The Front Porch Swing

[wyoDreamer]

Sorry about the disappointment Blooie.

All I can say is that we need more people like you in government. Sounds like you are more of a concerned citizen than a politician.
I would vote for you if I could!

 

[LindaB220]

Well, now that the disappointment of the vote count has worn off, I feel a little better. Wow, what a trouncing I took! I really thought I was doing a better job than the vote reflected but I guess I was mistaken. So what do I need to change in the short time I have left between this election and the general?

I won't change giving my opinion when I don't think a plan is in Cowley's best interests. I won't change being willing to vote "no" if I have to, and/or disagreeing with the rest of the council and the mayor. I won't change the effort I make to get to every meeting, scheduled or special. I won't change my mantra during council meetings - "It's not my money." I won't change my stance on getting a stove back in the gym, and pushing hard toward a community center more than a gymnasium. I certainly won't change my belief that Cowley needs to provide some kind of employment to keep our kids here instead of forcing them to leave the area to find work. Nor will I change welcoming people to town whether they are buying a home, building a home, or "just transients" renting a home, as a fellow candidate called renters. I won't change pushing for enforcement of existing ordinances and for codification of those ordinances. And I won't change believing that our town crew's first responsibility is to their maintenance and repair work instead of extra frills requested by others, especially when it involves spending the town's money for overtime pay. Well, I just guaranteed a full blown loss in the general election, didn't I, because after serving for 4 years there isn't a thing I've done that I would change!

Sorry I missed the original post. But anyway, politicians whether they be big or small are looking for a team player, a yes man/woman to back all their ideas. I'm sorry, honey, but that ain't you.

 

[enola]

********** seriously wishing Blooie was my neighbor **********

 

[Blooie]

The irony is that the mayor and the other council members are my biggest supporters. There was an incident around Christmas that might have had something to do with it. We have a "Beautification Committee" and these 4 women plant flowers and prepare Christmas decorations in town. Unfortunately they also think that their wants and needs supercede those of the Council and they are very vocal and demanding about it. One of the candidates is a former town employee - once the head of our public works department. When he was working he would go out of his way to fetch and carry for the "town criers" and we always had to pull him back and remind him that he worked for the town, not just for those 4 ladies. I was usually the lead critic. When Nick finally just couldn't work anymore because of his health, we promoted his second to his position and hired a new guy to take John's place. The "town criers" weren't one bit happy with our decision, even though Nick came to us and told us he had to quit working. John was never as "available" to humor them as Nick was.

Fast forward to this past Christmas, about a year after Nick quit and John took over. John took an afternoon and hung the town Christmas decorations. One of the ladies yelled at him because that wasn't the way they wanted them hung. John told them that if he had time he'd redo them later. Not good enough. Then they wanted all of the picnic tables moved from the park to Christmas Tree Hill, and all of the burn barrels set up for fires at the annual tree lighting and Santa Visit, but he just couldn't do it right then. They had a hissy and went to Nick, who dropped everything and bowed to their whining. I did not know anything about this - none of us on the council did. So when I wrote a little blurb thanking the Beautification Committee by their individual names for their planning and preparations, and John and Dereck for doing the grunt work, they took exception to it. The lead "crier", Sally, blasted me publicly for allowing John and Derreck to take all the credit while "ignoring poor Nick, who worked so hard in the snow and cold" because John refused to help them. And she just kept up her assault to anyone who would stand still long enough to hear her out.

So I called her and invited her for coffee so we could clear the air. Well, I tried. All four of them showed up and let me have it. How dare I refuse to acknowledge Nick's efforts? Why do I treat the Beautification Committee with such a lack of repect? And why did I encourage John to ingore their requests for help. So I answered all of their questions, and then I told them that on the day in question we had not one but 2 frozen fire hydrants that had to be thawed, purged, reinsulated, and put back into service before we had a tragedy on our hands - and as far as I was concerned that took precedence over a slightly crooked wreath and lopsided Christmas lights. I said John had done the right thing as an employee of the town and that the town just couldn't afford to pay him and Derreck overtime to do their assigned projects if they'd had to give the ladies a good chunk of their regular working hours. And I reminded them that it wsn't MY call - that we as a council had decided to put an end to the routine that Nick had established with them. I then suggested that if they had issues with me or John that they attend the next council meeting and air them just as publicly as they'd been blasting me.

