Monday, November 05, 2007

Ronen and More

I understand Heather Steans has filed to run for Ronen's seat. Suzanne Elder may have filed as well, although reading multiple sites I am not entirely sure.

There is talk that Ms. Steans got a heads up in advance of Ms. Ronen's plan. Regardless, the information seeping out makes it clear that she is well connected and well positioned to take advantage of the opportunity. Whether she saw it coming in advance doesn't really matter now unless there is good evidence of bad faith on Ronen's part. Westgard sees no issue here, although the scenario as it played out makes my point. You have to be connected to get the drop on the opportunity. Forget it otherwise. That may be a fact of life I have to live with, for now, but I have a real problem with insular systems that serve and support professional politicians who are more motivated by the possibilities of the next election than in public service.

It may not have occurred to Westgard, or other readers, but when it finally hits the fan the surviving institutions are likely going to be those that are run and supported by the reigning political elites and their lackeys. If the public fails to reclaim its rights and priviliges as citizens now, we are going to find it many times more difficult, if not impossible, in the not so distant future. And it will hit the fan, when and how hard may be in dispute, but it will.

2 comments:

been there said...

suzanne elders did indeed file, with 1700 sigs, 700 more than needed. i do not think that stearns would garner anything but ill will to challenge that, so, she should be on the ballot.
although stearns did, apparently, get the inside track, suzanne's entry into the race is a story of grass roots footwork at it's best. she appealed to the folks at northside dfa, and they were able to put the feet on the street to get her on the ballot.
i have had the pleasure of meeting suzanne, and i am proud that i had my small part in her candidacy. she is a great down to earth person, with a solid resume, and is a real warrior mom. the world would be a different place if mom's had proportional representation.

freshwater said...

who knew what and when only matters if you believe in democracy and transparency instead of top-down politics and hide-the-ball leadership. The Ronen-Steans story changed several times, starting out as "gee it was a complete surprise" and then turning out that Ronen walked her chosen candidate around trying to drum up committeeman support well in advance, maybe as much as months, before anyone botheres to tell the voters. We are lucky someone like Suzanne Elder took this one on for the average Democrats.