You Owe Us

 An Open Letter to Our Rome City Commissioners and Commissioners-elect,

The election is over and we have a City Commission to serve together at least through 2021. So here I go climbing one more time atop my high horse. As a double preachers kid I come by my sermonizing naturally.

I voted for, and campaigned for, four of you this year. I have campaigned and/or voted for three others of you in past years. There are only two of you whom I have not voted for this year or in the past.  Those two are supported by dear friends who attest to your high ideals and strong character. I believe you will be a good commission. But We the People are expecting payback for your election!

We expect you to work, speak, read, listen, think, debate, cajole your fellow commissioners to vote, and vote yourself keeping the following in mind to the greatest extent possible:

• all Romans of every ethnicity and religious and socio-economic group equally — from those in the big houses between the rivers Downtown, to those in Garden Homes and Cherokee Acres in West Rome, to those in Atteiram Heights and every lane off Kingston Road and Calhoun Avenue in North Rome, to those along Branham and Pennington and Cedar and Maple Avenues in South Rome,  to those in public housing, to those sheltered under bridges or sleeping in cars
• our historic heritage and the quaint beauty of our town
• our rivers, creeks, forests, wetlands, hills, trails, flora, fauna, and greenspeace.
• our posterity: the Rome and Romans of 2120.

In other words we expect you to always keep in mind the six goals of the Preamble as they apply to this beautiful city and its diverse people. Progress, growth, business, change will come. We want that change guided toward the common good. 

There will inevitably be moments when decisions of the City Commission will affect the immediate political or financial self-interest of one or more of you. We expect you to be honest and above-board about that, recusing yourself in cases where your vote could appear to be a conflict of interest.

You owe me and the others who worked for your election — and those who voted for others — absolutely nothing more or less than the above. We expect you to listen to each of us, of course, but we expect you to do what YOU think is right, without fear or favor, keeping all these things in mind. 

I couldn't be more convinced we have selected a good group to fulfill that mission. Despite all the jokes and cynicism about it, true public service is an essential, an honorable, and a courageous calling. Thanks for putting yourself out there.