Hanukkah menorah right next to that creche, which leads atheists to complain about a plague on both their houses.
-
Romney bets on old rules as Newt moves under radar
We’re not going to lose in New Hampshire.” So says Mitt Romney’s state coordinator, Jason McBride.
Stuart Stevens, the Romney campaign’s TV ad-maker, expresses similar confidence. Asked if Romney might finish second in New Hampshire, his answer is an unhesitating “no.” - Oma Mullins, 97
-
Food tampering laws overdue
In 2009, co-workers say a cook at a Kentucky State Park in Barren County put food down his pants before serving it to a retired Kentucky State Trooper he did not like. The cook was fired and a lawsuit was filed. It does not appear he was charged criminally.
-
Marilyn Monroe never sang to me
The Republican governor of South Carolina probably should have a talk with former Kentucky Democrat governor Paul Patton.
Paul might be able to offer some tips on dealing with the extramarital affair recently disclosed after South Carolina’s chief executive vanished for over five days. -
Making a bad bill worse
How do you make a dreadfully bad piece of legislation -- the nearly $900-billion so-called “stimulus” bill -- worse? Simple -- add protectionism.
-
The national Ponzi scheme
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was set up to combat fraudulent practices. The SEC's website explains that "Ponzi schemes are a type of illegal pyramid scheme named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands of New England residents into investing in a postage stamp speculation scheme back in the 1920s.
-
It’s a dog’s life in Barker home
Anybody who knows me that my promise to not write about my dog doesn’t hold any water.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
