Is it a big deal?

The newspaper has devoted a lot of space to the fact that we currently have 3 members of city council that are either paid police or firemen. After the November elections, we could potentially have 4 with a 5th having a son that is on the Greenfield Police force and a husband that was a volunteer on the fire department.

Is that a bad thing? Is it that big a deal? The real answer is that it depends on the people in office.

First off, you can't prohibit them from running for office. Yes, i know that there are currently some national laws that do... but do you really believe it is constitutional? Is it the right thing to do to keep someone off the ballot based on their job? Most people would say no.

With that said you can end up heavily loaded with public safety people on council. The fire department is a huge voting block. If they throw their support towards a candidate, then you have each department member, his immediate family, much of his larger family and many neighbors voting that direction also. It turns out to be an election based on community associations... just like most small town elections are.

I was on City Council from 2000 thru 2004. We had one council member that was married to a FD Volunteer and had a son on the PD. We had one council member that was an ex-volunteer. That was it as far as direct public safety ties. We spent a ton of money on both departments. My campaign was based on getting a new ladder truck and providing take home police cars. I also was a proponent of thermal imaging cameras. Each of those items had been proposed in years past but were ignored. All were purchased during my 4 years.

Purchased items that I didn't like included the fire training trailer. We also turned a project calling for separate showers for the women into a $1.2 million expansion. I was in favor of the showers... not the other $1.15 mill.

I think what I'm saying is that the money will be spent. Some of it in needed ways and some just because it is a "want". I think very little of it depends on who is voting.

I also think that a public servant voting on thier own raises or monetary items that directly affects them could be taking part in political suicide... but maybe not. Our legislators at the state and national level do it every year but you folks keep voting them back into office. Is it immoral or unethical? I don't think so.