The votes from election day have been tallied. Those who voted for changing Ruston's form of government numbered 63 (43.45%), but those who wanted to keep our current structure were higher at 82 (56.55%). This is a fairly low vote total, even for Ruston.
Either this was not a big issue for local voters or there are still lots of absentee ballots in the mail. It may be several days (or weeks) before we can be sure the council's proposal had been defeated.
In the meantime, the council will need to appoint a mayor who is willing to serve under the current structure through the end of 2009. Given the comment by Council Member Hunt at Monday's meeting (that Everding resigned a week early), the task may be unexpected.
What are your thoughts on the election? On the mayoral appointment? On life in Ruston? Are things getting better or worse? What do you expect over the next year until Ruston elects its new leaders in 2009 (3 of 5 council members and a mayor).
UPDATE: 7:22 pm Today's numbers added to the lead of the "don't change" vote. The count is now 66 in favor (42%) and 91 opposed (58%). Scott Fontaine of the News Tribune is working on a story, too. An early version is on their political blog here...
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41 comments:
The Council appoints the next Mayor? can they find someone that can get along with the 5 of them.
I hope so.Looks like we are stuck with this form of Government.You can always hire somebody to help out on the day to day tasks.Lets heal and move Point Ruston along.
WOW, a ray of HOPE shines over Ruston! cya, Porkchop
What was Jane Hunt's comment at Mondays meeting?
Maybe we should start fresh with a new mayor AND new council members. It is clear that the current council (except for Hedrick) has no idea how to run a town. They have done a lot of things very fast and very badly, with potentially irreversible damage to our awesome town. We need people who have governmental knowledge and and OPEN mind.
When Jane was thanking Everding for his service, she said she was sorry he "resigned a week early." She had talked earlier in the evening about only needing to appoint a mayor for the short term considering the election on Tuesday...
It is my hope/prayer that Ruston can move forward in an intelligent, productive manner. This will take cooperation, being considerate of one another, freedom of speech, abiding by the laws of the nation/state and local gov. and absolute caring for and loving Ruston and one another. Bboop
Pork Chop.Any plans of returning home any time soon? We sure could use you.
Mr. Huson is going to sit in as mayor for the next few weeks until this gets worked out.
5:13 66 for. 91 against. about a 60/40 split. We need a Mayor.
Karen,
You ask some great questions on this Blog. The vote count was pathetic - garnering less than 25% of the town residents. It’s the old 80/20 rule – where 20% of the people are making 80% of the noise. I know each side wants to believe that they are the majority but numbers don’t lie – you are both the minority. In the 2005 primary election there were over 340 votes cast – ask yourself what happened to almost 200 voters that failed to show up for this very important election? I know I will have critic's saying this post is from one side or the other but the bottom-line is the majority of Ruston residents don't care. They have either attempted to serve in the past and are now ostracized or just plain fed up with all the in fighting. How many prior council members do you see still actively involved? Where is Bob Pudlo? Mike Wendell? Brett Johnson? Mary Joyce? And the many others that have served before? Why do they not return? Why are they no longer participating? I know that when the council members that are currently serving leave their seats – they will not return. The town will have chewed them up, personally attacked them, and spit them out. The days of the long term council members are over – the active 20% minority – whether its one-side or the other – will make their lives miserable.
In the past couple of years – how much has really gotten done in this town? Many residents have come before council with their issues but really what has been accomplished? There has been so much effort spent on fighting with the Commencement and Cohen that there has been little time spent solving current residents issues. In many countries, neglecting citizens can lead to a revolution. The unfortunate problem is that revolutions typically don’t solve the underlying deep seeded issues the countries are facing.Maybe thats it - Ruston needs a revolution but there is no one that we could elect that the vocal 20% would unanimously support – won’t happen because there lies a genuine hatred for one another.
Ruston is too small to govern itself moving forward. We will quickly be running out of volunteers that want to enter the lions den of politics that Ruston has become. I was shocked when Michael Transue returned as Mayor and I am certain he probably wishes he never did. I was equally as shocked that Bob Everding returned to politics – only to leave the toxic Mayoral position. Who in their right mind is going to want to be Mayor?But conversely, I am glad we won't be having this dysfunctional council trying to manage a town administrator. We would probably have wound up with another lawsuit - stress related.
Ruston is really a microcosm of what is happening in our society – it’s only magnified because we know all the players. For instance, it’s one thing when you are in the supermarket, the gas station, or the airport and people are rude to you. It’s tolerable because you don’t know that person – it’s not personal. When your neighbor claims you’re stupid, Hitler, a dictator, a cabal, etc… it hurts and cuts deep – it’s personal because it’s your neighbor.
