Academy of Local Politics

Political apathy abounds everywhere. My brother sent me this article from Marin County, California. They have a number of long term elected officials which are not going to be candidates this coming election. Time to move on. In Marin County alone they will have some 125 seats up for grabs. If averages prevail, 2/3 of those offices will be "won" uncontested.  First name on the ballot wins!

Here in CommonSenseville.US we are preparing for next April's elections. I get asked over and over if I'm going to run again? Who will be running for City Council? How about the Skarburrow County Board? I suspect we will have a few incumbents not running again. New blood will also be needed here. The time to make those decisions are coming up quickly.

Over the weekend I was in Milwaukee to take in the Brewers/Giants game and the U.S. Bank Open Golf Championship. At golf tournaments they have volunteers who help keep the crowd quiet at the appropriate times. These positions are normally taken by rather elderly individuals. They were down on volunteers this. they could have used more "Quiet Guys". Just like politics, these volunteer positions also need new blood.

New blood does not necessarily mean young blood. It could, but not necessarily. With more and more baby boomers retiring at earlier and earlier ages, they need something to do to keep themselves busy and productive.

Jump in. The water is fine.

Mayor Al

There is trouble in Brattleboro, Vermont. Nudity is going on (or coming off I guess).  From the article we read...

Public nudity made headlines last summer when the weather grew hot and a couple of dozen teens took to holding hula hoop contests, riding bikes and parading past stores wearing only their birthday suits. The disrobing has resumed this summer.

But many locals say it has gone too far. Some cite a case in which a senior citizen from Arizona strolled through the center of town wearing only a waist pack and sandals.

So, it was OK when it was local teenagers disrobing, but when a Senior Citizen does it, it's time to pass a law against it?

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with parents who allow their teenagers to ride their bike through town nude? 

Mayor Al

It is true that CommonSenseville.US Council Representatives Joe Jolly and Bill Stout really go at it sometimes at Council meetings. Joe and Bill grew up on the opposite sides of the "political tracks". They have been disagreeing with each other for over five decades. Some of their disagreements are legendary in the folklore of CommonSenseville.US. But, with that being said, they are always able to grab a beer together after the meetings. I think these guys from the Shropshire town council could learn a lesson from Joe and Bill.

Councillor Tony Pound and  Town Clerk Paul Russell exchanged more than words. Councillor Pound ended up in the hospital emergency room. Naturally, even eye witness stories varied in their accounts of "what happened?".

The Mayor does say the Town Clerk will be "fired".

I wonder...Is it easier to "fire" a city employee in the U.K. than it is to "fire" a city employee in the U.S.?

Or, do you have to "Go in a different direction" or "Restructure Job Descriptions" or some other wording like we do here?

When was the last time you actually heard a city employee of any kind was "Fired"?

Mayor Al

OK, OK I've heard the jokes and the naysayers. Our new CommonSenseville.US Business Park is planted in corn. The Business Park has had the new street and utilities there for a little over 2 years and still no concrete and mortar. Just corn.

Remember folks it took our last Business Park a little over 25 years to get filled but it did happen. There were naysayers then also. We've been close on getting a couple of businesses to locate here, but we've missed it "by that much".

I still stand 100% behind the decision to purchase this land and install the utilities. Long after we are gone from here, future generations of residents will reap the benefits our of foresight. Trust me.

Mayor Al

The phone calls and emails were fast and furious after yesterday's post, The Politics of Pets. I was accused of ignoring the pet license law. I was encouraging the citizens of CommonSenseville.US to not pay their license fee. I was, in essence granting pardons to the citizens who ignored the law.

Yes, I was being compared to our President pardoning Scooter Libby. It's a stretch. but that's what Dorothy Malzone accused me of doing.

I instead prefer to compare myself to President Bill Clinton in this regard. Failure to pay a pet license fee is about the only crime he did not pardon. Take a look at this list. It is all inclusive.  

I really don't see this as a campaign issue next election. Threatening pet owners with strict enforcement of the license fee isn't a winning issue. So, I will still continue to look the other way.

Mayor Al