Re: LWV forum on optional form of govt

[Kenneth Gallant <gallantk@uidaho.edu>]

The LWV forum on county gov't is scheduled for 6:30 on Oct. 28th, one hour
before the county candidates forum.

Kenneth S. Gallant
Professor of Law
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho 83844-2322 USA
208-885-6541 (phone)
208-885-4628 (fax)
gallantk@uidaho.edu

On Tue, 20 Oct 1998, Priscilla Salant wrote:

> Mike asked if someone on 2020 could report back to the listserv about the
> committee's findings.  As a substitute, may I suggest the League of Women
> Voter's forum on Oct. 28 (7:30 pm at the Community Center).  The optional
> form of govt ballot issue will be discussed at the beginning of the forum,
> followed by candidates who are running for local offices.   At least this
> was the plan as of a week ago.  Can anyone from the LWV confirm this?
> 
> --Priscilla S.
> 
> ----------
> > From: curley@CYPHER.TURBONET.COM
> > To: vision2020@moscow.com; Bert Cross <bcross@uidaho.edu>
> > Subject: Re: Optional form of govt
> > Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 7:38 AM
> > 
> > I have had the same thoughts about the number of commissioners 
> > as expressed here.  However, I am considering  voting for the change 
> > because I think that we can't very well push to have more 
> > commissioners on the assumption that (a) we will thereafter obtain a 
> > majority vote on the optional form of govt issue, and (b) that if we 
> > do, having 3 commissioners will be a disaster.  And because I'm not 
> > very happy with the current form.  Electing a sheriff and coroner 
> > seems pretty crazy to me. 
> > 
> > While it may seem a bit chaotic or at least risky to change and see 
> > what happens, I'm not confident that our collective expectations of 
> > disaster and more egregious political infighting will prove accurate 
> > either.  I am therefore, willing to "send a message" to the 
> > commissioners changing our form of government with the hope and 
> > expectation that they understand they can't duck responsibility by 
> > pointing at some other elected official.  They either do the job as 
> > the majority of us wants or we (a) vote them out or (b) increase 
> > their number or (c) both.  I don't think we can build the bridge to 
> > better government until we lay this foundation.
> > 
> > I too am guilty of not having participated in the process before the 
> > report was issued.  The lack of public input causes me to wonder if 
> > I were appointed to a committee if I would just want to make a report 
> > after the first meeting, since once something is actually proposed 
> > public input increases exponentially.  
> > 
> > And as long as I'm purging my soul today, I'll also confess to not 
> > having read the full report.  Priscilla, if you're out there, this 
> > sure looks like one of those issues about which the public could use 
> > some education and information without having to ask Ken Gallant to 
> > answer every question that's raised.  Maybe we could have several 
> > people read the report and discuss the pros and cons--without 
> > necessarily trying to "convince" anyone yes or no, but to provide a 
> > balanced look at what the committee found was wrong with what we have 
> > and how this might help.  Is this an issue we could or should 
> > address??
> > 
> > Mike Curley
> > 
> > From:          "Bert 
> > Cross" <bcross@uidaho.edu> To:            vision2020@moscow.com Date: 
> >          Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:10:45 +0000 Subject:       Optional form 
> > of govt Priority:      normal
> > 
> > I've read the full report and listened to arguments pro and con and 
> > have decided to vote against the optional form of county government.  
> > The thing that bothers me most is still having only three 
> > commissioners.  We have seen what havoc only two commissioners can 
> > cause (look at Bonner County).  I would opt for at least five.  And 
> > since their work load would be diminished, salaries should be reduced 
> > to help pay the county administrator's salary.  We also might 
> > consider making the commssion offices non-partisan.  The commission 
> > would then be a policy-making body with the adminstrator carrying out 
> > its policies.
> > 
> > The ironic thing in the current election is this:  If I vote for 
> > assessor, county clerk, and county treasurer and then vote FOR the 
> > optional form, I am then voting to rescind my three prior votes.  
> > 
> > I agree we need to fine-tune our county government and make it more 
> > efficient and effective.  The county manager concept is generally a 
> > good one.  More officers should be appointed rather than elected. But 
> > we need to work out some of the bugs before we jump to this rather 
> > drastic and sudden change.  
> > 
> > I also must plead guilty to failing in my own civic responsibility 
> > when the study commission was seeking public input, as many of us 
> > did.
> > 
> > Bert Cross
> > 1448 Borah Ave.
> > Moscow, ID 83843
> > Phone: (208) 882-7660
> > email: bcross@uidaho.edu
> > 
> > Mike Curley
> > reply to: curley@turbonet.com
> > 208-882-3536
>