It's February 1. The New Albany city council has met three times and taken some rather far-reaching actions already. Some of these are encouraging. Some are disturbing.
So where are the shadows we need to adequately monitor the performance of our elected representatives?
Now is the time to begin consistently monitoring how your representatives are voting. Now, when the sheer volume of votes on ordinances and resolutions is low. Now, when the news reports are fresh. Now, when the issues are at their hottest.
The cause of good and accountable government is ill-served by a retrospective look at the issues in the months preceding the next city election. It is in the context of the time that a member's votes must be evaluated.
We've been asked if the purpose of this blog is to fuel a 2011 campaign. Well, yes and no. No one would be happier than this blogger to be able to report after four years that the member representing the old district 5 had been visionary, capable, and accountable. But should she and her colleagues fail to deliver, 2011 will be critical, and this blog will serve as a record of performance.
It would be foolish to think that Diane McCartin-Benedetti will run unopposed in 2011. The geography of the new council districts might create two "incumbents." The opposing party will surely offer an alternative. Another Democrat may step up to challenge D5...or even an independent, a third-party, or a write-in candidate.
Those identities are irrelevant to the purpose of this blog. Whoever challenges the incumbent will need to know the record. And Mrs. Benedetti should welcome the scrutiny. She will undoubtedly be proud to defend her record of performance. She may not welcome the analysis, but the record itself is not one she will run away from. I don't think.
The key question today is this: who will step up to monitor, record, and analyze the performance of the other eight council members? We've previously invited like-minded watchdogs to join NA Shadow Council. We have eight members who need watching.
Who will step up?
Send an e-mail to "shadowna5(at)gmail(dot)com" and we can create direct posting privileges for you. Why don't you become shadow3? or shadow6?
For the record (cut and paste this for future reference), here are the nine individuals serving on the 2008-2012 council:
District 1 - Dan Coffey (third term) Democrat
District 2 - Bob Caesar (first) Democrat
District 3 - Steve Price (second) Democrat
District 4 - Pat McLaughlin (first) Democrat
District 5 - Diane McCartin-Benedetti (first) Democrat
District 6 - Jeff Gahan (second) Democrat
At-Large - Jack Messer (second) Democrat
At-Large - John Gonder (first) Democrat
At-Large - Kevin Zurschmiede (second) Republican
You need not reside in the district to be a shadow. As of the moment, no one knows who lives in what 2011 district. But you will be performing an invaluable service to your community while educating yourself on the issues. Come on and "stroll" down the avenue with us.
Showing posts with label shadow council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shadow council. Show all posts
Friday, February 1, 2008
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Watchdog Awakes
On January 1, 2008, precisely at noon, a group of individuals, predominantly men, will be sworn in to serve as the legislative body for the residents of New Albany, Indiana. As are most things in this banded burg, exactly none of them will present themselves to be so sworn, as in New Albany it is assumed that the Indiana Code is purely advisory, not compulsory.
Nonetheless, at some point in January, nine individuals will take office as council members on the Common Council for the Civil City of New Albany. A majority of them will be be assuming seats they did not occupy in the prior four-year term. Several will be beginning their first tenures as public servants. A few will be susceptible to the suggestive advice of re-elected representatives. And another few will be returning for yet another term of office.
It is likely that only one will be returning for a third consecutive term. That one, representing a populace of over 6,000 people, will have been returned to office by corraling the votes of a mere 250 members of his political party. More than 5,750 others will have failed to cast a vote to affirm him.
In addition to holding the new 5th District council member accountable, this writer will make it a priority to expose the lies and corruption of that third-termer.
Welcome to the new reality. Be wired or be out of the loop.
NA Shadow Council is the voice of the people. For the next four years, NA Shadow Council will report the facts of each and every piece of legislation that comes before the City Council of New Albany, Indiana. Each vote will be recorded. The expressed opinions of each serving council member will be reported.
In addition, the NA Shadow Council will record for posterity its position on every issue that is presented to the council between 2008 and 2011. The NA Shadow Council, unlike past councils, will endeavor to illuminate rather than obfuscate. Its contributors, while at times remaining anonymous, pledge to "abstain" only when the constituted council chooses to obscure the facts so efficiently that no rational evaluation can be made.
