Thursday night’s episode of Peachtree City’s ongoing soap opera is over, the mayor was censured on a predicted 3-2 vote (anyone surprised?), and I and many other residents are asking ourselves if we can simply move on.
My idea of good government is one that is effective without the fanfare of headlines or disputes that spill over into the media. In fact, I would say the best type of local governance would be the kind that is heard from as the exception rather than the rule. An acquaintance informed me that we live in a modern day Mayberry, but with several Barneys running things.
Council’s censure of Mayor Haddix has done nothing to take away his right of free speech, nor has it demanded of him change under the penalty of law. It is merely a statement of dissatisfaction by a majority on council representing a presumed majority of residents who are tired of bickering, inflated egos, public shouting matches, finger pointing, and other associated antics one would expect to be prevalent in most kindergartens.
The late Will Rogers once referred to a politician who was elected and during his entire term of office did absolutely nothing, but that was fine because they didn’t want him to do anything and he did his job well. The citizens of Peachtree City have elected its Council to act in their interests as adults, but after last evening I would argue that the capable Mr. Pennington’s job could be much easier should this council do nothing.
Ms. Learnard made an interesting point when she read from a local newspaper excerpts from a letter purportedly written by a fellow council member that was obviously a fabrication. Could it be that words were changed to spin the author’s words into something he/she didn’t actually mean? I don’t know, but I do know that if that were the case our council has a much deeper issue on its hands than merely justification for slapping the mayor’s wrists.
The gist of what I took from last night is that Peachtree City is indeed dissatisfied with its mayor and his ongoing battles with anyone who demonstrates an opposing view.
Additionally, I detected a groundswell of dissatisfaction with the council as a whole to the point of embarrassment. Residents are proud of the place we call home, and if we were to be in the headlines it should be something positive that would make observers envious of our town. Those same observers would, if given the opportunity, relocate here to raise their families as many of us have done. I would contend that creating this type environment would bring more of the needed economic development than any DAPC or development coordinator possibly could.
Each member of our City Council was elected to serve independently to act in the best interests of Peachtree City, and perhaps we need to require our council to demonstrate that they can, in fact, act independently.
I say this because for nearly four years, when one saw the mayor, Mr. Sturbaum accompanied him. Now the same is being played out by the other three. Why is it not the exception rather than the rule that when one council member shows up, another of usually the same voting block accompanies him/her?
Both Mr. Sturbaum and Mr. Imker are up for reelection this year and I believe both are quite vulnerable, and that is unfortunate because I believe each is both a good and honorable man. Further, the mayor’s repeated attempts to discredit Mr. Imker by distortion, spin, and half-truths only serve to weaken the mayor while unfortunately, casting a shadow on the entire council.
So where do we go from here? For example, I would ask the mayor and Mr. Imker to bury their respective hatchets. This may just be wishful thinking on my part, but for the sake of our town can’t the mayor just admit that Councilman Imker knows more about budgeting than someone who has difficulties spelling arithmetic?
Is it not possible that someone who purports to be a leader take advantage of those with practical experience in an area over one’s own attendance in two budget classes?
To do this the mayor will have to leave his ego at the door and Mr. Imker will have to do the same, for there simply is no room at City Hall for either, much less both.
Both need to stay off the blogs and communicate through the city staff to update residents. Direct emails should be considered private conversations with the understanding that they can be made public if done on a city conveyance.
In short, I’ll paraphrase an old saying from my military days: Lead, follow, or get the hell off my dais!
Michael L. King
Peachtree City, Ga.
