I was impressed with a comment made by Scott Brown, candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. During a recent debate the question was posed about what his plans were regarding health care if he was elected to Ted Kennedy's seat. He replied that this was not Ted Kennedy's seat...it was the people's seat.
The peoples seat. Think about that for a minute. This candidate grasped a key point that is all to often missing in our government. The principle that their power is derived from the people not the other way around.
The Government can only do what the people allow them to, not the other way around. The government is our servant and not our task master. They are working for us not us for them.
I have been asking for several months for council candidates to take some time and write a letter on the topic of their choice to the citizens in town. Not one of them has taken me up on this offer. But I believe I now know why.
Elizabeth Walker replied to my request stating:
"Public policy is to respond only to inquirers that identify themselves and specifically request through existing channels - i.e. the City website or our City email addresses."
It should be pointed out that this was sent to her city email address and she responded from her city email address. I also signed the email with my pen name Thomas Paine.
The point I am concerned about is this "public policy" to not respond to inquirers unless we identify ourselves. Perhaps I should also send a DNA sample, my fingerprints, a retina scan, and a photo copy of my passport.
Or, perhaps, the council could recognize that this is our seat. The council members are our representatives and our servants. They are in their position because we allowed them to be, by virtue of our vote for them.
So I call on the council to be responsive to the people or get out of our seat!
Scott Brown wins in Massachusetts! It seems that the message resonated with the people.
ReplyDeleteMike
I hope that the people of Duvall feel the same way as the people of Mass.
ReplyDeleteThomas
I decided to fact check the claim made by Mr. Hansen in his letter to the editor critical of Council member Edwards' record on the transportation committee, so I requested the minutes of the ETP meetings from the King County DOT. It appears to me that he was correct in his presentation of her attendance record. I give him the benefit of the doubt on the other information that he cited.
ReplyDelete(I, too, am pleased to hear of Scott Brown's Senate victory.)
I do not question the validity of the facts he cited. The issue I have is his selective application of the standard. According to the city web site only 2 other council members are on regional committees. Elizabeth Walker and Gerard Cattin. I looked up the minutes of the meetings from last year for their respective groups and neither of them appear in any of the meeting minutes for all of last year. My only conclution is that neither of them attended any meetings.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I stated that I look forward to his future letters calling out the other council members as well.
I will give him the benefit of the doubt on his other claims when he honestly applies his subjective standard to all the council members.
I looked up the meeting times for the ETP and found that they meet on a friday morning from 7:30 to 9:30. During buisness hours.
ReplyDeleteAnd if I remember right, wasn't Vicki Edwards the one who got the Connector bus to service Duvall? It seems like that is a great deal more important than attending meetings. She actually got something done. How often do you actually see government working the way it should?
One other thing that I was interested to see as I researched this issue is the amount of times that council members miss council meetings. Last year Gerard Cattin and Vicki Edwards attended every council meeting. Elizabeth Walker missed 1. Anne Laughlin missed 3. Dianne Brudnicki missed 4. Gary Gill missed 4. Glenn Kuntz missed 5. This is out of the 21 meeting minutes that are posted on the city website.
ReplyDeleteNo point to make on this fact, just interesting to note.
All I can say about the people's seat?
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
All day I have been thinking in my head that the new slogan for the country should be "what can Brown do for you?"
ReplyDeleteOh wait that's already taken.
One thing being overlooked is the question of Council member Edwards' campaign promise. Apparently Mr. Hansen was a supporter during her 2007 campaign, so I am accepting (unless proven otherwise) his claim that she stated in her candidate literature she would "work effectively with neighboring governments to improve our current traffic problems." Being on the Eastside Transportation committee seems to have been her opportunity to do that but she didn't attend.
ReplyDeleteIt bothers me when politicians don't keep their campaign promises. Does anyone else feel the same way?
TheFactChecker
Mr Hansen was a supporter of hers until last March when Ms. Edwards voted to not increase the park impact fee as Mr. Hansen wanted.
