LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY LAURA BLACKBURN

It’s hard to resist the temptation to review the first two meetings of the “new” city council. You know – the 2016 edition of the Evansville City Council that was supposed to be devoid of rancor, confusion, and general disrespectful behavior toward one another and the public.

That’s what the gushing post campaign rhetoric predicted. As advertised, the newbies would happily fall in behind new “leaders” Mosby and Weaver, engage in a group hug and coordinate their praise of the administration. Well, that last part was largely a presumed promise, understood but not spoken out loud.

It doesn’t much matter whether they are Republican or Democrat because we have ushered in the enlightened era of “transpartisanship.” That’s a relatively new political term just now being used in this fine city to describe “those who claim allegiance to one political party but covertly serve another party strictly for convenience, power or personal gain.” A “transpartisan” serves only his/her own interests. He/she is out to get for himself/herself whatever he/she can. He/she is ruthless, and deception is his/her preferred tool.

Getting back to that first fateful City Council meeting, without focusing on the already well-reported actions and resulting divisiveness that has been forced upon this city. It seemed the council members might have each been given a script and told the plot of the production that was about to be performed on the big stage. But then two members were clearly not comfortable with the preordained story line and they voiced their displeasure in improvised terms. Adding to that element of surprise, the large and emotional audience demanded to inject themselves into the comedy turned tragedy. Chaos ensued. Some council members were outraged by the events, others were befuddled and others were quite simply startled into silence.

Perhaps part of the cause for confusion was the “orientation” session for the new council members that the mayor orchestrated before they were sworn in. A great, newsworthy photo op and surely just a helpful gesture (sarcasm noted). But some observers were left wondering why one branch of government was so brash and presumptive as to instruct another branch in how to do its job. Separation of powers and checks and balances seem to have finally been thrown out the Civic Center window.

As the premier performance played out, we got the impression that the mayor’s orientation also skipped the part about how every council member is supposed to make learned decisions that best serve the taxpayers, and each has a duty to participate. Despite all the repeated declarations of being in touch with “constituents, constituents, constituents,” this concept was altogether absent from the first council gathering.

It was just like community theatre if the amateur actors aren’t allowed to have that critical final dress rehearsal. Hopefully, that was prevented by the “new” attorney, who earned a well-deserved mulligan for his efforts to steer everyone in the room through the details of Robert’s Rules of Order during a live and lively event. Maybe he cautioned them against making decisions beforehand and merely announcing them in public. Surely he did.

The second meeting was only better by comparison and because the agenda contained less inflammatory matters. It looked like there had been some major league effort to demonstrate consensus and pre-coordinate the activity. The new president proclaimed even the most minor action as “great” with near giddiness. She reached occasionally for her big FC Tucker beverage container.

Then the feces hit the blade again. Once again it centered on preventing public comment. It was clear that efforts to get Councilwoman Robinson to do anything other than what she decides is best for the people of the Fourth Ward will fail miserably. Going along just to get along is not going to fly. Don’t bother handing her a script in advance.

It was pretty obvious that they had read the editorials in the daily newspaper. Councilman McGinn was more verbal, as he twirled his ink pen, occasionally glancing to his right, as if to make sure John Friend had not reappeared. His financial leadership will be interesting to observe.

Councilman Adams also had a newfound voice and exuberance for what is in the public’s best interest. Had he been more thoughtful and decisive as council president in 2015, he might have found himself sitting with people other than those he will be seeing on Monday nights going forward.

The newbies tried to interject themselves into the second meeting, with varying degrees of success. Councilwoman Hargis should be comfortable with the process, since she was seated front and center in the audience at most meetings last year. Council members Elpers, Brinkmeyer and Mercer made mild attempts to prove they weren’t “just along for the ride.” Even though he has been catapulted into leadership, Councilman Weaver still seemed to be perpetually annoyed.

It will get better, or not. A wise man once said, “Be careful what you ask for because you might get it.” If the first two meetings are any indication, things will get very entertaining when the “new” council moves from simple housekeeping matters and on to serious business. And this will take place with the over-riding influence of our new “transpartisanship” where Republican and Democrat labels are meaningless.

FOOTNOTE: This letter was posted without opinion, bias or editing.  Any response to this letter shall be posted without opinion, bias or editing.