Public officials deserve presumption of honesty

When Judi-ann Rutherford resigned from the Peachtree City Council recently, I took notice because she seemed to be a decent lady whose voting record was in line with my attitude on issues like TDK.

But when a process was announced to select a replacement for the remainder of her term, a so-called friend named Skip Ragan suggested I throw my hat into the ring. I gave him a look that said he was out of his mind. Why not, he asked?

I told Skip I can’t be a politician. I don’t like babies and refuse to kiss them. I’m far uglier than my mugshot would suggest and I’m fat and frumpy to boot.

The very idea of upholding a public image and making speeches that touch all bases to keep as many voters as possible happy triggers my gag reflex.

I rarely attend City Council meetings because the incessant public arguing is like fingernails on a chalkboard to my peace-loving mind.

On issues that affect the city my family calls home I would be an ardent student if I were in office, and I would make decisions with great care, but the ubiquitous crowd of enthusiasts on the opposite side of every issue would have to, well, kiss me where the sun don’t shine because I would refuse to argue with every schmuck who wanted to poke his finger into my chest.

I am thoroughly grumpy and impatient by nature and I have accumulated enough aches and daily pains to make a politician’s everlasting smile impossible. My idea of a good time is peace and quiet in solitude, not debates with every concerned citizen who walks through the door with an ax to grind.

I fervently believe pure journalism is dead and buried, replaced by a competitive media herd all too willing to filter events through their own personal agenda and feed party line gruel to the masses as if it were news. I often wonder how long America can survive the demise of a free, independent and objective press.

How long would I last in elected office once reporters caught a whiff of my contempt? Our culture is disintegrating, our values are being turned on their head, the world is sliding down a slippery slope into hell and Skip thinks I can solve problems by pounding my round self into a square hole?

While Skip and I are tight – we both flew helicopters in the Vietnam War and tell each other lies about it regularly over coffee — I told my alleged buddy through gritted teeth these were just a few reasons I wouldn’t last five minutes in elected office.

Skip said, “But that’s why we need you. You’ll shoot it straight because you don’t care how it plays to the public.”

Skip has half a point, but not about me in public office; I’d rather cut off my own head with something dull.

But what about others more virtuous than me, the people whose background and temperament are more suited to public service? What about those who consider the vacant seat on the council, knowing they can bring much to the table on issues vital to our city. How many of them will be willing to put up with the challenge of dealing with a jaded public? How many with deep experience and strong character will submit their application to take the vacant city council seat?

Once they apply, what should we think of them?

We could start by assuming they have their own self-interest at work. We could speculate publicly that they are demonstrably stupid when we disagree with their take on an issue. We could throw around the notion that they must be evil, or sufficiently dishonest to be in the pocket of someone evil. After all, isn’t this what passes for civic discourse in Peachtree City nowadays, much of it from the cowardly cover of anonymity?

Think about it. Someone who cares enough about their city to put up with difficulty decides to take the punches in a political campaign. Then when they are elected, no matter what they decide on any issue, there will be a vocal opposition to sling mud at them.

I have often heard complaints about the quality of candidates for office. Strangely, the complainers don’t want to serve, and by the shabby way we treat those in office, it is we, the public, who are to blame that so many good people would never consider serving their community.

Thank God everybody doesn’t have my rough edges, and there are some ready to step up to the plate to study the tough issues, listen to all points of view and make decisions on behalf of their neighbors.

Maybe we could repay them, at least those of us unwilling to serve, by giving them the simple presumption that they are honest, decent people, even when they disagree with us, and leave off all the foul criticism unless and until they prove to be a crook.

I hope Ms. Rutherford’s replacement is the decent person I will presume, and I hope he or she sees that TDK is one of those issues that call for our local reps to lay down in the grass where some fools want to build a road that will threaten our city and declare, “Over my dead body!”

Otherwise I will be one of the vocal critics.

See what I mean?

Now I have to find something to hit Skip with.

[Terry Garlock is a certified financial planner in Peachtree City.]

Election night

Submitted by mapleleaf on Tue, 08/07/2007 - 3:40pm.

Being a public official is even worse than you described.

You have to pay money, 3% of the annual salary for the job, to even be considered.

For the vast majority of positions, you also have to choose between announcing as a Republican or a Democrat. Otherwise, for all practical purposes, you can’t run. Of course, you’ll be expected to pledge your allegiance to “your party.”

Then you’ll have to file a statement disclosing your family’s assets. With good luck you won’t find anybody who reads it. But it’s there. And you have to update it from time to time.

