Key West Citizen Editorial Looks for Change

This is an editorial written by the Key West Citizen Editorial Board today. If there was ever a call for CHANGE, this is it: 

Participation key to election success.

Systems, bureaucracies and organizations are often created with the intention of providing structure, consistency, rules and efficiency. In democracies, these systems become the backbone of governance.

The extent of success in any open system will depend on the degree to which the representatives and units in the system participate, observe the rules and engage in self-regulation.

In the case of Monroe County as that system, what happened?

County commissioners are responsible for hiring and supervising the county administrator, who is responsible for devising and implementing systems to assure that the employees appropriately do their jobs to support the residents and businesses of this community. Our county administrator was recently indicted on felony charges of official misconduct in regard to drug charges relating to the county’s fire rescue department and Trauma Star. The county’s Tourist Development Council has faced multiple audits, resulting in numerous misdemeanor charges being issued.

Who’s to blame? It may be us.

The voters of Monroe County are often responsible for placing individuals in high-ranking positions, with those persons making decisions for the good of the county. As has been the case in recent years, many merely vote along party lines, regardless of the qualifications, experience and positions of the candidate.

In numerous races this season, candidates did not even face competition, automatically assuming their posts. Most were incumbents, but others were new to their positions or, in one case, new to the political arena. What is holding back potential candidates?

Democracy requires participation, but when participation is limited to one set of individuals or groups that wear blinders, the result is decision making like a racehorse that simply goes to where the jockey directs it.

The racehorse in Monroe County are the commissioners, and they were directed by a county administrator who led by putting blinders on them.

As we approach the November election, voters must remember that our system of democracy works better when we have the requisite checks and balances.

With mere days before Election Day, every eligible voter must get out and vote, but remember that it is not in our best interest to have all the power in the hands of a single party.

— The Keys Citizen Editorial Board

To read the article directly at Keysnews.com, click HERE.

Please share this email with friends, family and neighbors to help spread this message of CHANGE.

I ask for your vote on November 5th to be the balance that is clearly necessary on the BOCC.