Quote from synergis1 on 07/09/08 at 9:38pm:Today is July 9. There are only 4 official days left for candidates to announce themselves. I simply cannot believe that the population of Hoover is so satisfied with the current council that only 3 people - out of what? about/over 100,000??? - will come forward to challenge the status quo.
Have we all lost touch with that American dream of community service, combined with patriotism and community spirit that leads us to step up and run for office? Where are all of the people with a desire to seek political office?
If July 15 ends with the current council 90% intact, we may as well close up shop here at the Forum because all this is - is another place to bi$ch and moan - and continue to not do a darn thing about it.
Everyone must be satisfied if they are not stepping up and running for office. That is exactly what we will hear from those who sit in the seats of power to justify their decisions, past and future.
It makes me sad, but what has happened at the national and state level has now come all the way down to the local level. Money equals power, and those with the money, or the willingness to use their power for the benefit of those who have money, can buy and keep the power.
I understand that it will cost about $25,000 to run competitively for city council this year. I hear that Gene Smith has said that he will spend whatever it takes to be reelected. He enjoys the power that much, and he has the money to keep buying it.
In the last election, the Association of Homebuilders gave large amounts of money to the winning candidates. The investment has paid off for them. Alex and Suzy Baker gave at least $10,000 to winning candidates, and it bought them considerable influence in the school system. There's a reason most candidates for public office are rich people. Would Mr. and Mrs. Baker donate thousands to my campaign? I don't think so.
Folks of modest means can't afford to run for anything, even a volunteer city council seat in a medium-sized city like Hoover.
I do not think we should assume that the citizens of Hoover are satisfied with the current leadership. The only thing that is certain is that our votes have been almost completely devalued by the influence of money on our local elections. I think we should be careful about pointing fingers at each other and saying, "Why don't YOU run?" "Well, why don't YOU?" We are all in the same boat. Our city government went to the highest bidders in the last election and maybe that has not affected everyone adversely yet, but no one can never be sure that it won't.
Because of this, I think our voice -- our b*&^hing and moaning, if you will -- is more important than ever. Phase one of tyranny is being able to buy an election and become so entrenched in power that no one can afford to run against you. Phase two is getting everyone to give up, shut up, and go along with everything you do.
I may not be able to afford to run for office, but I don't intend to shut up when I see things that are wrong.
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Hoover Candidate Announcements (Read 5823 times)