After you announce for the office, nothing will happen. I mean nothing. The media will think you’re interested only if you raise money. Lots of it. Most candidates “loan” money to their campaign. You have to disclose all that you receive (even if it’s only from yourself) and all that you spend, identifying the people who gave and their contributions as well as the people who paid and what it was for. With good luck, the media won't look at your reports and none of this will be disclosed outside the confines of the Board of Elections office.

Of course, you’ll have to get acquainted with all the rules that govern that, including the deadlines for every report.

Beyond that nothing will happen unless you try to stir something up. The media is mostly interested in whatever you do that turns out to be controversial. Otherwise it’s not news. You’ll have to stage events where you appear to have lots of supporters, and try to have the media cover them, to create a sense of excitement.

You’ll need signs. Especially yard signs. Then you’ll have to beg folks to let you put signs in their yard. You won’t be judged to be a serious candidate unless you have lots and lots of yard signs. You’ll also need trucks with signs on them that travel through the area and park near high-traffic areas. The signs folks don’t work for free.

Then the big day will come. Very quiet all day. You’ll look up election results on TV or on the web as they trickle in. If your percentage is below 50%, you go to bed realizing you’ve wasted a lot of money and a lot of time and have used up a lot of your family’s good will. All the people who invested in you lost their investment. Nobody says “thanks for running.” It’s the end of the road, and you’re the nobody you’ve always been.

login to post comments

The Very Best of Us Won't Serve because of the Very Least of Us.

Submitted by Richard Hobbs on Sat, 08/04/2007 - 12:57pm.

I couldn't have said it any better. It takes a special breed to actually want to run for office and then to have to put up with all of the naysayers who question your integrity and honesty based entirely upon hearsay rumors and poorly investigated and reported articles in the paper. (Yes Cal, I'm including the Citizen.)

So I'd love to see you Run for City Council. Then again, that might not be a nice thing to wish upon anyone who wants to maintain their sanity.

Leadership, true leadership is a quality that I find lacking from our local city hall, to our county, State and National Government. Its sad that the very best of us are kept from serving because of the very least of us.

login to post comments

Hobbs

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Sat, 08/04/2007 - 3:15pm.

You approach the hypocritical with your comments.
I didn't bother to take the time to look you up, but I'm pretty sure that you have at least a few criticisms of your own of public people!
But are you like most republicans: it doesn't apply to me?

login to post comments

Garlock: no town halls for you, huh?

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Thu, 08/02/2007 - 7:58am.

I don't disagree much with your attitude about putting up with rednecks and special interests poking their finger in your chest at meetings or in public. It is stupid stuff!
They want to brag how they told you what was what!
However, although I am somewhat like you, I do think that we could serve if we wanted to do so. Just be honest when asked: say I'm not smart enough to figure out all these problems instantly, but I will try to be fair when I vote. I'll even ask someone if I don't know the answer!
When they ask you why should TDK bridge be built or not, just say when the time comes to vote, you will have made up your mind---unless of course you want or don't want it, then just say so.
If you don't get elected or if you do, then that would be fine!

login to post comments

Oh, boy!

Submitted by PTC Guy on Thu, 08/02/2007 - 12:48pm.

I have not been on in awhile.

But I had to comment on this one.

I feel a lot like Terry Garlock. I would not play politics for votes.

I speak my mind, with some sense of knowing when it isn't worth commenting.

My way of thinking is that my personal preferences do not rule the roost. That need, legalities, fiscal responsibility and so on have to weigh out the best available answer, even if not the most desired answer.

Unfortunately, we get many in office that do not share that belief, or believe pleasing the masses is always the right road, at least to get elected or re-elected.

Having served on HOA boards, in two associations, I know how well you cannot please everyone.

Same with volunteer leaderships, as in Scouting or 4-H.

Always someone who hates your guts or thinks you are a fool.

Yes, they are entitled to feel that way. But no, doesn't not make it easier to accomodate.

I had thought about running. 20 years prior experience running a business, now having the time and so on, I thought, gave a perspective.

And so on.

Then, I thought about the flip side. What issues would be inherited from the past. New issues on the horizon. The special interest groups that cannot see beyond single issues or complete self interest.

A paradox. Those who would do the best jobs don't have the major egos, agendas and so on that get them to run. Those we really don't need do have the egos, agendas and so on that get them to run.

We need good leadership. Especially now.

Are we going to get it? I have reservations, but we can always hope.

OK, I am sure some of my old 'friends' will go on alert seeing me posting, again.

Just making a general comment guys. Still prefer Fayette Speaks.

Not getting back in the action, here. Later.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real, and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

login to post comments