Next thing I know, Nick threw his hat into the ring at the last minute. The entire town - me included - just love him to death. Surprise, surprise, at the Post Office one day - the same post office that had a campaign poster up for me - Nick told me that they nagged him for weeks to run and that they had already decided that this entire town council and mayor had to go.......one election at a time....for failing to provide services to the citizens. They told Nick that once they got me off the council they wanted John replaced as well. Nick shrugged his shoulders and said, "What could I say?" Today I learned that tthey had been going around town campaigning hard for Nick and Scott (who calls renters "just transients" and doesn't want them in Cowley). It showed. Results were Nick, 157, Scott, 168, Daniel, 88, and me 64. But the general eletion is coming up, and I've got time. The Mayor ran unopposed and only got 191 votes so those ladies, who wield such a heavy hammer in this town, are about to run into a buzz saw.

Am I a sore loser? Well, I haven't lost yet. And yes, I am a sore loser when I'm defeated like this.

 

[LindaB220]

The irony is that the mayor and the other council members are my biggest supporters. There was an incident around Christmas that might have had something to do with it. We have a "Beautification Committee" and these 4 women plant flowers and prepare Christmas decorations in town. Unfortunately they also think that their wants and needs supercede those of the Council and they are very vocal and demanding about it. One of the candidates is a former town employee - once the head of our public works department. When he was working he would go out of his way to fetch and carry for the "town criers" and we always had to pull him back and remind him that he worked for the town, not just for those 4 ladies. I was usually the lead critic. When Nick finally just couldn't work anymore because of his health, we promoted his second to his position and hired a new guy to take John's place. The "town criers" weren't one bit happy with our decision, even though Nick came to us and told us he had to quit working. John was never as "available" to humor them as Nick was.

Fast forward to this past Christmas, about a year after Nick quit and John took over. John took an afternoon and hung the town Christmas decorations. One of the ladies yelled at him because that wasn't the way they wanted them hung. John told them that if he had time he'd redo them later. Not good enough. Then they wanted all of the picnic tables moved from the park to Christmas Tree Hill, and all of the burn barrels set up for fires at the annual tree lighting and Santa Visit, but he just couldn't do it right then. They had a hissy and went to Nick, who dropped everything and bowed to their whining. I did not know anything about this - none of us on the council did. So when I wrote a little blurb thanking the Beautification Committee by their individual names for their planning and preparations, and John and Dereck for doing the grunt work, they took exception to it. The lead "crier", Sally, blasted me publicly for allowing John and Derreck to take all the credit while "ignoring poor Nick, who worked so hard in the snow and cold" because John refused to help them. And she just kept up her assault to anyone who would stand still long enough to hear her out.

So I called her and invited her for coffee so we could clear the air. Well, I tried. All four of them showed up and let me have it. How dare I refuse to acknowledge Nick's efforts? Why do I treat the Beautification Committee with such a lack of repect? And why did I encourage John to ingore their requests for help. So I answered all of their questions, and then I told them that on the day in question we had not one but 2 frozen fire hydrants that had to be thawed, purged, reinsulated, and put back into service before we had a tragedy on our hands - and as far as I was concerned that took precedence over a slightly crooked wreath and lopsided Christmas lights. I said John had done the right thing as an employee of the town and that the town just couldn't afford to pay him and Derreck overtime to do their assigned projects if they'd had to give the ladies a good chunk of their regular working hours. And I reminded them that it wsn't MY call - that we as a council had decided to put an end to the routine that Nick had established with them. I then suggested that if they had issues with me or John that they attend the next council meeting and air them just as publicly as they'd been blasting me.

Next thing I know, Nick threw his hat into the ring at the last minute. The entire town - me included - just love him to death. Surprise, surprise, at the Post Office one day - the same post office that had a campaign poster up for me - Nick told me that they nagged him for weeks to run and that they had already decided that this entire town council and mayor had to go.......one election at a time....for failing to provide services to the citizens. They told Nick that once they got me off the council they wanted John replaced as well. Nick shrugged his shoulders and said, "What could I say?" Today I learned that tthey had been going around town campaigning hard for Nick and Scott (who calls renters "just transients" and doesn't want them in Cowley). It showed. Results were Nick, 157, Scott, 168, Daniel, 88, and me 64. But the general eletion is coming up, and I've got time. The Mayor ran unopposed and only got 191 votes so those ladies, who wield such a heavy hammer in this town, are about to run into a buzz saw.

