Jackson (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} jackson815) wrote,@ 2007-05-16 08:44:00 |
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Argo Has No Intentions of Scheduling a Vote
One must ask why Argo's town leadership has such a problem with the principles on which this country was founded. First they show disrespect for the republican process in not allowing its citizenship true representation by refusing a special election to replace elected officials. Now, they outright spit on the democratic process by outright stating to the press that they will fight to the very end to deny Argo's people their right to vote.
After Judge Wallace Wyatt, Jr. upheld his decision in April, the Town of Argo had between 40 and 90 days to schedule a vote. Instead they plan to take the issue to Alabama's Supreme Court in an effort to fight the will of the people. Let them. The Alabama Supreme Court has the authority to take over the town and schedule the vote themselves. The St. Clair County Probate Judge didn't have that authority.
One way or another the Argo's leaders have just shot themselves in the foot. What judge in his right mind is going to issue a decision that would refuse a vote of the people-- especially a judge who is himself elected? Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb just won a very tight race herself and she certainly couldn't afford the political backlash of such a decision. Argo might have had a slight chance had they waited this one out. They might have actually won had they scheduled the vote and not fought the issue. They might have drug out the issue at least to the next election. Instead they've all but guaranteed their swift defeat by demonstrating that the town leadership is very much interested in fighting the will of the people. Many who were previously on the fence and some on the other side have now hopped on over to the annexation side. They've even raised a few eyebrows in other cities across the state-- from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa to Wetumpka to Enterprise to Birmingham to Huntsville to Foley.
Now they're screwed. If they held a vote today they'd lose. If they fight it they'll still face a vote and they'll lose by an overwhelming landslide. I'm sure that Betty Bradley and Albert Jordan are very grateful to the town leadership for making their lives that much easier.
And their reasoning? You're going to love this. They state that they're fighting an election partly because it would cost the city money to hold one. As opposed to the money coming out of the city treasury to pay attorney fees and court fees to fight it? An election would be downright thrifty on their part!
I'm waiting to see if they'll state as usual that they've been misquoted when they released that very statement in writing to several local newspapers.
I'd be interested in seeing what the district attorney has to say about the legality and ethics regarding using town treasury to fight town interests. We could very well have a lawsuit against the town leadership themselves before this is over and done with.
One must ask why Argo's town leadership has such a problem with the principles on which this country was founded. First they show disrespect for the republican process in not allowing its citizenship true representation by refusing a special election to replace elected officials. Now, they outright spit on the democratic process by outright stating to the press that they will fight to the very end to deny Argo's people their right to vote.
After Judge Wallace Wyatt, Jr. upheld his decision in April, the Town of Argo had between 40 and 90 days to schedule a vote. Instead they plan to take the issue to Alabama's Supreme Court in an effort to fight the will of the people. Let them. The Alabama Supreme Court has the authority to take over the town and schedule the vote themselves. The St. Clair County Probate Judge didn't have that authority.
One way or another the Argo's leaders have just shot themselves in the foot. What judge in his right mind is going to issue a decision that would refuse a vote of the people-- especially a judge who is himself elected? Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb just won a very tight race herself and she certainly couldn't afford the political backlash of such a decision. Argo might have had a slight chance had they waited this one out. They might have actually won had they scheduled the vote and not fought the issue. They might have drug out the issue at least to the next election. Instead they've all but guaranteed their swift defeat by demonstrating that the town leadership is very much interested in fighting the will of the people. Many who were previously on the fence and some on the other side have now hopped on over to the annexation side. They've even raised a few eyebrows in other cities across the state-- from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa to Wetumpka to Enterprise to Birmingham to Huntsville to Foley.
Now they're screwed. If they held a vote today they'd lose. If they fight it they'll still face a vote and they'll lose by an overwhelming landslide. I'm sure that Betty Bradley and Albert Jordan are very grateful to the town leadership for making their lives that much easier.
And their reasoning? You're going to love this. They state that they're fighting an election partly because it would cost the city money to hold one. As opposed to the money coming out of the city treasury to pay attorney fees and court fees to fight it? An election would be downright thrifty on their part!
I'm waiting to see if they'll state as usual that they've been misquoted when they released that very statement in writing to several local newspapers.
I'd be interested in seeing what the district attorney has to say about the legality and ethics regarding using town treasury to fight town interests. We could very well have a lawsuit against the town leadership themselves before this is over and done with.
