Who I'm supporting this Nov. 7 and why

Who I'm supporting this Nov. 7 and why

DAVID BRIAN WALLACE
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/22/06


Montana's former governor candidly said she was a "lapdog for big industry." Governments need more watchdogs, fewer lapdogs.

"Reform" St. Augustine City Commissioners became lapdogs for wrecking-crew-developer-speculators and monarchical City Manager, William B. Harriss.

After 12 years as St. Augustine's first/only full-time city attorney, James Patrick Wilson suddenly resigned October 12th. Wonder why? On Friday the 13th, city commissioners held an unannounced meeting about replacing Wilson.

FDLE must investigate and prosecute repeated violations of Sunshine laws (including recent meeting recess/ dinners, NYC and European travel).

City Manager Harriss and Company are smug, retaliatory and contemptuous of our people, neighborhoods, and our concerns. They're lapdogs, with no watchdogs (not even an annual performance appraisal, as former Commissioner Reardon urged in 1998).

All commissioners (including Mayor Gardner) spent your money on a plaque-award to Harriss in the midst of a DEP/EPA criminal investigation.

Obstructing justice?

Mayor Gardner is now bragging on this city's annexation record. That dog won't hunt.

Longtime Realtor Gardner and longtime property lawyer Boles are both lapdogs and cognitive misers.

They've only empowered City Manager Harriss, along with illegal dumping in our Old City Reservoir; the destruction of historic buildings (like Monson Motel's civil rights history); reversing a $15,000 tree-killing fine; wasteful spending including white elephant oversized parking garage destroying Fred Francis Field; planning to add 10 percent to our city's population building atop arsenic-contaminated land; destroying wildlife; willy-nilly rubberstamping annexations and ugly buildings; and repeatedly violating First Amendment rights of artists, musicians, entertainers and gays.

Gardner actually brags of attending 36 churches, but he, Crichlow and Jones responded to a federal court by voting to ban all community organizations (including churches) from flying flags on our Bridge of Lions to mark their public events, voting for only "government flags."

We've had enough.

Active citizens make the difference. Working together, diverse citizens can turn once-captive governments into effective, compassionate governments.

I'm supporting Lincolnville leader Peter Romano for both mayor and commissioner.

Our city government is a mess, a waste of $50 million annually -- as much as one-third waste, while doing little for average citizens. Why does St. Augustine cost much more to operate than St. Augustine Beach and other similarly sized cities?

Our unconcerned St. Augustine commissioners junket while speculator-developers laugh all the way to the bank. Commissioners are narrow-minded, refusing to discuss a living wage, growth moratorium, trolleycars/mass transit, an inspector general, ombudsman, fair treatment for St. George Street artists and entertainers, reconciliation, annexation of West Augustine. They lack vision.

I voted for Mayor Gardner, a huge disappointment. Only 10 St. Augustine voters provided Gardner's mayoral margin in 2002. Gardner means well, but he's ineffectual and has lost touch.

Why would 12 former mayors endorse Joe Boles to be mayor? Why does Boles say the mayor's job is "ceremonial" and that the only reason he should be elected mayor is his "sense of humor?"

We're not laughing. Speculator-developers are laughing all the way to the bank. Does Boles have undiscussed conflicts-of- interest, like commissioner/architect Donald Crichlow, who also represents clients before city board members?

These aren't easy times and this is not an ordinary election. Our nation, state, county and city are perplexed by similar problems ñ corruption, special interest influence, destruction of workers and families, exporting of jobs, destruction of the environment and wildlife, dishonesty, divisiveness, appeals to prejudice, manipulation of elections and diversions from the truly important issues of the 21st century.

Enough mediocrities mucking up. We need real leaders with vision and common sense. I support and recommend:

1. Re-electing Sen. Bill Nelson, electing Jack Chagnon of St. Augustine Beach as our congressman, defeating entrenched lapdog U.S. Rep. John Mica, the big oil lobby's best friend in Florida.

2. Electing Rep. Jim Davis governor.

3. Electing Ken Bryan county commissioner.

4. Electing Peter Romano mayor and commissioner.

Let's reform Congress, Tallahassee, the courthouse and city hall, with your help. It's our community, city, county, country and planet.

It's our money.

It's your children's future.

Don't just vote on November 7th -- activate everyone you know!


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