THE LADIES RULE (UPDATE: LADIES RULE BUT DON’T THINK YOU KNOW HOW THEY WILL RULE)

CONGRATULATIONS TO APRIL AND MARCI. The Election Results and the Election Summary. (Update 1/3/24 follows:

After the election results were certified, I wanted to write a post on what electing two new council members signified. As I ponder what the election results foreshowed, I decided to review their campaign material, and of course talked with my future council members. I realized that I could guess but did not know exactly how they would decide a particular issue.  I concluded it would be a mistake or pretentious to think otherwise.  I can, however, opine on general matters and maybe a few safe predictions.  

Both new council members are accomplished ladies in their fields. They are intelligent, independent thinkers, and hard working. I doubt that any of the existing council members will influence their votes.  If I were to inch out on the limb, both council members’ decisions will be based on smart and pro planning principles and protection of neighborhoods. If I were to inch out further on the limb, it would likely break as I would be wrong in my prediction.  

Two years ago, the incumbents were replaced by three new council members, and this year the incumbents were replaced by two new council members. I used incumbents broadly to include being on the planning commission.   This election trend evinces a hue and cry for change for planning instead of blind approval of developers’ projects; for transparency rather than behind close door decisions; for more businesses focus on local business in addition to tourists instead of solely on transient customers; protection of neighborhoods instead of destroying them; and increase housing stock and long-term rental instead of short-term rentals. Cheers to the upcoming journey through the light and the dark: light in openness of and public participation in government, and the dark in bringing back dark skies.