These citizens are currently holding important positions in the City of Suffolk. Will there be challenges by qualified citizens. Are these current office holders qualified to make important decisions concerning our government and Public Schools? Unless you are content with their contribution you should be thinking about becoming a candidate or encouraging someone you think is up to the task. We know that Joe Barlow, a good man, will not run if he considers a challenger capable.
The Black community has for years complained about getting the short end of the stick and it is long past time it wakes up to the fact that Councilman Brown is as good an orator as Obama and equally effective. He needs to give others a chance to be even more successful.
The School Board needs strong citizens that will not accept the fact that Suffolk so often is at the bottom of rating charts...people with the courage to challenge the administration rather than become part of it. Click on picture to enlarge
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And these office holders are well compensated for the time they spend researching the problems we face. In most cases there is no argument at the meetings they attend, merely vote yes. In most cases the School Board members are well prepared by the Superintendent, and Council members by the Mayor...
Try to name the qualifications for the jobs each of the eight incumbents possess. Just take the ones from your borough...you will have enough trouble right there.
It's time to clean house...all incumbants must go. Never before have we needed new blood as we do now. Complacency, ego and a lust for power is a dangerous combination that has taken over this council. We need to bring back the true meaning of civil service with representatives who truely want to serve the people and not themselves.
Is Mike Duman running in the Chuckatuck Borough? What about his challengers from '06?- Mary Hill? David Gray? Someone needs to run.
Cypress - Is Brown running again? I've heard rumors of as many as four other people considering a run. Typically, that borough wouldn't see much of a race, but if it is a crowded field, then this could be the race of the year.
Holy Neck - I doubt Gardy will run again. He doesn't come across as a tough campaigner - not to me at least.
Suffolk "The Crown Jewel" - could be a clash of the titans, could be a bummer. I'd love to see Debranski get in that race.
We don't want four running against Brown. Just one good one. Splitting the vote is stupid.
In Response to the previous two comments:
Brown will be defeated if the right people of the right persuasion run against him.
Based on demographics, I don't think a white person could win in that borough - not even Reagan.
I'm not trying to sound like a racist - I'm certainly not one. But if Brown is to go, then he will be defeated by a black person.
The only way a white person could be victorious in that borough is if there is at least one other black person running. That's the sad truth in America. It's sad, but people too often vote based on the color of his or her skin and not the content of their character.
I live in the Cypress Borough - the rural part. I can say that it is the most gerrymandered borough in the city.
Council's inspirational speaker Charles Brown has a tidy campaign war chest from previous uncontested races. He will be tough to beat. Those that dare to contest his seat will need a thick skin and a thicker wallet. Downtown will be a slug fest if two compete for the seat. More than that is an automatic for the incumbent. Chuckatuck has rumors circulating of the Mayor hand picking Barlow's sucessor. Too bad because this borough is being looked at by developers like wolves to a newborn lamb. Gray has not been seen in four years so it will be hard for the electorate to believe he suddenly became religious about representing their borough. Hill might try again but this is not the same political environment of 2008.
Then there is the enigmatic borough of Holy Neck. Some say Copeland others Jones, who knows? As long as he or she supports Centerpoint, development down hamburger row and follows the Mayor's game plan they're in.
Look for back room deals to fend off contenders and of course the sign gangs will be out in force especialy in downtown. Suffolkians are in an anti-incumbent mood the problem is because of all the special interest groups they can never agree to field strong candidates. Johnson Wins Again!
Bob,
Speaking of changes, who is/are the new member(s) of the electoral board?
Now that there is a Republican Governor, don't localities have to have 2 republicans and 1 democrat on the board? Who appoints these people? Are they elected? I asked because I figured you knew.
The three members of the electoral board are appointed by Circuit Court Judges. For more information call 757 514 7750
All you have to do to win in the Chuckatck Borough is knock on doors.
You'd have to do that at all of the neighborhoods in and around Obici and the High/Middle Schools.
That takes care of the southern end.
In the northern end, you'd have to hit Cedar Point, Sleepy Lake and Eclipse pretty hard.
