$200,000.00 City Council Race... BLOG

EDITOR’S NOTE: John Webb is running for City Council.

With the election for RSM City Council only days away, I have some concerns.

This has been an election by mailer. Each side of Measure Z has spent around $100,000 to push their slate of candidates. Very little mention is being given to the individuals. If you favor Measure Z, you are expected to vote for Chadd, Biehl and Petrilla. If you are against Measure Z, you are expected to vote for McGirr, Vaugh and Holloway. Is this a good idea and is this the direction we want for our city?

My name is John Webb and I don’t belong to either slate. I have not taken money from business interests in this City. I have no major donors. The money in my campaign fund is from friends and neighbors. Friends and neighbors who think the City would benefit from having a City Council member not inclined to vote in a predetermined manner.

There hasn’t been a public forum in this election because each slate of candidates refuses to appear with the other. Isn’t that great, an election where everybody spends a great deal of money sending out mailers, but nobody has come before the public and presented their case and defended it against opposition. Each event scheduled has featured only one side of the argument.

In an attempt to have a safe place for debate, I rented a ballroom at the Bell Tower Community Center and invited all candidates to appear. The only people at that forum were citizens, myself, Joe Daichendt and Joe Hernandez. The citizens attending learned a great deal about Measure Z after listening to two well presented cases for and against. The citizens heard nothing from the candidates because they did not appear. In all fairness Brad McGirr was in a trial and Jerry Holloway was coaching freshman football.

I want to make the argument that electing a complete slate of candidates from either side is a huge mistake. If you elect the candidates preferred by the current city council, they will enjoy a 5 to 0 number on each vote. If you vote in three candidates for Measure Z, you will have a 3 to 2 advantage for the Measure Z folks. If you vote for John Webb, you will have a candidate not committed to either side. You will have a candidate with more business experience than anybody in either group. If you vote for John Webb you will have someone on the City Council who is not inclined to vote with either side because of past donations. You will have a person who can listen to both sides, ask questions and then make a decision based on the facts at hand.

Think about it. How well can someone serve the city after taking large contributions? How much confidence to you have in someone making a fair decision when you know they have taken advantage of advertising and support provided to the tune of around $100,000.00. It is very difficult to serve two masters.

Maybe, just maybe, it would be better to elect at least one person who did not have a horse in this race. I learned long ago to always play to the people who hire you. In the City of RSM, I’m asking you to hire me to look after your interest and not the interest of a business willing to spend that kind of money. All kidding aside, nobody spends that kind of money without expecting something in return.

Once elected I will push to have future elections feature muforums where all candidates can come to the Community Center and present/defend their ideas. This idea would reduce the money spent buying a City Council. If you have valid goals which benefit the citizens of the City and citizens get to hear the ideas.....money is a lot less important.

Please vote on Tuesday. Please vote John Webb for one of the three open positions. Thank you.