Owasso city council election

[Ed W]

There's one seat open on the Owasso city council.  We have five councilors, with their elections staggered.  I thought that normally council elections were non-partisan, though that's probably more a customary practice than a hard and fast rule.  Still, I came across this sign at 76th and Mingo earlier today:



Mind you, while I took the photo, I do not endorse this candidate in any manner.  He's a tea party jihadist IMHO, and we do not need another far right ideologue on the council.

[guido911]

What the hell could a "tea party jihadist" do to Owasso's city council? I mean, besides imposing fiscal discipline and govt living within means.

[RecycleMichael]

I would think that a tea party minded official could stop funding opportunities to public improvements on principal rather than priorities. Owasso has been very progressive and their citizens have been willing to pay for a better town. Of course, someone on the other extreme politically could be just as harmful.

[Ed W]

We already have one councilor, a "proud Tea Party" member, who opposed spending public money on a new sewer line.  The old one was over capacity, causing raw sewage to back up into homes.  We don't need another one like him.

Public health is a basic government function that shouldn't be trumped by misguided ideology.

[guido911]

We already have one councilor, a "proud Tea Party" member, who opposed spending public money on a new sewer line.  The old one was over capacity, causing raw sewage to back up into homes.  We don't need another one like him.

Public health is a basic government function that shouldn't be trumped by misguided ideology.

If you do not like the way money is being spent/saved, that's one thing. But what the hell is misguided about living within one's means? And how sad is it that in this day and age people actually believe that to be true?

To be fair, in Owasso, what was the public's view on increasing tax revenue for fixing the sewage issue? Or, what was the view of taking public money from one area and spending it on the sewage issue?

[Ed W]

If you do not like the way money is being spent/saved, that's one thing. But what the hell is misguided about living within one's means? And how sad is it that in this day and age people actually believe that to be true?

To be fair, in Owasso, what was the public's view on increasing tax revenue for fixing the sewage issue? Or, what was the view of taking public money from one area and spending it on the sewage issue?

You're being disingenuous, Guido.  No government polls the voters to see if they want to spend money on a current project like a sewer.  Otherwise, the 'haves' would always outnumber the 'have nots' and no money would be spent.  This is one that falls under the category of a "public good" and we share the responsibility to see that our neighbors and fellow citizens are covered when it's a public health issue.  It's also one of the functions of a representative form of government, in that a councilor represents us all and presumably makes decisions in our best interest.

As for living withing one's means - every government has to borrow money in order to fund public projects.  They don't have a piggy bank stuffed with cash that only gets used when a sufficient amount has accumulated.  You know that.  Or does your definition of living beyond your means include getting a car loan or a mortgage?  The only difference is in scale.   

[guido911]

You're being disingenuous, Guido.  No government polls the voters to see if they want to spend money on a current project like a sewer.  Otherwise, the 'haves' would always outnumber the 'have nots' and no money would be spent.  This is one that falls under the category of a "public good" and we share the responsibility to see that our neighbors and fellow citizens are covered when it's a public health issue.  It's also one of the functions of a representative form of government, in that a councilor represents us all and presumably makes decisions in our best interest.

As for living withing one's means - every government has to borrow money in order to fund public projects.  They don't have a piggy bank stuffed with cash that only gets used when a sufficient amount has accumulated.  You know that.  Or does your definition of living beyond your means include getting a car loan or a mortgage?  The only difference is in scale.   

Translation:  "I have no idea whether the majority supported raising taxes or diverting funds from other sources for the sewage project, but opposing it or not voting the way I want makes you a 'tea party jihadist'." Listen, local governments make decisions all the time I disagree with. Spending chunks of money on mass transit, park improvements, museum upgrades is of little to no benefit to me. Frankly, I do not care. But others do, so I am outvoted. Point is, I am not inclined to label those that do not vote my way as jihadists. I look to vote them out, or deal with it because we do live in a representative government.

[Ed W]

I'm wondering which way you want this to go, Guido.  On one hand, you seem to be arguing that every issue should go to the voters.  On the other hand, JB Alexander allowed a Republican party censure vote against county commissioners Fred Perry and John Smalligo for sending the Vision2 proposal to a vote of the people.

So which is it?  Is a public vote a good thing or not?

[heironymouspasparagus]

We already have one councilor, a "proud Tea Party" member, who opposed spending public money on a new sewer line.  The old one was over capacity, causing raw sewage to back up into homes.  We don't need another one like him.

Public health is a basic government function that shouldn't be trumped by misguided ideology.

Flashback!!  John Thomas, Tulsa, 1976.

[heironymouspasparagus]

If you do not like the way money is being spent/saved, that's one thing. But what the hell is misguided about living within one's means? And how sad is it that in this day and age people actually believe that to be true?

To be fair, in Owasso, what was the public's view on increasing tax revenue for fixing the sewage issue? Or, what was the view of taking public money from one area and spending it on the sewage issue?

For all that law school education.... don't really seem to understand how a representative form of government works.  Miss that class??

[Ed W]

Flashback!!  John Thomas, Tulsa, 1976.

Can you 'splain this one?  I wasn't here in '76.

[JCnOwasso]

As I was heading to work this morning I saw a similar sign and thought, "when did we start making mention of ones political affiliation in our city council elections?".  I am all for different views, but if you want to make yourself known, have a town hall meeting, don't advertise hoping to get the vote based on your political religion.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Can you 'splain this one?  I wasn't here in '76.

I went through his history on another thread - he was Tulsa City commissioner for several terms who let the infrastructure rot in the ground so he could brag about keeping Tulsa water rates low.  At one time, city was pumping 125 million gallons a day and only billing for about half that...meaning the rest was leaking into the ground through the rotten pipes he left sitting in the ground.

[Ed W]

We had a squeaker tonight, with Owasso Mayor Doug Bonebrake defeating JB Alexander 1040 to 1018. Alexander is reported to have conceded.

[heironymouspasparagus]

What the hell could a "tea party jihadist" do to Owasso's city council? I mean, besides imposing fiscal discipline and govt living within means.

You mean like the Republicans did on the Federal level for 30 years...taking us from $900 billion in debt to $13 trillion under 3 "conservative, small government" Presidents....