Mayor Bandy Does not Trust Us

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion." Thomas Jefferson, September 28, 1820

We are not hypocrites when we demand that our government trust us as a voters, even when we do not trust our government. This principle is at the heart of the American Republic. The citizens' mistrust of government refeshes our system; providing fresh ideas, new politicians and prevents abuse. When an elected official no longer trusts the voters, on the other hand, the system decays and withers.

Our newly elected mayor and some city council members apparently no longer trust the voters who elected them. They are trying to approve the $7 million purchase of a private water company, all without voter approval. The "water tax" will result in assessments ranging from several hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars being levied against local property owners. The current plan is to do all of this without putting it to a vote.

Yet, the option of putting it to a vote has always been avaliable to Mayor Bandy and the city council. It is still an option today. The question we need to ask at the upcoming public meeting on the 18th is "Why not let us decide?"

If we, as voters, were good enough to elect them, why are we not smart enough to understand the need or benefits of purchasing Eagle Water Company? Just two months ago the city made a point that a majority of voters were needed to elect our Mayor. Why now does a minority of 5 make decisions for over 6,000 households and businesses in the propsoed LID? That is rank hypocrisy and a violation of the public trust.

Instead of taking the decision from the voters, the Mayor and city council should be trying inform the voters of the facts and, in doing so, persuading us to see it their way. We are ready and able to listen. We have been trusted to make informed decisions in the past and will be required to do so in the future. Please let us decide.

Mayor Bandy and Council Members, we are not children. "Because I said so," or "You will understand when you are older," will not satisfy us. We want a vote and we will either vote on the purchase of the water company or we will vote on whether we still want a Mayor and City Council who do not trust us.