Political Gumbo: Crossing the Lines

By now many of you have seen the email making the rounds which claims that one of the District 3 applicants only moved into the district a month or so ago.

“I am bringing this to your attention because not only do I want this process to be fair, but after being a resident in District 3 for over thirty years, and raising a family here, I don’t want anyone representing me who just moved to the district just to run for office,” the letter states. “I don’t believe there is honor or trustworthiness in that.”

Of course the letter writer is so concerned and convicted on the matter that she sent it to every newspaper in town, because that’s what you do when it’s about honor.

I could not care less.

It doesn’t matter if all three candidates moved into the district five minutes ago. The City Charter is clear. Anyone seeking a seat on the City Council must be a resident of that district.

In other words, if you legitimately move into the district at 5:15 and at 5:16 you can legally run for office in that district.

People may not like it, and of course the word carpetbagger will be bandied about.  

But truth to tell, none of that matters.

It would take charter reform, that phrase keeps coming up, to institute a 30-day residency requirement to run for office. 

And before people start flying the flag, let’s be clear.

The City Charter won’t be reformed any time soon, and even if it were I’m not sure it’s legal to limit a person’s ability to run for office.  

Chris Holden and Victor Gordo live so close to each other that if someone sneezed when the lines were redrawn during redistricting they would have ended up in the same district.

John Kennedy lived at the upper point of the district so close to the district border that he could see Russia from his backyard.

(Cripes, I’m quoting Palin. What in the hell is happening to me?)

The truth is the ‘so-and-so does not really live in the district’ rumors have come up during every election cycle.

Not worth wasting my time or your’s on that kind of mess.

Instead I will leave you with this.

Instead of thinly veiled attacks, it’s time to come together.

In a few short days, the City Council will choose the next District 3 Councilmember.

It’s up to the residents living in that district to work with the new council member as issues arise. 

Instead of campaigns designed to sway Councilmembers, our neighborhoods need unelected leaders that are willing to do the work to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Yes, support your favorite for the seat.

But support your neighborhood more.