Revision or regime change?
I think it's good that Oconee County is going to evaluate how it does business, but I think there's a larger question worth pondering here ...
Is the community pondering changing the structure of the government because it think it will increase efficiency, openness and fairness or are they doing it because they don't like who is currently the chairman? It seems to me that a strong chairman is actually a very effective form of government, it's just that Melvin Davis has, to some extent, abused the power of said position.
A strong chairman that employs committees, values open government and delegates responsibilities wisely is one that would be quite valued. The problem, quite frankly, is that Davis, by most accounts, doesn't do those types of things, hence our current situation.
Granted I'm new out here, but I'd be curious to see what reforms would be put in place had Sarah Bell been able to get 100 more votes.
Is the community pondering changing the structure of the government because it think it will increase efficiency, openness and fairness or are they doing it because they don't like who is currently the chairman? It seems to me that a strong chairman is actually a very effective form of government, it's just that Melvin Davis has, to some extent, abused the power of said position.
A strong chairman that employs committees, values open government and delegates responsibilities wisely is one that would be quite valued. The problem, quite frankly, is that Davis, by most accounts, doesn't do those types of things, hence our current situation.
Granted I'm new out here, but I'd be curious to see what reforms would be put in place had Sarah Bell been able to get 100 more votes.
posted by Jmac at 9:38 AM
2 Comments:
Taking up on your previous offer, of keeping this blog regional in mind and open to whomever no matter what government boundaries one may live in (to some extent), allow an ACC resident to chime in.
Yes - Chairman Davis has abused the power of the position - just like Wendell did before (and I have worked closely with both on a number of issues so I have some direct experience). Though don't get me wrong - I don't blame them and from my experience they have never done anything illegal. It is inherent to the Strong Chairman form of County government when most day to day operations are funneled to one person who is elected they will abuse it to some degree to do things to keep them elected into that office.
I agree that a strong Chairman could work if they did those things that you suggest - though from a practical viewpoint, as long as they have the power and want to get reelected they will more likely than not delegate very little.
... though from a practical viewpoint, as long as they have the power and want to get reelected they will more likely than not delegate very little.
A fair point, and history is littered with individuals who seek to 'reform the system from the inside' only to become part of the system itself. Perhaps a change in the structure of the government is a positive step - I'm surely not against it since it provides for more openness and more inclusion - but just trying to put some food for thought out there.
Didn't that feel good though? Telling us out here how to live? :)
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