Maybe we are just a sign of the times – no more respect for one another, lack of empathy, and the inability to compromise.
Ruston - Good Luck to All - We are going to need it.
Very well done. When we have a small group running the town and not running with the town, then thats where we are. No doubt,it isnt working, because the mayor quite. And hopefully the rest of the pack will step down. We can turn things around when we get the evil spirits out of town. It seems its always the new comers that want to up set everything. We need progress and it is coming with a wonderful landscape with Cohens ideas. I am proud to be in that wonderful landscape.
Nobody wants to sit in the hot seat. The town council has frightened the people of Ruston with harsh words and condescending attitudes. Who would want to get involved in something like that, it would serve the town best if the town council would step down and give the towns people a chance to elect residents that are actually out to help this town and move foward. Residents are afraid to sign a name on any document or blog that associates them with one person or another. Occasionally on this blog I see words used that make me wonder are these adults or children! It is such a beautiful town with great people, I am happy I live here but tired of what these past elections have brought. ):
although the amount of the people who voted were small and there could have been more votes, the numbers spoke for themself. Some did not show to vote for whatever reason, but the ones who showed up to Pt. Defiance Village spoke with their decision to vote. The MAJORITY vote said no to a Council/Manager. So now what does ruston do? the next mayor has to be from the council correct and live in Ruston? If so we are only recycling the political officials of this town. The amount of issues facing ruston gives no part-time, $500.00/month mayor motivation to want the job. There are numerous lawsuits, there are a lot of disgruntle residents, angered past political appointees, the town is going broke from lawsuits, fines, people stealing and while I hope the new businesses bring LOTS of revenue, the truth is it may only keep the town afloat. People who are trying to bring some major money to the town are being abused. The residents are being politically abused, the staff is being abused from what I read from previous posts and you want a $500/month part-time mayor to deal with all of this.
First sit down and figure out what the criteria is for someone to qualify for a Mayor position. Once you do, figure out who lives in Ruston that qualifies, wants the job at only $500/monthly along with allllllll the responsibility, but before you accept anyone who qualifies, the town needs to know they can handle going into battle and coming out prepared to win the war with running, dodging and hiding.
Forget having a mayor. Let's just have a king and the throne can be passed to his children. How about appointing King Pudlo or King Huson or King Kong or something? It's better than having a mayor who will resign, and it seems quite fitting for Ruston. There. Now we can have our cake and eat it, too.
Ok. Now that it's settled, we need to get down to business and figure out who the next mayor will be. I have a suggestion that may help narrow the field. The council is currently controlled by the "H" coalition -- Hunt, Huson, and Hedrick. So I would suggest that the next mayor's name should begin with an H to solidify the H-factor.
By the way, I'm working on volume 2 of the 2008 Guide to Ruston politicians. Look for it in your bookstores soon.
Have the last three Mayors fill out a questionaire.
Ask them about issues.What did they like about being Mayor.
What were the struggles.How can we fix it.There will be three different views.Take the imformation and blend it to come up with some kind of road map for our future. I think it would be interesting to see.
I'm sure Mr Everding, Transue and Wheeler, would take the time.
Just a suggestion.
Ken
The last couple of comments were getting a bit too graphic. Please find another way to express your thoughts. Thanks.
Drat, and I didn't even get to read them before they were removed.
Thanks, Karl Marx.
Dear Anonymous,
It was pretty obvious that Fuhrer Karen would remove those comments because they didn't go along with her political biases.
No profanities in your post, but the sin for Karen was in the thought that was expressed.
I printed the comments, for the record. Don't fret; we'll slip them back in somewhere else...
Sieg heil, Karen, you can delete but you can't suppress.
You tell em Craigs neighbor!
Karen Pickett is Craig's neighbor.
Hey Craig, let's start a grand conspiracy theory. Maybe since we live on the same block, we are under the same weird alien mind control. It’s only a matter of time until that mind control juice starts to take over the two RC faithful neighbors who live even closer to me than you do. And then, pretty soon it will take over Bill Walker and family since they live almost as close as you do! Wow, being neighbors can be pretty scary around here…
Neighbor against neighbor - thanks for finally being up front about what you actually promote in Ruston, Karen.
oh my god ! you really CAN twist things around to suit your purpose !
