Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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8 OCTOBER 7-13, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Fayetteville's city elections represent the best in pure government, primarily because they are non- partisan. That means party politics do not come into play — or at least they're not supposed to. Some disagree, including The Fayetteville Observer. The experienced reporter who covers city government insists a candidate's party affiliation reveals something about him or her. I agree that is important in elections for state and federal offices. But, historically, local elections are different and as I say, pure! The city council structure is the most constitutionally sound form of government. Fayetteville's City Council election is unlike all other elections in which we take part. The terms of office are two years. They differ from County Commission elections, which are for four years. And county commission candidates run as members of political parties. The School Board has four-year terms and is non- partisan. And by the way, historically, The Observer avoids politicizing the school board, which is a good thing. One wonders why editors are inconsistent. Some members of city ouncil want to change its two-year terms to four-year staggered terms. They haven't said if they also want to inject party politics into it. I, for one, hope not. In fact, I hope members decide to leave well enough alone. Non-partisan Council terms are two years for a reason. Voters have short memories and they can hold council members accountable. Double that time and stagger the terms and the council could not be held answerable as a body. The arrangement diminishes voter influence on those who serve. County Commissioners know this — and love it. It's important that we understand how representative government at the local level differs from state and federal levels. In Raleigh and D.C., party affiliation is all that seems to matter, not the needs of the people. Partisanship is destroying the political process in Raleigh and in Washington. Abortion and same-sex marriage and other controversial social issues dominate the political landscape in Congress and the legislature but have nothing whatsoever to do with governance. The fact that members of our Board of County Commissioners rarely if ever decide issues based on whether they are Democrats or Republicans confirms my belief that party affiliation locally is irrelevant. Policy making here at home is done on the basis of need regardless of political party. In North Carolina, cities and counties are chartered to perform specific duties. County government looks after human services such as education, public health, social services, the courts, law enforcement and criminal detention. In addition to those services available to all county residents, including those who live in Fayetteville, municipalities take care of housekeeping chores and provide amenities not always available in unincorporated areas. They include tax paid trash collection, street maintenance, mass transit, parks and recreation, urban planning and development, full-time, paid public safety services above and beyond those provided by the sheriff. Services of local government are provided by public servants closest to home. We run into council members at the grocery store and high school ball games. We see them at church and talk with them on the phone. We even watch their Monday night meetings on TV. We stay in touch! The argument that incumbents spend the first year of their term governing and the second year seeking re-election doesn't hold water. Candidates for city council can't even file for re-election until July of the second year. And typically they don't start campaigning until Labor Day. If incumbents do their jobs effectively they don't need to worry about campaigning. There Is No Place for Partisan Influence in Municipal Elections by JEFF THOMPSON JEFF THOMPSON, Columnist. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. C A P E F E A R R E G I O N A L T H E A T R E P R E S E N T S SEP – OCT , Music by Mitch Leigh Lyrics by Joe Darion Book by Dale Wasserman Directed by Tom Quaintance Co-Producers: The Fayetteville Observer, Will Gillis, The Richardson Firm, Attys., Ramada Plaza-Bordeaux Convention Center-Baymont Inn & Suites Fort Bragg Area CFRT_ManofLaMancha_mailer.pdf 1 8/25/15 11:51 AM For Tickets: 910-323-4233 or visit www.CFRT.org Be sure to see what we have in store for you! News, views, arts & entertainment. Coming Every Week.... Exciting features on timely topics that matter to you! www.upandcomingweekly.com 484-6200