I’ve been following local politics for over 12 years. Something I have tried to grasp is that ‘votes are votes’. You can’t pin political motives, intentions or personalities on single votes. It’s ignorant and doesn’t help the process. It’s what the extremists in the two major parties do. They suck.
You have a right to be down right pissed off by a vote. City councilors that I have respected throughout the years have voted in ways I thought ignorant. I have probably disagreed with Greg Jamison, Kenny Anderson and Kermit Staggers more times then I have agreed, but guess what, I have also built bridges with them.
While councilor Erickson has been at this for 2 years, and has flipped votes many times, Selberg and Neitzert, are new at this, and learning their sea legs.
I am not going to defend the reasons they voted against an advisory election, I get why they did, I just don’t agree. But I also understand, the citizens of this city may need their vote on other issues some day. So why would we throw the baby out with the bath water?
I get the citizens frustration, but like rolling dice, things don’t always go your way. Erickson, Neitzert and Selberg had their reasons to vote against the election. Oh well, they have to own that, but I’m not going to disown them as city councilors because of it. Heck, even Erpenbach pulls through sometime.
I encourage any citizen who may be upset with them about the vote to chill out and look at the big picture. Politics are politics and people are people. Both come in different colors and stripes. Deal with it. Their is only one direction, forward.