LETTERS

Warwick ready for a change

Posted 7/15/14

An open letter to the members of the Warwick City Council:

On May 19, a proposal was brought before the council regarding term lengths and limits. My understanding is that it was late (11:30 p.m.) …

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LETTERS

Warwick ready for a change

Posted

An open letter to the members of the Warwick City Council:

On May 19, a proposal was brought before the council regarding term lengths and limits. My understanding is that it was late (11:30 p.m.) and most of the spectators were gone. Not surprisingly, the council approved a question to be placed on the November ballot to increase the term lengths from two to four years. However, in a vote of 6-2 against, the council vetoed placing a question on the ballot regarding term limits – specifically, do the residents of Warwick want them for their elected officials? One councilman stated that “it ain’t broke, so don’t fix it.” He went on to state that apparently there is no interest by the general public since there was no one left at the meeting.

Another argument against placing this on the ballot was that experience is valuable in government. Yes, it is valuable, but it becomes less valuable when the same people are elected over and over again. What about allowing others to bring new ideas and visions to our city?

Members of the City Council, I’m a little surprised at those who didn’t support this proposal. Let me assure you that there is interest in term limits. Just because your constituents don’t sit through the hours-long meetings that go late into the night, please don’t assume you know what they want. Obviously, you don’t because you would know that there is a silent majority out there that wholeheartedly supports term limits. Kudos to the council members who voted to approve this measure – shame on those who didn’t. You assume you know what the citizens of Warwick want, but obviously you don’t. You won’t even allow us a chance to tell you. You do remember that you work for us, right?

Let me assure you that the citizens of Warwick are ready for change. You can either be part of it or you can be run over by it. It’s your choice.

Becky Kotch

Warwick

Comments

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  • FASTFREDWARD4

    I have 1 word for becky Then you should Run, I see you didn,t

    Thursday, July 17, 2014 Report this

  • bniedfeldt

    Thank you for voicing the silent majority's opinion. I was flabbergasted at the comment made by a representative about the lack of attendance for the vote. I, for one, would be in favor of term limits and not just on the city council. But I have seen too much "old boy network" in operation to assume that it will happen in RI. As for the comment about "Then you should Run" (more than 1 word), there is too much muck raking by the entrenched politicians to make it worth while to run. I applaud anyone with the fortitude to run. As for me, been there, done that in too many private groups to want to do it in public.

    Sunday, August 3, 2014 Report this