This Just In ...

Franklin alderman says 60% of electorate missed the point

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 3, 2010

The Franklin referendum asking for a full-time mayor went down in flames Tuesday, clearly showing how out of touch its main supporter, Alderman Steve Taylor is with our city.

Mark Schaaf’s article on FranklinNOW about this issue is quite revealing, demonstrating Taylor’s shortcomings as a city official. Schaaf writes:

“Alderman Steve Taylor, who proposed the referendum, said he was not surprised the measure was defeated. But, based on the results for other races last night, he thinks voters missed the point of the referendum, which didn't detail the intent of his proposal.

He said last night's election, which saw Republicans win high-profile races for state governor and U.S. Senate, showed a strong push for smaller government and fiscal restraint. That was consistent with his proposal, which in exchange for making the mayor full-time would have eliminated the city's director of administration position.

The DOA job pays $105,720 annually and a full-time mayor would make less than that.

‘Voters felt government was getting too big and too intrusive,’ said Taylor, who believes the director of administration position ‘is another layer of government we could get rid of.’

He added he would not support any change that did not eliminate the director of administration.”

I’m sorry, but what a boob. The first comment on Schaaf’s article came from an individual that used the name, “Clear Thinker” who wrote:

“After reading this, I think the referendum question could have been worded differently to explain their logic.”

Ya think??!!

Alderman Taylor implies that you, the electorate, were just not smart or insightful enough to recognize how ingenious his proposal was. Again, Schaaf wrote, “He (Alderman Taylor) thinks voters missed the point of the referendum, which didn't detail the intent of his proposal.”

Well, golly gee, Alderman Smartypants, then you should have proposed a resolution to have the referendum wording ask if Franklin voters wanted to have a full-time mayor in exchange for eliminating the position of the city director of administration. It’s that simple! Don't blame or insult the voters because you botched the wording on your own proposal. But I guess you blew it again, Alderman.

By the way, even if the wording had been different, I believe this foolish notion would have been rejected. Under Alderman Taylor's idea of making the mayor full-time and eliminating the city DOA, what would the city actually save? $20,000? $30,000?

If Alderman Taylor is so concerned about the city saving money, where are his real proposals to cut spending? After all, he’s on the Finance Committee.

Finally, shame on Alderman Taylor’s colleagues on the Common Council who expressed apprehension about this referendum, but voted with Taylor anyway to put it on the ballot.