Hi, Katie B, you called people you didn't like 'Nazis' because it suited your purpose. when things got too hot, you said you were totally joking. How twisted was that? How do you and Karen and your friends figure you are bringing any healing to Ruston?
Karen Pickett, what did Bill Walker and his family do that you say that being their neighbor can be pretty scary? Same for the two RC neighbors you refer to? I'm sorry but I am fairly new to all this and your statement about Bill Walker and family seems strong. I don't know them, is there a good reason for saying it? Thanks from someone who is puzzled and who does not want to involve himself in politics in Ruston.
Oh you silly Hatfeilds. Settle down already.Try to keep your knickers from knotting.
Big Bill McCoy.
Anonymous # 28, Neighbor, you must be real new in the town!!
Wow, you guys deducted correctly.
There are space aliens in town controlling our minds!!
I saw them the other night over at the Unicorn after I had two pitchers of Bud Light. He said his name was Kim and he was from planet Walrus (You know, "I am the walrus, coo-coo ka choo"). He said something about a yellow submarine and some guy named Bungalow Bill and how he had an adventure with Lady Madonna. He said She Came In Through The Bathroom Window. Someone cried HELP and everyone from Penny Lane came over to see Another Girl. He was such a Bad Boy, and Being for the Benefit of Mister Kite he decided to Dig a Pony. Do you want to know a secret? He said he's been seeing Eleanor Rigby Eight Days a Week inside the Glass Onion. Last week he was saying "Everyone's got something to hide except me and my monkey." With a little help from my friends, we can work it out when I'm sixty-four. This boy thinks he's the Sheik of Araby. But it was really funny when we caught The Fool on the Hill doing the Hippy Hippy Shake with the Taxman and some other guy. "She's a woman," said Bungalow Bill, but all he could stammer out was "Please please me."
Oh, and there are Nazis, too. More corectly, though, they're really communists pretentding to be Nazis. They don't have the guts to come out and say they're really pinkos who LOVE censorship, especially of blogs. One of them is called Mean Mister Mustard who only has one Old Brown Shoe. In spite of all the danger it's all too much. I'm gonna sit right down and cry because I want to hold your hand. I forgot to remember to forget. But, according to the famous "Nowhere Man," he likes to say "Happiness is a Warm Gun."
Bill, take me to your leader and show me your golden stapler!!!
Delete this, Kaiser Karen!!!
:ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
Just to clarify, my post about the alien mind control was supposed to be a joke about Craig being my neighbor based on the previous comment (where someone seemed concerned that I lived close to someone who reads and comments on this blog). I did not mean to infer that any of my neighbors are scary. Conspiracy theories grow out of fear - and being controlled by aliens is scary, not any of my neighbors. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
Trouble is, Karen, that you don't have a sense of humor. Your attempts at funny comments are rooted in hatred and fear of others, including the neighbors that you named. Spend a little money and get some professional help; or at least try to get a grip. Please don't give in to your 'Karen Uber Alles' obsessive-compulsive disorder. You can beat this if you really try hard. You would feel a lot better about yourself if you did get help.
Ooooops, last Anonymous. Kaiser Karen is sure to delete your comment - too much sturm und drang for comfort, if you know what I mean. - Herr Doctor Sigmund F.
Let Karen show her funny side. Infact I think she would be a great Mayor!!
boy cant u get anything straight?? i said this town and the way its run is a total joke... man you must be tipping the bottle!
Anon Beattles fan.You forgot "Act naturally"I know...Buck wrote it.
But Ringo made it famous.You are the biggest fool to never hit the big time!
G.Martin.
Anon Beattles fan.You forgot "Act naturally"I know...Buck wrote it.
But Ringo made it famous.You are the biggest fool to never hit the big time!
G.Martin.
Crazy...adjective...
absurd, amok, bananas, bats in the belfry, batty, bizarre, bonkers, cockamamie, crack-brained, cracked, crackpot, crazed, cuckoo, daffy, daft, decrepit, delirious, dementate, demented, deranged, desirous, dilapidated, distracted, dotty, eager, erratic, fanatical, flaky, foolish, frantic, gaga, goofy, harebrained, haywire, inane, infatuated, insane, loco, loony, lunatic, mad, maniac, meshuga, meshugga, nuts, preposterous, psycho, rickety, senseless, shaky, silly, strange, tottering, touched, unbalanced, wacky, weird
Well, at least the voices in my head are right!
Craig
Perhaps it's a dithyramb that you hear. Eventually you'll be aware of the Greek chorus. Stay alert.
Jim
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