Am I a sore loser? Well, I haven't lost yet. And yes, I am a sore loser when I'm defeated like this.

Go get 'em girl. That's the way to go. The problem is that there are so many of them and they are very verbal. You know the kind, they like the sound of their own voice.

And think everybody else does too.

 

[enola]

Maybe everyone will be tired of listening to those voices when election time rolls around again..........

 

[LindaB220]

Found this on another thread. Hysterical

 

[enola]

Now I am going to wonder what is going on at home while I am at work tomorrow!

 

[Tomtommom]

The irony is that the mayor and the other council members are my biggest supporters. There was an incident around Christmas that might have had something to do with it. We have a "Beautification Committee" and these 4 women plant flowers and prepare Christmas decorations in town. Unfortunately they also think that their wants and needs supercede those of the Council and they are very vocal and demanding about it. One of the candidates is a former town employee - once the head of our public works department. When he was working he would go out of his way to fetch and carry for the "town criers" and we always had to pull him back and remind him that he worked for the town, not just for those 4 ladies. I was usually the lead critic. When Nick finally just couldn't work anymore because of his health, we promoted his second to his position and hired a new guy to take John's place. The "town criers" weren't one bit happy with our decision, even though Nick came to us and told us he had to quit working. John was never as "available" to humor them as Nick was.

Fast forward to this past Christmas, about a year after Nick quit and John took over. John took an afternoon and hung the town Christmas decorations. One of the ladies yelled at him because that wasn't the way they wanted them hung. John told them that if he had time he'd redo them later. Not good enough. Then they wanted all of the picnic tables moved from the park to Christmas Tree Hill, and all of the burn barrels set up for fires at the annual tree lighting and Santa Visit, but he just couldn't do it right then. They had a hissy and went to Nick, who dropped everything and bowed to their whining. I did not know anything about this - none of us on the council did. So when I wrote a little blurb thanking the Beautification Committee by their individual names for their planning and preparations, and John and Dereck for doing the grunt work, they took exception to it. The lead "crier", Sally, blasted me publicly for allowing John and Derreck to take all the credit while "ignoring poor Nick, who worked so hard in the snow and cold" because John refused to help them. And she just kept up her assault to anyone who would stand still long enough to hear her out.

So I called her and invited her for coffee so we could clear the air. Well, I tried. All four of them showed up and let me have it. How dare I refuse to acknowledge Nick's efforts? Why do I treat the Beautification Committee with such a lack of repect? And why did I encourage John to ingore their requests for help. So I answered all of their questions, and then I told them that on the day in question we had not one but 2 frozen fire hydrants that had to be thawed, purged, reinsulated, and put back into service before we had a tragedy on our hands - and as far as I was concerned that took precedence over a slightly crooked wreath and lopsided Christmas lights. I said John had done the right thing as an employee of the town and that the town just couldn't afford to pay him and Derreck overtime to do their assigned projects if they'd had to give the ladies a good chunk of their regular working hours. And I reminded them that it wsn't MY call - that we as a council had decided to put an end to the routine that Nick had established with them. I then suggested that if they had issues with me or John that they attend the next council meeting and air them just as publicly as they'd been blasting me.

Next thing I know, Nick threw his hat into the ring at the last minute. The entire town - me included - just love him to death. Surprise, surprise, at the Post Office one day - the same post office that had a campaign poster up for me - Nick told me that they nagged him for weeks to run and that they had already decided that this entire town council and mayor had to go.......one election at a time....for failing to provide services to the citizens. They told Nick that once they got me off the council they wanted John replaced as well. Nick shrugged his shoulders and said, "What could I say?" Today I learned that tthey had been going around town campaigning hard for Nick and Scott (who calls renters "just transients" and doesn't want them in Cowley). It showed. Results were Nick, 157, Scott, 168, Daniel, 88, and me 64. But the general eletion is coming up, and I've got time. The Mayor ran unopposed and only got 191 votes so those ladies, who wield such a heavy hammer in this town, are about to run into a buzz saw.