That coupled with 3 or 4 nice mailers, 250 yard signs and a couple of newspaper ads and you win.
The Chuckatuck Borough has so many transplants to Suffolk thanks to all of the new(er) developments, that fewer people will have an allegiance to a hometown candidate.
If I recall correctly, Chris Jones defeated an incumbent councilman in 1986.
The State Electoral Board is an appointed position and the makeup of it reflects whomever is in power - so there will be a majority republican electoral board now at the state and local levels.
At the local level, there are three positions that are appointed by each party. Whomever is in power has two positions and the minority party has one. We are now moving from two democrats locally to two republicans locally (and of course, one democrat).
Why wonder, Linda Johnson is already counting votes and tallying dollars to figure out how to keep getting her way, the Suffolk way! She is counting on all you pols to just stay asleep and not rise up to take your city back and it has worked for her for the last six years or more.
The only way to win seats back, is to put the mighty mouse of a mayor we have on the defensive by getting organized and help out good candidates and just be smarter. It is important to smooth down the egos of those that want to run for everything and get behind one good new candidate for each seat and let the others that support him or her serve a period on the planning commission, eda or whatever to clear the deck so we can really take on the incumbents. It is vital to help steer clear of a field of too many, that only insures the incumbents keep what they believe is their's, your seat on council! Gardy will not run, Parr will fight tooth and nail to keep his claim on power with mighty help from his friend (not our's) mayor mouse. Brown will push, shove and blosster to fend off challengers and Barlow will not run again. So, two seats to find good people for and two to find new blood to beat the old hacks out of and we will turn the mayor's world on it's head and take our city back!
Time to think "outside the box" as our mighty oritor on council always calls. Time to put the old guard in the box and get some new people on council and do it smarter and now!
If anyone is going to run for any of these seats why not give that info to "IS" and they might support you as they are Debra Wahlstrom for school board.
The Mayor can be a camelion if she needs to be to get her way. She will urge her friends and city acquaintences who owe her political favorites to run. If the winds of politics shoft she will do likewise bending like a palm tree this way and that but keeping her roots well entrenched. After the election she'll be on the cell phone haranging the neophites to see it her way with her girl talk and "hurt" feelings. Whomever unseats an incumbent must have one vital character trait; he or she must be a leader, not a follower. That person must by personnality, will and drive move the agenda away from the Mayor's. Find us that person Suffolk, and we'll support them with votes and money.
Time is running short for challengers to get into the races.
It's almost March, and the only declared candidate is Deborah Wahlstrom. If a dark horse candidate wants to get into the ring and earn some early momentum, he or she should publicly declare their candidacy and start out of the gates running hard and fast.
By announcing now, you will receive special attention. Everyone else that announces in May will get a headline that says "another candidate throws hat into ring" or will be included with all of the candidates in one large article.
By becomming a known quantity early, you will probably decrease the likelihood of having several competitors that are timid or are still testing the waters.
I think it would be beneficial for the challengers and incumbents to announce early. Raise the money early - there's only but so much to go around.
Is Joe Barlow the only incumbent considering retirement?
I wonder if Ira Steingold will get into that race. He certainly has some name recognition as he explored a mayoral bid in 2008 and ran as a Democrat against Chris Jones several years ago.
2010 has the potential to be a fairly exciting year for politics in Suffolk. I hope that it doesn't fizzle and be a bummer.
As Democrats in Washington distance themselves from the gathering storm by leaving office, it's surprising the incumbents on the School Board haven't followed their example. Maybe they have been so blinded by ego they can't see the blackboard.
Occupations hmmm, Debranski sells class rings in our public school system. Whitley a very long retired principal. Skeeter and Copeland professional politicos?
How much do they get paid to just sit on the SB?
Just look at the lower tier photos of the school board members running this November. Do any of their faces inspire confidence? Do they look bright? How about motivated a go getter? Are they the type of leader you trust your child's future? One has such a stupid smile on his face, I wonder is he laughing at himself or at us.
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