The Dispatch is going to start providing us with backgrounds and positions for everyone running for City Council this spring. Place 3 incumbent dingbat Chuck Williamson is being challenged by Gordon Nelson…who also appears to be a dingbat of a different sort.
I’ll go through the pros and cons of each.
Chuck Williamson pros: none
Chuck Williamson cons: has never held a private sector job, as far as I can tell. Has been on City Council for at least the last six years – and was thus part of the profligate spending and idiotic decisions made during that time. Including the $1.5 million vanity project, the $185,000 no-bid bathroom, and all the rest. Chuck also at one point a long time ago said “the City is giving too much away” but then voted to give more away to private developers like Deorald Finney and his Stone Valley subdivision in the form of “free” electrical hookups – not to mention S2M2 and former fellow Council turd ‘Greasy’ Chris Harrison. Chuck also favored all the money wasted in the ‘business park’ boondoggle. Chuck’s grade: F
Gordon Nelson pros: calls out City council for stupid spending and specifically mentions the $185,000 bathroom in Campbell Park (Dispatch page 5 – 3/23/20).
Gordon Nelson cons: manages to still wuss out and say “I’m not saying the City Council is spending foolishly, but they’re not spending wisely“. [Wrong Gordo…they are spending foolishly]. Gordon has ALSO never worked in the private sector – huge negative. Gordon unfortunately has a hard-on for a ‘community center’. Which I guess is better than having a hard-on for a ‘civic center’ but not by much. Let’s see how the City handles their new management of the Hostess House, before we bite off more than we can chew….shall we? Intangible: Gordy’s newspaper interview makes him sound less than brilliant. Maybe he just isn’t a very good interviewer? Gordon’s grade: D-
It is a crying shame that Mike White is hanging up his cleats soon. His seat will be fought over by two other people…who I will grade just as soon as their profiles are printed in the newspaper.
Mike has what just about everyone else on City council doesn’t: experience running a successful business in the private sector. He understands the value of a dollar. It is no coincidence he was often the lone voice of sanity and fiscal restraint during council meetings. One Mike White is worth ten of these other bozos. As it is, at LEAST four of the seven current council members owe their life-long earnings to the taxpayer.
As for the other two members, I have no clue what TJ Monroe used to do, but she has been on Council since the earth cooled and seems to ALWAYS vote for more spending and stupid projects. Misti seems hardwired to spend huge amounts of money. Not sure if that is a chick thing or a Misti thing.
Bottom line: we need MORE dudes who have run successful businesses in this town to get on City council. The problem is, they are all busy trying to keep a bunch of eggs in the air – taking care of customers, employees and suppliers all while government at all levels tries to pick their pocket and regulate them into oblivion.
Mike White retiring is a huge blow to the City.