Monahan Jumps The Gun - Butts In on Budget

BUTT OUT, GARY!
Will someone please explain to Gary Monahan that he's NOT on the City Council yet! I know that some of the chairs in Conference Room 1A at City Hall probably have his butt print indelibly embossed in their cushions from this previous 12 years on the council, but he has not OFFICIALLY won his seat back yet. Until that time, he's just another private citizen, governed by the same rules as the rest of us schmucks.

RULES DON'T APPLY TO HIM?
I refer to his participation in the City Council Study Session Wednesday, during which the staff presentation on probable budget trimming was discussed. Instead of participating in the normal public comments time Monahan took a seat at the big table and participated just as though he was already an elected official instead of having his comments restricted to the paltry few minutes alloted to the rest of us.

PAYBACK FOR SUPPORTING FOLEY?
As discussed in the Daily Pilot article on the meeting, HERE, Monahan joined Allan Mansoor in trying to figure out how they can cut city staff, public safety salaries and benefits and install a hiring freeze. To me, this sounds like pure political payback for the endorsement the police and fire unions gave to Katrina Foley during this last election cycle.

I TOLD YOU THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
I've read the staff report in which the City Manager and Finance Director presented reasonable alternatives for the council to consider. However, it continues to be obvious that the new majority that will take over once the election is certified early next month is poised to ignore the best professional advice the staff provides to them and run roughshod over the city.

WHY SCARE THE STAFF?
Can someone please explain to me how, in these dire financial times, it makes any sense to threaten the city staff with salary and benefit cuts and potential layoffs when the real professionals of this city doesn't think that's necessary? This is a perfect example of what happens when you elect intellectual lightweights to positions of authority.

JUST THE BEGINNING...
As I've cautioned you before, once Monahan is sworn in he will undoubtedly try to take charge again and will almost certainly push for the position of directly elected mayor to be placed before the voters.

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM!
Don't turn you back on these people! If you don't watch them like a hawk they will bend or break the rules to accomplish their goals. With a Super majority, nothing is safe.

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CURRENT ELECTION RESULTS
Speaking of Monahan, the most recent election results as of 5:00 p.m. Thursday shows no change in the relative positions of the candidates. Monahan still leads, with Katrina Foley behind him by 1558 votes. Foley leads Eric Bever by 954 votes and Jim Righeimer trails Bever by 1654 votes.

WHITTLING AWAY AT THE BALLOTS
According the the Registrar of Voters web site, slightly more than 63,000 votes remain to be counted county-wide and most of those are - nearly 57,000 - are provisional ballots.





Here are the most current results available: