Planning For February 2011 (corrected version)

We have about 34 months until Election Day 2011
That's 36 months to identify candidates to replace those council people who are term limited as well as those who should be one-term wonders. As interminable as the federal elections have become; unfortunately campaigns are 3 years long anymore. However, I think we need to plant the seeds, cultivate, nurture the 2010 candidates now.

Many of you work with many, many members of all facets of the community who would you like to see as Mayor or council members. Let's start collecting names; let's start talking to people about running for office; let's help vet them early. Let's help the 3rd district find decent candidates. At community meetings who has impressed you? Let's get their names down; let's start some buzz.
Let's assess our needs. Neighborhood represenation on the council is imperative but so is having someone with a background in finance; there is such a thing as too many lawyers. The Mayoral candidates must have more than a vision and a slogan- they must have a plan that they can articulate; they must instill confidence because he/she must sell the community on the mechanisms that need to be in place to pay off our debts, not bankrupt our schoool district any further, pay for our water/sewage mess, lead us into some sort multi-modal public transportation system. More people will be forced to leave their cars at home as gasoline heads towards $4/5.00 a gallon - Let's talk about what kinds of skills we need on our City Council. More thought goes into placing someone on a Board of Directors or Advisory Committee than goes into those who govern our community.

We're accepting unofficial nominations - for discussion and starting rumors

Candidates So Far for Mayor:
1. Ed Ford (Ed, we already know you're running and it's really annoying to watch you posturing - you've already lost the votes of the Garden Party Skunks
2. Mark Funkhouser - enough said
3. Gloria Squitiro Funkhouser (kind of a Bill/Hilary Clinton see-saw thing going - Gloria -even Hilary dropped her Rodham
4. John Sharp?
Nominations:
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2.


Candidates for 1st District
Both Bill Skaggs and Deb Hermann are term limited - wide open -
Nomination:
1.
2.

Candidates for 2nd District:
Current: Russ Johnson seems to be the pick of the new litter, he just needs to roll up his sleeves, grit his teeth and get to work and quit complaining about how tired he is - we're all tired He could be a keeper. 2. Ed Ford - campaigning and grandstanding for mayor
Nominations:
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2.

Candidates for 3rd District:
Current: Sharon Saunders Brooks & Melba Curls - 3rd District deserves better than these prima donas who are more concerned about personalized stationery and having an entourage - they're not adjusting to the realities of municipal politics vs that of the state
Nominations:
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2.

Candidates for 4th District
Current: Beth Gottstein & Jan Marcason - Both are huge disappointments; Beth can't seem to keep her medication regulated and Jan The Everywoman - is trying to make everyone happy - and is succeeding in making no one happy. It's got to be uncomfortable on that fence.
Nominations:
1. Doug Gamble - let's talk to him again - he made a good showing for getting into the race so late; he has a good reputation as a businessman; his employees speak highly of him and are fiercely loyal - so he must be doing something right.
2.
We need nominations here because Jim Glover will fill the void if we don't have viable candidates

Candidates for 5th District
Current: Terry Riley is term limited and Cindy Circo who has also been a tremendous disappointment
Nominations:
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2.

Candidates for 6th District
Current: Cathy Jolley - it's hard to assess Cathy because she has been focusing on personal health issues but her membership in the Gang of Nine disappointed us immeasurably; John Sharp seems to be grinding multiple axes for every perceived or real injury or slight. John's not stupid but seems blinded by his search for revenge or personal justice - Maybe he's running for Mayor too
Nominations
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2.

We know we started this blog to help faciliate the removal of Wayne Cauthen as primary raper and pillager of the public coffers; However, Mayor "Murphy's Law" Funkhouser can't seem to not bungle things up; he has created the "F" Troop of City Councilmembers. So maybe if we can come up with a great slate of candidates to nip at their heels the next 30 or so months then we may actually get them to accomplish something of merit.

Let's get some names and nominations