No Boss Mayor for Clearwater OP-ED

St. Petersburg, Fl
Posted by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.

Important Read…….

October 20, 2018

Written By: Beth Rawlins
Chair, No Boss Mayor Clearwater

I urge you to VOTE NO on the Strong Mayor charter change. Downtown special interests aren’t getting everything they want from City Hall and would prefer one person to lobby and persuade. We need to tell them NO.

I am opposed for 3 primary reasons:

1) Professional vs. Politician

We currently employ a professional city manager accountable for day-to-day operations, but the proposed change would replace our professional management with a politician. Professional city managers are hired for their expertise and experience. Continuing education keeps them in touch with the latest management practices, changing technology and regulations, and new challenges like “creating” water through reverse osmosis or dealing with more deadly hurricanes. Professional managers are bound by a strict Code of Ethics. They don’t run for office, solicit campaign contributions or make campaign promises. By contrast, a Strong mayor is beholden to political contributors and election supporters. Anyone can see the potential harm in one politician managing the bid process and having discretion over awarding contracts. When it comes to running the day-to-day operations of multiple complex services and over 1,600 full-time employees, you don’t want a novice politician in charge.

2) Concentration of Power

If passed, the strong mayor would be responsible for creating the budget, hiring (only 5 positions would require Council approval) and firing of employees, negotiating city contracts, acting as our purchasing agent, creation and disbandment of departments, etc. This is simply too much power in one person’s hands, especially when the only qualifications are that you live in the city and cannot be a felon. Again, this idea is being pushed by downtown special interests. Creating one very powerful Mayor means they would only have to convince one person to get their way, and they can fund the Mayor’s campaign for a little extra leverage.

3) Accountability

Our city manager reports directly to the five-member Council, is accountable each and every day and can be fired at any time, for any reason. In contrast, a Strong mayor is accountable only once every four years at the ballot box, when the power of incumbency is at its peak. Some Strong mayors may have the skill set to do a good job, but eventually a charismatic politician with no ability to run the city or dubious ethics will be elected and a lot of damage can be done in the four years he or she is in charge.

It’s time to step up and stop these moneyed special interests from high-jacking Clearwater’s government, and I hope you’ll join me in doing so. This will be the VERY LAST QUESTION on your ballot and I urge you to VOTE NO.

Beth Rawlins

Chair, No Boss Mayor Clearwater

Cross Posted with permission from: Beth Rawlins

This post is contributed by Beth Rawlins The views and opinions expressed in this post are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Bay Post Internet or the publisher.

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