Time for YOU to Start Thinking About Running for Jackson County Legislature?
Do you have a hankering to run for political office, but don't want to give up your career? Do you see the local politicians on TV and think "Somebody better ought to get involved"? Do you want to break up the cozy circle of local politicos who elevate self-interest over ethics?
Maybe you should run for the Jackson County legislature. And maybe you should start putting your campaign together now.
The Jackson County legislature is vulnerable. Every single one of them, with the exception of Fred Arbanas (who was absent), is ON THE RECORD exempting themselves from oversight by the Jackson County Ethics Commission, in violation of the Jackson County Charter.
If they don't reverse themselves on that point immediately, it should be a relatively easy matter to run against a Jackson County politician who has gone on the record supporting less ethical oversight for him or herself. Better yet, you will have your choice of two candidates to take on, since you can run either "in district" or "at large". To figure out which candidates you could run against, just find yourself on the district maps appearing under each legislator's name. You will be in two legislators' districts - one of the "at large" legislators and one of district legislators. Check out both, because they are not the same.
The only qualifications you'll need to run, as defined by the County Charter, are: "Each member of the Legislature shall be a qualified voter in Jackson County for at least three years preceding his/her election and a resident in his/her district for at least one year preceding his/her nomination." The filing deadline is not until later in the year, but now is the time to start talking to people who know the county and the districts. The elections will be in 2010, so you have more than a year to get your name out there if you get started soon.
If you've been wanting to get into politics, how often are you going to face your choice of two candidates who have publicly come out against ethics? This is a golden opportunity.
Labels: Ethics, jackson county, politics
posted by Dan at 1/12/2009 07:02:00 AM
17 Comments:
OOOH, I wanna run . . .
far, far away.
=D
You're advocating the overthrow of Theresa Garza Ruiz. Oh, and her husband is a staffer for Cleaver.
You're "taking out the trash" in Jackson County, and Theresa is a part of that trash.
So that is what you're thinking, Dan. That Jackson County would be a much better place without Theresa.
I understand.
Nice.
No, Mainstream, that is not what I said at all.
Did I call anyone trash? Did I?
Of course not. I am a great admirer of several of the legislators, and I fully expect that several of them will reverse their positions in the next week or so.
As you know, I really hate it when you put words in my mouth. This is a serious issue, Mainstream, and I implore you to take it seriously and desist from bomb-throwing for a little while. Things are in flux, and that kind of behavior isn't helping anyone.
I don't throw no stinkin' bombs.
I just respond to them.
Did you talk with Theresa prior to this post? If you didn't, who is throweing the grenades?
I don't know about anything nor really care about things being "flux". WTF does that mean?
Your words were exactly:
"Maybe you should run for the Jackson County legislature. And maybe you should start putting your campaign together now.
The Jackson County legislature is vulnerable. Every single one of them, with the exception of Fred Arbanas (who was absent), is ON THE RECORD exempting themselves from oversight by the Jackson County Ethics Commission, in violation of the Jackson County Charter."
You're encouraging people to run against Theresa (and unseat her), correct?
Unless of course she rescinds her vote per your opinion and instructions.
You're calling for her overthrow unless she votes your way.
Dan, you sound like a one-issue voter. Strike that, you are, aren't you?
I don't agree with Theresa on all issues, and there are certainly some extenuating, procedural issues and implications with that legislation.
Why throw out the baby with the bathwater?
Oh, and you have never given the other side of this issue a voice. Did you talk with Theresa before you called for her overthrow?
WHO'S THROWING GRENADES???
Tell us all the conversation you had with Theresa prior to this post.
Puhlease.
Sorry, Mainstream, you didn't answer my question.
'scuse me.
You called Theresa Garza Ruiz a legislator who was acting unethically and should be replaced, thrown out of office because she is corrupt.
You didn't call EXACTLY call her trash.
Really? Did I say Theresa Garza is unethical or corrupt?
Quit making stuff up - it's not funny or dignified.
lol. Huh. It wasn'y MY post that was entitled:
"Time for YOU to Start Thinking About Running for Jackson County Legislature?"
You must have been referring to the Jackson County, Oregon legislature/legislators.
That's it.
You would never encorage people enmasse to run against a legistor like Thersa Garza Ruiz.
You obviously had something else on your mind when you were writing that headline and post.
Oh!! And you'll change your mind on your call for their overthrow if they vote your way on one bill -that is, regarding those corrupt Oregon legisators.
Thank God those legislators of the Great Northwest have an out.
*whew*
Where did I call her unethical or corrupt?
With your ability to make things up, maybe you should run . . .
(Just not against Theresa, okay?)
*sigh*
You said she should be removed from office for her vote on one bill, correct?
And you did not bother to personally ask her the circumstances around her vote, before you called for her removal.
Nice.
I bet Theresa admires the process you go through prior to asking for someone to be overthrown.
Woot!
I didn't realize that running for office meant that you are overthrowing the seat for which you are running. Such anarchy!! I love it. Sounds a little 'coup-coup' to me.
Mrs. Ruiz stands firm in her own integrity - she has plenty of it, and I'm sure she, as an elected official, expects critique from her constituents as well as challenges to her policy decisions and choices.
We have a choice. Dan is just asking us to give ourselves a bigger one, in light of disagreements he has with a majority of the Jackson County Legislature. He probably wouldn't work for any campaigns that he is suggesting, because in the end - we get what we vote for (which is WAY different sometimes than what we ask for) - but he's giving his opinion that people won't trust a group of people that seem to hold themselves above those whom they govern.
I'm sure Theresa welcomes level-headed challenge over boisterous, snarky defense any day. But, I could use some of that in my living room if you have any spare time. That is, if you're not going to be conducting a campaign . . .
Very Publicly, and very seriously, calling for the replacement of public officials goes beyond simple criticism.
Especially when you're wrong.
On top of everything Dan didn't really know what he was talking about -- see this morning's post.
And it could have been solved so easily by simply talking to one of the legislators, as I noted above.
Quite presciently, I might add.
heh.
But he's right, and, if they don't back down and accept local ethics oversight, they should be replaced.
They publicly stripped the ethics commission of the power to handle ethics complaints against elected officials, and ordered them to refer them to someone who won't investigate.
They should all be replaced - even Garza.
The problem in the past has been that people like Scott Burnett have been challenged by nut-cases, who were recruited by Louie Wright and Calvin Williford. They were selected for their stupidity-based loyalty ahead of their standing in the community. We need some real candidates this time.
No one who ever wrote for The Pitch or New Times need apply.
I am sure Legislator Garza Ruiz has her reasons for voting the way she did. She's definitely not a person that gets bullied around and plus she has the Charter memorized.
I'm going with Garza Ruiz on this one and wouldn't be surprised if she soundly answers critics in her next Examiner column.
As a matter of fact I say Garza Ruiz should run for Mayor and for the better future of our city I say she should do it as soon as possible.
anon @ 1:21,
Two problems with Garza-Ruiz running for Mayor. She lives in Blue Springs, and we alread have the best Mayor in the metro (maybe the state), Carson Ross.
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