Am I a sore loser? Well, I haven't lost yet. And yes, I am a sore loser when I'm defeated like this.

This may be one of those "Alright, let them have what they want... and then when someone loses their house to a fire, they may realize what they did." Sucks to learn their lesson that way, but some folks are just well.. dense.

 

[perchie.girl]

The irony is that the mayor and the other council members are my biggest supporters. There was an incident around Christmas that might have had something to do with it. We have a "Beautification Committee" and these 4 women plant flowers and prepare Christmas decorations in town. Unfortunately they also think that their wants and needs supercede those of the Council and they are very vocal and demanding about it. One of the candidates is a former town employee - once the head of our public works department. When he was working he would go out of his way to fetch and carry for the "town criers" and we always had to pull him back and remind him that he worked for the town, not just for those 4 ladies. I was usually the lead critic. When Nick finally just couldn't work anymore because of his health, we promoted his second to his position and hired a new guy to take John's place. The "town criers" weren't one bit happy with our decision, even though Nick came to us and told us he had to quit working. John was never as "available" to humor them as Nick was.

Fast forward to this past Christmas, about a year after Nick quit and John took over. John took an afternoon and hung the town Christmas decorations. One of the ladies yelled at him because that wasn't the way they wanted them hung. John told them that if he had time he'd redo them later. Not good enough. Then they wanted all of the picnic tables moved from the park to Christmas Tree Hill, and all of the burn barrels set up for fires at the annual tree lighting and Santa Visit, but he just couldn't do it right then. They had a hissy and went to Nick, who dropped everything and bowed to their whining. I did not know anything about this - none of us on the council did. So when I wrote a little blurb thanking the Beautification Committee by their individual names for their planning and preparations, and John and Dereck for doing the grunt work, they took exception to it. The lead "crier", Sally, blasted me publicly for allowing John and Derreck to take all the credit while "ignoring poor Nick, who worked so hard in the snow and cold" because John refused to help them. And she just kept up her assault to anyone who would stand still long enough to hear her out.

So I called her and invited her for coffee so we could clear the air. Well, I tried. All four of them showed up and let me have it. How dare I refuse to acknowledge Nick's efforts? Why do I treat the Beautification Committee with such a lack of repect? And why did I encourage John to ingore their requests for help. So I answered all of their questions, and then I told them that on the day in question we had not one but 2 frozen fire hydrants that had to be thawed, purged, reinsulated, and put back into service before we had a tragedy on our hands - and as far as I was concerned that took precedence over a slightly crooked wreath and lopsided Christmas lights. I said John had done the right thing as an employee of the town and that the town just couldn't afford to pay him and Derreck overtime to do their assigned projects if they'd had to give the ladies a good chunk of their regular working hours. And I reminded them that it wsn't MY call - that we as a council had decided to put an end to the routine that Nick had established with them. I then suggested that if they had issues with me or John that they attend the next council meeting and air them just as publicly as they'd been blasting me.

Next thing I know, Nick threw his hat into the ring at the last minute. The entire town - me included - just love him to death. Surprise, surprise, at the Post Office one day - the same post office that had a campaign poster up for me - Nick told me that they nagged him for weeks to run and that they had already decided that this entire town council and mayor had to go.......one election at a time....for failing to provide services to the citizens. They told Nick that once they got me off the council they wanted John replaced as well. Nick shrugged his shoulders and said, "What could I say?" Today I learned that tthey had been going around town campaigning hard for Nick and Scott (who calls renters "just transients" and doesn't want them in Cowley). It showed. Results were Nick, 157, Scott, 168, Daniel, 88, and me 64. But the general eletion is coming up, and I've got time. The Mayor ran unopposed and only got 191 votes so those ladies, who wield such a heavy hammer in this town, are about to run into a buzz saw.

Am I a sore loser? Well, I haven't lost yet. And yes, I am a sore loser when I'm defeated like this.

So... When you are elected Mayor what will you do.... LOL. I love it when you get your dander up... Keep us posted.

deb