Just a day after Christopher Pike handily won the Ward 3 seat, Commissioner Tommy Postell wants to ignore the Charter (Well, I think he just wants to amend it, but the effect will be the same) by blocking him taking the title of Mayor Pro Tempore. Now, keep in mind that this position is a rotating title that only has an effect of the Mayor isn’t at meetings, and then it’s just to preside over the meeting.
You see, several months ago, Morris Gurr announced that he wouldn’t be seeking re-election. For a while, they knew that the Ward 3 Commissioner would be the next Mayor Pro Tempore.
Commissioner Postell said that it wasn’t anything against Pike, that he’d be making the same points if Williams had won. Really? Well then, why in the Hell didn’t you mention this a couple of months ago? I mean, it ain’t like you didn’t see this coming.
The thing is, I think he did. And I think he expected Arthur Williams to sit on the Commission again. And, what’s more, I suspect that had Williams won, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. If someone else had made the same comment, Postell would have cited Williams’ 22 years of experience as evidence that he should be allowed to sit at Mayor Pro Tempore.
Yeah, I think this was a slam against Pike and what Pike represents. Pike is an unknown for someone like Postell. This makes him a problem. Postell isn’t comfortable with someone like Pike possibly calling the shots during a Commission meeting. Despite his protestations to the contrary, it is personal…and pathetic.
Let’s face it. If it wasn’t personal, it would have been mentioned a couple of months ago when the outcome of the election was in doubt.
Well, the vote was taken to change the charter, and it was a 3-3 tie since Mayor Adams was out of town. What was interesting was that the vote went down racial lines. Postell, John Howard, and Dorothy Hubbard voted to block; while Langstaff, Marietta, and Gurr voted against the measure. Three white commissioners vote to protect an incoming black commissioner. Frankly, that makes me incredibly happy.
I want to applaud Commissioners Langstaff, Marietta, and Gurr on their vote. I don’t say those words that often, but this is definitely the case that it’s warranted on this one. Christopher Pike won, and now the mechinations of government need to chug on with him in place.
As it stands now, it will. Unfortunately, Postell plans to bring it back up when the Mayor is back in town. I suspect I know how the Mayor will vote…with his good buddy Postell.
And frankly, it’ll be a travesty if he does.
I wouldn’t be so quick to read the mayor that way. You forget the “good guy” or “hero” image he wants to project. The political winds will blow very hard against this motion.
I would not be surprised to see Jon Howard and even Dorothy Hubbard come out against it the next time around. If Postell even brings it up, and I’d say that is a big if, my prediction now is that he will not get a second on the motion and it will die on the vine.
Expect Nathan Davis to render an opinion that this will draw legal fire.
And that would be the out. Frankly, I dont’ think this will come back up…but if it does, Adams will likely vote with Postell. I’d love to be wrong, but Howard isn’t likely to change his vote because of political backlash. He just doesn’t strike me as the type. Hubbard might, but I can’t say for certain. If Howard does change his vote, it won’t be because of the political winds, but because someone convinced him his earlier vote was wrong. Howard strikes me as a man of principle. While I don’t agree with him on a lot of stuff, he’s a “true believer” in his votes and isn’t likely to change it without someone convincing him he was wrong.
Agree on Howard. didn’t mean to suggest Howard and Hubbard sway with the winds, but I do think Howard listens to the voice of the people. Don’t know Ms. Hubbard well enough.
I am surprised that the vote was taken so quickly. First that it was brought up so fast by Postell…a bit ungracious to a new guy making a courtesy call. I think they are real concerned that Pike will take it on straight-up and will not just roll with the nonsense.
Also, that the other commissioners would vote against Ward 3 and Pike so quickly without legal opinion or some greater consideration is telling of something. I have to think there was pre-meeting chatter. Or they didn’t like the solid pretty much across the board support Chris got.
In the small pond world, it’s an interesting thing that may be going on. Maybe a chauffeur will lose his part-time gig soon. Or the real process for the indoor football team will be revealed.
Maybe emphasis will be put on a plan for sustainable economic progress that adds revenues to the whole market, instead of trying to steal the fish from another gull.