If a person is making a stand

on behalf of a broad range of citizens who are not affiliated with an

established organization, he/she is called an activist. While the person

representing an organization where some people profit off of government

decisions or have committed wrongdoings against the citizens are lauded

that normally fund political campaigns and not the broad range of nonaffiliated

citizens.

All professions face difficult

decisions but elected officials have their decisions weighed in the public

forum. I cannot tell you how many people, after reading the newspaper,

have told me that they would not change places with me for anything. I

refuse to allow the criticism from special interests groups to blur my

focus. My philosophy is to stick to your principles and protect your constituents.

Sticking to your principles

can be risky business in elected office as you will most certainly be

whacked upon the head for not going along with the "demanding threatening

elements" that bear their teeth and growl in an effort to intimidate.

It is so much easier to abandon your principles.

Political writer Frank R. Kent

puts it this way, "Probably the most important single accomplishment

for the politically ambitious is the fine art of seeming to say something

without doing so ... The important thing is not be on the right side of

the current issue but on the popular side ... regardless of your own convictions

or of the facts. This business of getting the votes is a severely practical

one into which matters of morality, of right and wrong, should not be

allowed to intrude" (Political Behavior, 1928).

I have been told by some concerned

citizens that recall petitions are circulating about our city courtesy

of our tennis center special interest. This does not surprise me as desperate

people will resort to desperate measures.

Should we compromise our principles?

There are certainly a lot of people that will demand that you do so when

it involves an elite group. Is wrong always wrong and are there varying

shades of illegal?

There are some that will say,

"This fighting has to end!" I am perplexed as to why they are

not saying, "Do what is right for all!" or "Protect the

taxpayers!" We can only grow with new ideas that are brought together

Something to think about.

Steve Brown

Mayor, Peachtree City

[email protected]