ReplyDeleteShe did however, in my opinion, keep her campaign promise. She is the sole reason that the Connector Bus services Duvall. How many Duvall residents ride it daily?
According to Microsoft it is over 150.
Removing 150 cars from the road every day seems like a very impressive accomplishment and is a clear example of her keeping that promise.
I am also bothered by candidates who do not fulfill their promises but in this case the assertions do not fit the facts.
I am suprised at the amount of support that mr hansen is getting on this site when he has yet to comment in person. I find it suprising that with such a well known political past that he is afraid to comment.
ReplyDeleteMike
As I have said many times I just want to have the discussion out in the open so the people can decide what's best. I wish he would take the opportunity to do the same.
ReplyDeleteYour new post is a disappointment. You take Scott Brown's remarkable victory and use it to criticize a Duvall City Council member, then launch into a sarcastic remark about having to supply DNA, etc. to get a public policy response.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Walker's answer to your inquiry is appropriate. Would you have a business meeting with someone who refused to identify themselves? Wouldn't you think that they were hiding something that might put you at a disadvantage? As an elected official public policy is her responsibility and I'd bet she would be eager to engage you if you were willing to present yourself truthfully.
Secrecy is characteristic of a cult. Why do you expect to be taken seriously by city officials? What have you got to hide? Dan
To clarify, I did not ask for a meeting I simply asked if she would like to write a letter to the citzens to put on the blog. If there truly is any "public policy" saying I need to use my name to get a response from the council then I would ask why did council member Walker violate public policy and respond? I would love to see any reference in the Duvall municipal code or in any other official document that states or supports this policy.
ReplyDeleteSecondly I expect to be taken seriously because I am a citizen and this is my government and your government.
I made the connection between to two because it shows a disregard for the principle of the people being the source of the power not the government. I find it exceptionally arrogant that a public official would demand my name under a questionable pretence of public policy because they did not want to write a letter to the people they represent. All she had to do was say no.
As a side note. If she did not want to respond to the email she could have commented on the blog as she has done in the past.
And Dan, I have nothing to hide.
If you would like to email me I will send you copies of the email exchange. My email address is goneright@live.com
If Dan is correct that secrecy is characteristic of a cult then the city is just like a cult. The real question is what do they have to hide.
ReplyDeleteMike
It seems so typical of many people who loose an argument to start name calling. Dan do you really think the blog and those who read and participate are a cult? We all have secrets. but we are not all in cults. The insinuation seems a little careless.
ReplyDeleteI want to hear what all sides have to say but the name calling is so like jr high.
Maria
Maria, I agree. I am so sick of the name calling. It seems like everywhere I turn I see people trying to get their point across by yelling louder or trying to make people feel bad.
ReplyDeleteI applaud Thomas for standing up and standing his ground.
Elizabeth
I met all of the candidates last fall at the Chamber of Commerce forum. Elizabeth Walker seemed very competent and trustworthy. John Durant was okay, but later a neighbor told me he was fired as a Little League coach.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to take a moment and point out that the use of a pen name has a long history in politics. Ben Franklin and the Silence Do Good letters for example. One of the best reasons to use a pen name is to allow an issue to be discussed or debated independent of any prejudice or history of conflicts with the person making their points.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Like running for the thankless job of City Council, volunteering as a Little League (or soccer or basketball) coach is one that requires a lot of work with little compensation. For John the compensation was the chance to work with our son and help a bunch of boys enjoy the game of baseball. He was fair minded and kind (often softening the more intense coaches), but when another parent was concerned about having him as a coach, John stepped down from the position. The president of SVNLL offered a hearing but it was so late in the season and the claims so ridiculous, that a hearing would've done no good. He sacrificed his pride so the team could continue.
ReplyDeleteThe issue was brought up during the campaign and spread by his oponents without any explanation or recourse. My advice: get facts before you believe rumors.
-Carolyn Durant
AMEN,
ReplyDeleteIt is about time that this issue was addressed. John's opponents have gotten away with this slander for long enough.
Mike