JUST SAYING...

I live in a City where I am continually amazed, especially when it comes to people and elections.  I have heard for years that people are not interested in running.  Residents do not come out to vote.

This year, we actually have five (5) candidates interested in the three vacancies.  Some of them actually made the deadline to file on time April 6.  However, because some wise people wrote our City Charter, it allows for write-in candidates.  We have write-in candidates, but it seems that they are being barred on every turn, from FULL participation in the process.

They have not been allowed to participate in City Sponsored Forums.  Nothing in the Charter forbids participation in the forum.  Ooops, the Charter does not even require a candidates forums!  So even  candidates that meet the filing deadline DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FORUMS!  The forum are for the purpose of residents being able to hear the views of all candidates choosing to participate in the forums.  They are set up by the Mount Rainier Board of Elections, and RUN by its members!  As such "all" candidates for any election in Mount Rainier should be open to all candidates.

Then there is that whole issue of elected officials behind the scene politics by throwing their support to candidates, for example:

F    Writing endorsements

F    Hosting meet and greets

F    Taking potential candidate to hang out with the Chief of Police for two or more hours

F    Requesting information to make sure that their candidates have the inside track on things

F    Trying to appear neutral when there has been no neutrality

Well, when you play the same old politics every time, it is hard to gain and keep the public trust.  No wonder only about 500 of the 4,300 voters in Mount Rainier ever bothers to come out to vote in an election.  I have heard most, if not all of the reasons for the low turnout, including the one that says, “APARTMENT DWELLERS DO NOT VOT”E.  Well, you CANNOT vote if you do not know where the election is being held.  

Apartment residents are all transients, and do not have a vested interest in the City.  Now, that is the biggest crock of bull I have ever heard.  Many of the residents living in apartments in Mount Rainier have been here longer than many of the homeowners, and many of them vote in federal and state elections.  Check the records.  For many years little or no effort was put into notifying ALL registered voters of the upcoming City elections.

There are more than 900 single family homes in Mount Rainier, and most of them have more than two voting age adults living in them.  Based on simple math that is about 1,800 potential voters that do not live in apartments, and we still can only count about 500 votes in most of our elections.  

Then there are those who throw rocks at those who run and/or hold office, yet they have NEVER put themselves out there, and probably never will.  They are the side line quarterbacks who can't ever find anything good to say about anything that has ever been or will be done, and still have all of the answers.  Oh yes, they also only support persons like themselves, especially, if they are doing what they want them to do.  They also feel that they are entitled to say, do, write, and put out any and all information on and about any given subject.  They are the experts, and definitely have all of the answers.

My answer.  The election was and still is open to every resident in this City that meets the qualifications spelled out by the Charter of this City.  YOU TOO CAN BE A WRITE IN CANDIDATE!

If you are not willing to take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.  Every single candidate opens him or herself up for scrutiny.  They are willing to take the heat.  So let's be fair.  Let's play fair.  In our democracy every American citizen has the right to participate in our political process, and still be treated with dignity and fairness.  NO ONE should be left out of the game, made to feel badly or be treated unfairly.  No one has a lockdown on how to best get something done in this City or anywhere else for that matter.  A collaborative effort has and will continue to move our City forward OR we can bring our pass progress to a screeching halt by going to our own private corners and fighting to the death what we want rather than what is best for this City, MOUNT RAINIER MARYLAND.

I hope all of the 4,300+ registered voters in this City will come out on Monday and let their voices be heard.  I hope that those that get elected will have a "CITY" agenda rather than their own "PERSONAL" agenda.

Good luck to all of the candidates, and may the BEST PERSONS be selected for the current vacancies on our City Council.  Thank you all for running.

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.  THE ELECTION IS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015!

MOUNT RAINIER’S CITY ELECTIONS

Monday, May 4, 2015

MOUNT RAINIER ‘S CITY HALL

ONE MUNICIPAL PLACE

(The bus terminal on Rhode Island Avenue across from Chuck’s Liquors)

MOUNT RAINIER, MARYLAND 20712

POLS are open at 7:00am.  You can vote before you go to work.

POLLS will close at 8:00pm.  You can vote during your lunch hour and after you get off work.