Spoiler alert! If you are looking for any kind of hard biting critique on last night's selectmen's meeting, forget about it. Nothing glaring or earth shattering happened, although I found a few the subtleties a bit interesting.
Since I am not 100% sure about the same, I will see if the stuff plays out over the next few weeks. It could be nothing more than an active imagination resulting from too much of a mega dose of the surreal as of late.
Since I am not 100% sure about the same, I will see if the stuff plays out over the next few weeks. It could be nothing more than an active imagination resulting from too much of a mega dose of the surreal as of late.
Some bits of information and the rationale for some things ran from enlightening to ... well let us leave it at enlightening.
I do want to say thanks for everyone who has commented the last couple of days. Hope you are will to keep it up. Views have been way up ever since the Monday night complaint session last week. while the comments on yesterday's post seem to be straying a bit off topic, and have probably reached the limit as to how far off they will continue to go, the topics do related to the issues discussed, somewhat anyway.
I have to make a note about the report in this week's Fairhaven Neighborhood News. The 12 page articles in other communities was a comment made about the Town Manager article, not the Finance Director/Tax Collector/Treasurer. Might seem like I am nitpicking to some, however getting some details correct are important.
If I were nitpicking though I might have a few pages of rant about some discussion that occurred last night. I won't though. Not worth the time or effort, at least not today.
As far as the close races, well looks like we are going to have two recounts, or potentially two.
Based on the PR mill it also looks like we could end up with a local version of the "hanging chad" case.
We can pontificate, surmise, argue, complain and do a whole host of other things.
For me, it all really boils down to this: If the "spit out" ballots are valid, those ballots deserve to be counted.
You cannot argue for open and transparent government and the need to represent all of the people, and all the other arguments about fair and honest government while at the same time arguing 48 ballots cast should not count.
If you can prove the ballots are the product of fraud, pony up the evidence. Otherwise, simply do the recount. Exercise your right to the challenges the law provides you and do whatever you feel needs to be down to insure an accurate count.
But do not try and convince me that we should simply ignore 48 ballots cast by voters.
We all will have to see how this one plays out. Hopefully the way it plays out will stop getting uglier by the moment.
While I don't agree with the wide voter apathy, I can tell you that I understand why the apathetic feel that way. What is that old saying, "The more things change, the more things seem to remain the same?" What's the other old saying that usually follows that one, "So why bother?"
Enough for today. Actually the events over the last week and a half are probably enough for another week and a half.
Be Safe.
I have to make a note about the report in this week's Fairhaven Neighborhood News. The 12 page articles in other communities was a comment made about the Town Manager article, not the Finance Director/Tax Collector/Treasurer. Might seem like I am nitpicking to some, however getting some details correct are important.
If I were nitpicking though I might have a few pages of rant about some discussion that occurred last night. I won't though. Not worth the time or effort, at least not today.
As far as the close races, well looks like we are going to have two recounts, or potentially two.
Based on the PR mill it also looks like we could end up with a local version of the "hanging chad" case.
We can pontificate, surmise, argue, complain and do a whole host of other things.
For me, it all really boils down to this: If the "spit out" ballots are valid, those ballots deserve to be counted.
You cannot argue for open and transparent government and the need to represent all of the people, and all the other arguments about fair and honest government while at the same time arguing 48 ballots cast should not count.
If you can prove the ballots are the product of fraud, pony up the evidence. Otherwise, simply do the recount. Exercise your right to the challenges the law provides you and do whatever you feel needs to be down to insure an accurate count.
But do not try and convince me that we should simply ignore 48 ballots cast by voters.
We all will have to see how this one plays out. Hopefully the way it plays out will stop getting uglier by the moment.
While I don't agree with the wide voter apathy, I can tell you that I understand why the apathetic feel that way. What is that old saying, "The more things change, the more things seem to remain the same?" What's the other old saying that usually follows that one, "So why bother?"
Enough for today. Actually the events over the last week and a half are probably enough for another week and a half.
Be Safe.
