Monday, January 25, 2010

Moss on England, and the notion of "popular" demand.

Dale Moss devoted Sunday C-J ink to New Albany's mayor, Doug England. It is a brief portrait of a mayor in motion, mid-term and mid-flight, but one leaving unanswered the question, "to where?"

There is undeniable truth to the proposition that England is a polarizing figure, but sometimes I wonder if this assumption is overstated, seeing as a large measure of the disgruntlement expressed toward him is revealed to be congenital, reserved for indiscriminate spraying on any politician of any party or stripe aspiring to the office.

Some New Albanians support him, other oppose him, and the majority remains entirely apathetic. In short, political business as usual in the Open Air Museum.

Moss draws one conclusion (below) that is worthy of note: "(England) will seek another term in 2011 if, and seemingly only if, it is by popular demand."

That's interesting. It's why we hold elections, right?

What do you think it really means?
England to take New Albany's pulse.

England told me at the beginning of this year that by year's end he intends to know just how the city feels about him. He will seek another term in 2011 if, and seemingly only if, it is by popular demand. This is England's year to explain and listen, to make the most of any breaks the economy finally affords and to hope it all pleases as much as swift snow removal.

“I'll be looking for the word, looking for the feeling of the community,” England said. “Does it want to continue in the same direction or does it want to change. If it wants to change, I'll help it. It's not about being mayor for the ego.”

4 comments:

G Coyle said...

It means he’s tone deaf?
It means he hasn’t got an agenda for another term?
It means he and his supporters think running for Mayor of a town with
36,772 people in dire need of leadership is no more than
a high school popularity contest?
It means he hasn’t closed all outstanding old-boy deals he
promised to take care of for his buddies?
It means earning a cushy salary - full bennies and having an “assistant”
who does most of the work?
It means he is your typical post war downwardly mobile “good old boy never left Southern Indiana and is proud of it” without a hope of surviving in the private sector?

Love to know what you think it means Roger?

The New Albanian said...

I think it means his choice of words is fairly puzzling.

But I don't hear so well these days, because as the anonymous masked troglodyte intones, I'm too far up his ass to get the memo. Or something like that.

G Coyle said...

"anonymous masked troglodytes" and their opinions are of no interest. Why are you so obsessed...?

The New Albanian said...

"Obsessed" is an interesting choice of words.