Whoa! Can We Get Charlie Back?
I could not believe my eyes, this morning, as I read today’s lead story in the Jamestown Sun. First, I’ll admit that I voted for Clarice Liechty. Next, I’ll just say that I’m already starting to wonder what made me do that. Just a few months after she took over the position of Jamestown, ND Mayor, she’s starting to say some pretty "wild" things that just make my stomach turn.
I did not attend yesterday’s discussion of the 2007 fiscal year budget, and I’m "really" hoping that David Maack (Jamestown Sun reporter) took something out of context. From the way it’s written, though, I can’t see what context a couple of the statements she made would have fit into.
Speaking about funding for the Independence Day fireworks display, she said, "You talk about it being the mayor’s project," Liechty said to Grabinger. "You have a new mayor and I have my own pet projects." She mentioned the arts and garden club as her two pet projects.
Here’s the kicker. Liechty didn’t think spending $7,000 for 20 minutes worth of fireworks
was an appropriate use of taxpayer money, and suggested burning down a
building. Jeee-sus! Did she actually "say" that?
This just tells me that we made a huge mistake by electing this woman to be the mayor of our city. It tells me that we elected somebody that is too lazy, closed-minded, and unpatriotic to try to come up with some kind of solution. We elected a mayor that would rather burn down a building than find a way to set aside or raise $7000.
To even "suggest" burning down a building, not even ten months after the Orlady Building fire, is simply outrageous!
Kelani Parisien was right, that it would be a shame for the city to give up the fireworks. It’s also a shame that we have a mayor who wants to burn down buildings, instead.
I’ll be the first to appologize for voting the way I did. I have a feeling this won’t be the last of the wild, outlandish comments that we hear from Liechty. This was already too much for me to handle, though. I’m sorry! Can we get Charlie back? …somehow?
Yes, Clarice Liechty has inserted her foot into her mouth more than Charlie ever did. I will still stand by my vote for her. If Charlie was so great, why was the largest population that lived in Jamestown back in 1980? Why are people fleeing with their shopping money to go to Fargo, Aberdeen, and Bismarck? Why does everybody else in the state of North Dakota say that Jamestown is the armpit of ND? Clarice might not be a great mayor, but something had to be done with the city council. We should not strive to be the agricultural center for this region and to be a retirement town. We should strive for growth and jobs and to be the center for all activities in this part of North Dakota. I think Charlie is a great person, but all of his ideas did not help Jamestown grow into a city that kept sales tax dollars at home. It made for a town that started to shrink in population and causes people in their 20′s itching to leave. If Clarice continues to act like she is, when we have another election for mayor, we can vote her out of office.
vote of no confidence? recall election? I dunno. Frankly, I know I wasn’t happy with Charlie, and I’m pretty sure I’m not so happy with Clarice at this point, so what other options are there?