For Mayor --
- Dan Corbin. Dan is really the only candidate who acts like he wants the job. (That in itself may be a disqualification.) He is informed, articulate, sociable, presentable, widely known and liked, and in a position to devote the unpaid hours required from a Killeen mayor.
- Billy Workman. Billy deserves a nod because of what he has tried to do for the city. If there is a politician in town with his heart in the right place, it is Workman. I admit that I said he had eliminated himself after his poor performance at the Exchange Club/KDH forum, but I've reconsidered.
For At-large Council seats:
- Jonathan Okray. Jon did our city a big service. He hasn't campaigned very hard, but I think he deserves serious consideration.
- Daniel Kott. Dr. Kott is the most intelligent man in the race, and maybe the oldest. I have no doubt of his judgement and integrity, but I'm most enthused about his understanding of technology and how it can be applied to help people in this city better grasp what their representatives are up to.
- Ralph Cossey. Ralph is a dynamo. He's also smart and deeply involved in civic matters. He has run for council (district 4) before and came close to winning. He would be a voice for reason on the council.
- Jared Foster. Jared is young and closely tied to the business community. His main asset right now is his enthusiasm. If you talk to him, you will probably want to vote for him.
- Elizabeth Blackstone. Every governing body needs a person who can rein in enthusiasms of the moment and apply basic logic to problems. I suspect Mrs Blackstone is such a person.
- Jim Butler. He knows more about running the city than anyone else in the race. Because he was until his recent retirement the director of Public Works, he may be too closely tied to the existing structure. Nonetheless, I can't ignore his deep knowledge of the city.
In the two weeks leading up to the election, I hope to interview all 8 of these candidates. If I get a chance to do so, I will tell you about it.
It is always interesting to follow your comments and logic. As usual, you tell it as your see it. It would help if a lot more citizens did the same. I do appreciate the comments and do intend to use my skills for fair and open government if elected. Thank for your efforts to get the word out to the public.
ReplyDeleteCorbin seems articulate. Which is why it came as a shock to see that he didn't distance himself from the supporter that set up false web links. This was covered on your March 10 blog in how Killeen's election got off on a bad start. Corbin talks about transparency quite a bit in his campaign. Yet when the issue of his supporter's actions was brought to his attention, he made no efforts to inform Killeen (that I'm aware of) and it was only when the story showed up in the press that we heard from Corbin. Leaders that talk of transparency should be proactive not reactive. How can Corbin be expected to handle himself in difficult situations with the laid back approach he showed in this problematic instance? Blackstone, Foster and Butler say all the right things. Yet looking at their affiliations it's hard to believe they wouldn't be influenced by them. Cossey is known to have defended Cole when allegations of inappropriate race relations came up on past council. Obviously there must be some personal relationship for Cossey to have stood up for Cole. Too close for comfort in my view.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that no one has commented on the candidates financial reports. Some of the candidates on this list are the big spenders on KDH ads, with big money from the typical big donors. i.e. chairperson the Bell County Republican Party. Hopefully the public can separate political rhetoric from fact.
ReplyDeleteThe big spending for a city election is just evidence that the seats matter for those that have to do business with the city. What other reason would there be to spend thousands of dollars for a council position that pays a paltry stipend which would just cover monthly gas expenses (if that with the cost of gas being what it is). Jared Foster seems to have spared no expense in his colorful mail outs. Reading his campaign mail out one wonders how much Killeen can identify with him. He seems to come from a privileged background and while he did move away it seems he hasn't established himself in the career world. Not many folks in Killeen his age have a family business that they can return to. On one hand it's great that he's helping family. On the other hand he mentions his dream is to have a independent bookstore. Most of Killeen has minus the military have regular jobs that they work at and quite frankly they do not have the luxury of running a family business while waiting to branch out and establish themselves in the workforce.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't like the mailer. I would like to point out, however, that I have no business to do with the city other than paying my water bill. I've spent thousands of dollars because I want to win. I did grow up here, I'm not ashamed of it, and accept that there will be a tendency to associate me with what is perceived as locals who use city government to benefit only their own interests.
DeleteI can refute it, however, and further clarify that I represent nobody but myself and even share some of your concerns about the potential for abuse of power. I believe in the benefit of the doubt, and plan to give whatever council that is elected the same courtesy. The fears we have about our own neighbors in this city have become toxic and begun to rule us. The time will come, however, when we will have to start trusting each other again. I am willing if you are.
-jared
-jared