City Elections 2005

City Elections 2005
November 18, 2005

The nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court has highlighted a very important national debate. He is a person of impeccable character whose career has centered on defending the laws of the land. The debate is about defending our laws and institutions, or forcing a private agenda. The same debate affects our lives in Henry County.

Candidates for public office must stand for something. Will they protect and defend city and county ordinances and conform to best practices in governing? Or will they take opportunity to personally interpret our laws and plans, and thereby nullify public faith in them and the offices they hold?

Henry has been in a state of change for several years. That process of change has not been well managed. In our cities we see overcrowding, sewer systems at or above capacity and locally owned businesses failing. Countywide we have given a free ride to unmanaged development and land uses. We have ordinances and land use plans that are so plastic, so changeable that they enable mayors, councils and commissioners to achieve any personal agenda they desire.

Never mind existing laws or legal reasoning, which are annoyingly hard to refute. We live at the mercy of moneyed interests. The countywide moratorium on zoning was imposed in efforts to gain control. But the Council For Growth (CFG) policy chairman likened it to placing a fence around the county. There is no need for paranoia. There is no malicious conspiracy. In our county, all things are negotiable!

Especially in regard to land development, Henry is prime turf. When a developer is denied the ability to rewrite ordinances, a lawsuit may well be his next action. Trade organizations like our CFG demand consultation before a city or the county approve building codes, zoning ordinances or land use maps. But their logic is that nothing counts as consultation unless it results in conformity with their desired agenda.

Our school system is overwhelmed and our taxes keep rising. When new school locations are chosen their placement compounds the problems. With schools come sewer lines. Availability of sewer connections gives a green light to city councils and the county commission to completely ignore long term land use planning. If a conspiracy exists, it is by allowing locations of schools to dictate where new, high density development will follow.

Our city and county officials cannot stem one crisis without creating new ones. In what sense do we call them governing authorities? Floating on prevailing winds, we have no consistent governing philosophy. Surely, politicians are threatened with political reprisals if they refuse to knuckle under. And voters seldom turn out in sufficient numbers to unseat incumbents. Our vicious cycle leaves us with no real governance. We have laws and plans that will not be enforced. The result is voter apathy, a loss of faith. But, in the meantime, a lot of money will change hands.

In each Henry city, mayors and council members will be elected on Nov. 8th. Let us pray for the election of people with impeccable character, who will truly represent the citizens and provide for best practices to meet the needs of their city and the entire county.

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