The Tortoise & the Hare
Election day – get out and vote!
I haven’t blogged much on the election, mostly because neither candidate excited me very much to be honest. I filled my bubble this morning though for Martin.
To me, this campaign has felt like the Tortoise & the Hare.
Pavia is our hare, he’s flashier, his message is easier to digest. Pavia was here in Stamford first, he’s in government… then out, here.. then off to South Carolina… now back! Pavia’s signs are everywhere, they are twice the size… they have his picture one them! (Random aside - Pavia signs also seem to have a lock on abandoned store fronts, empty buildings & lots. Not sure what to read into that)
Martin is our tortoise. He’s not flashy and has a lame tagline. Martin choose to come live here and stay, and serve in city government for over 25 years. The Advocate endorsed him as more deliberate, in touch and detailed with the particulars. He’s passing out literature while Pavia is beeping horns.
Martin is addressing Scofield with the more permanent, albeit somewhat slower process of laying underground pipes to bring in the clean water. Pavia wants to immediately lay above ground pipes – without first considering that they would probably freeze in the winter.
In a debate each candidate was asked what one project would they tackle if they had unlimited resources to do so. Martin picked his one project as establishing the UConn satellite as a full residential college in Stamford – as both a way to enliven the downtown and providing an intellectual base for future leadership. Pavia picked developing a great master plan… and addressing the Scofield issue… and reopening Wright Tech… and puppies and kittens for everyone.
Pavia wants to bring his business sensibility to government. That’s certainly not a theme unique to Pavia - but it feels especially tired in the age of sector after sector of business lining up to the government for a bailout. As the sins of our collective past are forming up like Voltron to attack – it’s probably best not continue our government in the “business model”, which can be chronically short sided immediate gain at the expense of long term stability.
In more ways than one way it felt like Pavia had the lead the race, but then again we all know the end to the fable. We’ll see tonight who reaches the finish line first.
6 comments :
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I won't be voting today. Why? I couldn't do the research. When I called the Town Clerk and asked to see a copy of the ballot ahead of the election, I was met with a rude response and told that I could find the ballot at the polling location on election day.
I, for one, would rather research the candidates and issues (if any) ahead of the election. I don't vote party lines and I always vote based on objective, quantitative factors. As such, I need to prepare.
Yes, I found out later that the Advocate had a special section on Thursday...but good luck seeing its contents if you don't have the paper.
The cynic in me says, "wow, what a bunch of apathetic voters are we that the city government has never considered publishing the ballot ahead of the election." The conspiracy theorist in me says, "what a great way to keep the electorate in the dark and allow the Republocrats to stay in power." The concerned citizen in me says, "what the hell are people basing their voting decisions on?"
Debating if I should write the mayor, do a letter to the editor at the Advocate, or just stew on it.
Hey pastor666, Write to whomever you want to complain, but there was ample opportunity to see, hear and read about many of the candidates well before the election.
There were many debates (mayoral, BOF, BOE) at several locations throughout the city--I don't think there was an excuse to miss all of them.
Your BOR candidates can be contacted at their homes, if they weren't available at your last neighborhood association meeting (and they should have been.) And if you don't have a neighborhood association--start one!
You say you need to prepare--I agree. Part of our democracy means that we need to participate. Get out there and get the information. It's not going to fall into your lap. And what does fall into your lap (mailings and robo calls) will not be the kind of information you need.
Democracy takes work from all sides and part of me feels that we don't deserve it here in America because we're not willing to work for it.
We want to vote for the "nice guy" who "seems good." Ridiculous and lazy.
I agree, there have been plenty of opportunities to get information on all candidates. There has been information posted on web sites for both the Advocate and the Stamford Times, if you couldn't get to one of the debates (or watch the Channel 12 debate). If you have more time, the library has all the old Advocate articles in the on-line research area, which you could also do from home.
I'm saddened that Martin lost. We are now stuck with a "nice guy" who is in over his head. According to the article in today's advocate, he does not have candidates for major appointed positions in his new government?
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_13725148
In a supporter's letter to the editor (Advocate) Pavia "takes care of his friends and family". Great. I hope some of them are qualified.
Pavia won, so I'm placing my order for a dachshund (someone else can have my kitten).
Starwood HQ coming to Stamford.
Does this mean the hotel site at Harbor Point is slated to be a St. Regis?
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_13816835
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