Although the NA Shadow Council is a construct, it will rely on the efficacy of the City Clerk in making agendas and minutes available on a timely basis. Contributors to this Web log will insist that the city clerk, whoever that may be, maintain a readily accessible Web site wherein such records will be maintained. The NA Shadow Council will have representative attendance at every lawful meeting of the City Council. And following every council meeting, you can expect NA Shadow Council to record its "vote."
Is NA Shadow Council political? You betcha! Where your incumbent representatives fail to represent the best interests of this city, you can expect NASC to call them to account. The contributors and commenters on this blog can be expected to contend for office in 2011 if the incumbents fail to serve their constituencies.
Does NASC have an agenda? Count on it! Our agenda is the transformation of New Albany politics and public service from one in which elected office is little more than a jobs program for political hacks. The City Council should be, and will be if we have our way, a body truly representative of the best interests of the residents of this city. Those who are sworn in on Jan. 1 (yeah, right) are on notice that their actions, statements, and votes will be subject to intense scrutiny during the ensuing four years. Those who are found wanting will NOT be allowed to slide by. NASC will be creating a PAC (political action committee) to conduct explicitly political activities to support and oppose individuals contending for election in 2011. Stay tuned for ways in which you can contribute financially.
In the meantime, we invite all contributions of opinion. Our policy will be to allow comments from registered bloggers. Security measures will be instituted to eliminate "spam," but anyone willing to consistently identify themselves as a "Blogger" registered member can contribute comments. We will rely on the community to rebut and refute obviously self-interested and biased comments, but we will not prevent free comment unless and until it becomes non-productive to a rational discourse.
Nonetheless, at some point in January, nine individuals will take office as council members on the Common Council for the Civil City of New Albany. A majority of them will be be assuming seats they did not occupy in the prior four-year term. Several will be beginning their first tenures as public servants. A few will be susceptible to the suggestive advice of re-elected representatives. And another few will be returning for yet another term of office.
It is likely that only one will be returning for a third consecutive term. That one, representing a populace of over 6,000 people, will have been returned to office by corraling the votes of a mere 250 members of his political party. More than 5,750 others will have failed to cast a vote to affirm him.
In addition to holding the new 5th District council member accountable, this writer will make it a priority to expose the lies and corruption of that third-termer.
Welcome to the new reality. Be wired or be out of the loop.
NA Shadow Council is the voice of the people. For the next four years, NA Shadow Council will report the facts of each and every piece of legislation that comes before the City Council of New Albany, Indiana. Each vote will be recorded. The expressed opinions of each serving council member will be reported.
In addition, the NA Shadow Council will record for posterity its position on every issue that is presented to the council between 2008 and 2011. The NA Shadow Council, unlike past councils, will endeavor to illuminate rather than obfuscate. Its contributors, while at times remaining anonymous, pledge to "abstain" only when the constituted council chooses to obscure the facts so efficiently that no rational evaluation can be made.
Although the NA Shadow Council is a construct, it will rely on the efficacy of the City Clerk in making agendas and minutes available on a timely basis. Contributors to this Web log will insist that the city clerk, whoever that may be, maintain a readily accessible Web site wherein such records will be maintained. The NA Shadow Council will have representative attendance at every lawful meeting of the City Council. And following every council meeting, you can expect NA Shadow Council to record its "vote."
Is NA Shadow Council political? You betcha! Where your incumbent representatives fail to represent the best interests of this city, you can expect NASC to call them to account. The contributors and commenters on this blog can be expected to contend for office in 2011 if the incumbents fail to serve their constituencies.
Does NASC have an agenda? Count on it! Our agenda is the transformation of New Albany politics and public service from one in which elected office is little more than a jobs program for political hacks. The City Council should be, and will be if we have our way, a body truly representative of the best interests of the residents of this city. Those who are sworn in on Jan. 1 (yeah, right) are on notice that their actions, statements, and votes will be subject to intense scrutiny during the ensuing four years. Those who are found wanting will NOT be allowed to slide by. NASC will be creating a PAC (political action committee) to conduct explicitly political activities to support and oppose individuals contending for election in 2011. Stay tuned for ways in which you can contribute financially.
In the meantime, we invite all contributions of opinion. Our policy will be to allow comments from registered bloggers. Security measures will be instituted to eliminate "spam," but anyone willing to consistently identify themselves as a "Blogger" registered member can contribute comments. We will rely on the community to rebut and refute obviously self-interested and biased comments, but we will not prevent free comment unless and until it becomes non-productive to a rational discourse.
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