Thank you for your opinion on the blog, I appreciate an informed, well educated opinion. Its generally how good decisions are made. UNFORTUNATELY, its my personal fear ( and opinion) that the changes made will only serve to drive this town towards that cliff we have worked so hard to avoid for so many years. The thing I find most disturbing, is that the last few election cycles have been driven by Windwise and the muddying of the electoral waters. The facts, whatever they may be, are that a special interest group is throwing alot of money and time at candidates who back their special interest plans. This is a very dynamic and diverse town, its not all Sconticut Neck,east, north or the center. In particular, the decisions made over the two turbines will affect ALL residents, not only the ones who are making the most noise about them. The Selectman now are 2/3 against the turbines, one openly opposed, the other newly elected recieved heavy financial support and had agents of Windwise out knocking down doors to support him. I can only say this.. its more than the sum of its parts. This town is not just windmills and solar panels. Its digesters, sewer treatment, water, police and fire protection, Education, and alot of the things that benefit from NOT having to pay a couple hundred thousand dollars a year for electricity. We all want everything, without having to pay more for it. For the life of me, I cannot understand where the voters were to oppose the Windwise plants. Pay close attention to Falmouth. There could be a 5 million dollar bill ( not one we can spend) getting hung over this town. I for one dont want to pay it... Wind is free. I hope town meeting members remember, this is OUR town, not Windwises.
ReplyDeleteThere is no ignoring the fact that supporters of Windwise have been a driving force in the last two elections. Neither should there be any ignoring the fact that is hasn't been a secret, under the radar effort by those supporters. The voting public for the most part had enough readily available information to figure that out all by themselves.
DeleteOrganized groups driving elections is not a new concept. People opposed to something done, or proposed to be done banding together to elect officials at least sympathetic to their point of view, if not out right supporters themselves is nothing new. Trust me, I know. My personal experiences include the results of an election that encompassed such an effort.
I might not have agreed with that one in total either, but I choose to take from it a number of lessons and move on. The tally of votes is and always will be the correct and ultimate arbitrator of controversy (of the subject of controversy at time I guess).
Anyone is free to argue about the rationale and the "fairness" and everything and anything you want to. But Windwise, its supporters, or any individual against the turbines has the same exact rights as those who support the turbines.
I agree that the issue involves all the town residents.
I would have to say though, as I said not long ago elsewhere, if the turbines/windwise is the match that lit the fire, the fuel has been stockpiled for years.
I am not totally giddy over everything that has transpired over not just the last two, but three annual elections in town.
If you are on the winning side life is good. If you are on the losing side well, scratch good. But that is unfortunately how life is at times.
I hate to use the cliche that when life gives you a bag of lemons, make lemon aide, but that is what everyone should try to do.
I understand your points. But regardless of how this turns out, it doesn't negate the argument to count all of the votes.
DeleteHad the clerical error not been made, would such a ruckus ensued? With the tallies being so close, suspicions might have lurked in the minds of some residents anyway, that can't be avoided.
Had the margin of victory been substantial, the counting of 50 votes would not have made an impact on the result.
I believe the reason for the uproar was a combination of the close numbers AND the clerical error.
As far as any special interest group influencing the outcome of an election, of course I believe it has that ability. But are the majority of registered voters members of special interest groups? Unfortunately voters need to stop being so complacent, get informed about the issues, and get to the polls. What happens or doesn't happen in this town will be more the result of voter apathy, than the influence of special interest groups.
All votes need to be counted. If they're not, for whatever reason, the purpose of participating in future elections will be lost. Why vote, if my vote 'might not' be counted.
ReplyDeleteIf the votes are not counted, this will only add a new layer of paint to an already peeling wall. Let's not allow more skepticisms to ride on the back of current ones.
Too bad more people didn't vote. Perhaps if they showed a little concern for their community, neither of the races would have been close, and the forgotten ballots, although a disappointing situation in itself, might have had minimal impact.
The last point is that had this been an election without any strong emotional connection to the issues that face our residents, the reaction to the error would probably not have been so prominant.
Every valid vote should always count. Lessons in both clerical accuracy and voter apathy ought to be learned from this situation.
I agree Dawn, the handling of the election itself is a shame for our Town. I also feel that the majority of people in our Town should be ashamed of itself. The results of the election will be a direct result of the voter apathy Michelle refers to. As far as I'm concerned anyone who did not go to the polls or do an absentee ballot or even bother to become a registered voter, now has no right to argue about,complain to or disrupt the way that our elected and/or appointed officials proceed from this point forward. Once the dust is settled we must get back to being neighbors, friends or at the very least adults who agree to disagree in a civil manner. Also I'm with John, we should make lemonade....however I would add vodka.
ReplyDeleteLets just recount the total votes or is that to hard.I am sure there is a sane procedure that is intact for this enormous task.Or maybe the powers to be will use their powers and consult with town consul,seems like a common occurance .looks like they will be using this tactic more for the next year,they are increasing the budget again.Maybe we should go out to bid and look for another consul..
ReplyDelete