Didn't hear much of an argument from their side, though I'm sure there is one.

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

Yes, it was indeed Phil Ballard who got it taken off - the argument being that it was too much power for one person to control the main source of the county's revenue.

To me, the same argument applies to all. The gripe is that the fee offices were used as patronage machines in the past, which is true. Term limits will put a stop to that, at least every 8 years.

The problem is that with the mayor controlling the appointments, even MORE patronage power accrues to his/her office. It's just a political fact.

The amendment proponents say that the appointments have to pass through County Commission, so there is more control. The problem with that is that if one party/faction controls 6 commissioners, no problem with controlling the entire county, pretty much.

Also, while the mayor can hire/fire fee office employees at will, county commission can only fire FOR CAUSE.

Again, at a time when there are alleged abuses of power in the mayor's office, I can't believe we are talking about handing that office more power.

And it is true that the signatures were gathered mostly under false pretenses - the same way their ads don't talk about the controversial aspects of the amendments. Instead they focus on the no nepotism part and "more accountability," whatever that means.

Rikki is right - the real problem is CRONYISM in government - and the amendments do nothing to control that.

And it is true that the signatures were gathered mostly under false pretenses

I can only speak from my own experience, but the nice young man who asked for my signature did NOT misrepresent what was in the petition. And he was a volunteer.

Absolutely there were some fine people who put in hard work to get signatures. But the KCP people knew from the beginning that they would not be able to get it done with volunteers - the majority of it was done by hired signature gatherers whose spiel was to "sign in order to get rid of nepotism."

Someone whose word I believe told me that she was told that one of the petitions was to "clean up the mayor's office."

I voted no on 4. Sure it would be nice to think that the people around here will always vote for a mayor of good character, but I'm not sold on that. Can anyone imagine the folks that will get appointed under say Hutch or the Ashe sequel?

Be careful what you wish for. Couple that with only six votes needed to get something passed on commission(provided 3 passes) and you will have a severely compromised government. Six votes isn't that many to strongarm, bribe, or otherwise cajole of commission. The current mayor, who should have zero capital and influence by this point has only sacrificed one real culprit in Werner. Otherwise, he has cast off two administrative positions and the Finch separation is still contested.

Let term limits work for a bit before giving the keys to any group, KCP included. We as voters didn't just fight battles with commission and the mayor's office to hand over influence to another group with an agenda.

I voted no on both, but I see arguments either way for appointed v. elected. Don't like seat reduction. The attitude I find among supporters is "smart people vote for the amendements and the rest are lumped in with Lumpy and Scoobie." I find Rikki saying no refreshing. As I've always said, let term limits work for a few years!! Should these things pass one bit of irony would be if Tim H. is the first mayor king. I don't think that's what these folks have in mind.

Look like the who's who of the Anti-Vote group has gone public. The Sentinel calls them the 29 "Champions of Reform". Seems like an oxymoron since they want to take away your right to vote, but give them a hand anyway:

* Former state legislators Ben Atchley, Brown Ayres and Tom Jensen
* Former County Executive Tommy Schumpert
* Current County Commissioners Richard Briggs, Mark Harmon, Tony Norman and Finbarr Saunders
* Current City Council members Joe Bailey, Bob Becker, Joe Hultquist, Marilyn Roddy and Chris Woodhull
* Former County Commissioners Bee DeSelm, Pat Medley, Wanda Moody, Madeline Rogero, John Schmid and Larry Stephens
* Former school board members Phil French, Steve Hill, Paul Kelley, Margaret Maddox, Jim McClain, D.M. Miller and Tommy Prince
* Former county Finance Director Kathy Hamilton
* Former MPC Director Don Parnell
* Former city Law Director Jon Roach

That is a lot of people from the City and not many from the County. Looks like Metro. Again.

I don't say that often.

Proof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Il3G9I-e60