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Candidates need to brush up on basics
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008
It’s too bad every citizen doesn’t take a Journalism 101 class at the local college.
For journalism majors the class is long, boring and typically too early in the morning. But it provides a basic structure of what you need to know about the world — not just journalism.
The class’s lessons are ones the vast majority of candidates in this year’s city elections desperately need.
The editorial board of The Democrat has been meeting one-by-one with the candidates for mayor and aldermen since last week. We talk informally with them in an attempt to get to know them, their platform and their ideas.
So far, nearly all of the candidates who do not currently hold office are operating under one incorrect assumption.
“I’m not privy to the city budget.”
We’ve heard it at least five times. The statement sometimes comes up on its own; sometimes it’s a reply to a question from us about city spending.
Either way, the candidates are just flat wrong.
You don’t have to be an aldermen or the mayor to be “privy” to the Natchez city budget. All you have to be is a person.
The budget, like many other city documents, is public record.
It’s on file in the city clerk’s office, and if you ask for a copy the city has to give you one.
City Clerk Donnie Holloway has always been easy to work with, and he’s often even explained parts of the budget to our reporters.
But you don’t have to be a newspaper reporter to get such information. You simply have to go ask.
Like many budgets, the city’s can be a bit confusing to those not familiar with such documents. But a few moments of brainpower can usually make sense of the columns and columns of numbers.
Anyone seeking to make decisions for the City of Natchez by running for aldermen or mayor should take the time to run down to city hall and ask to see the budget.
If the candidate doesn’t have time to study the numbers now, he or she probably won’t make a good aldermen or mayor after June.
I’ve been appalled in interview after interview to learn that most of the folks aspiring to lead our city haven’t made the first basic step to understand it.
The slate of candidates includes some good leaders and likely some bad ones. That’s normal. And challengers never have as much knowledge as incumbents. The learning curve is large.
But for those currently running or for any citizen with hopes of running in the future, a quick trip downtown should show you exactly what you are “privy” to. Learning the details will only make you a better candidate.
Flip to the next chapter in the Journalism 101 book and you may also learn a bit about the open meetings laws that go hand-in-hand with the public records laws.
It’s never too early to start learning what parts of city meetings must be conducted in open, public session.
Another chapter in the textbook will break down the roles of appointed and elected boards.
Some candidates may come to find out that under the current setup a Natchez aldermen can’t effect any direct change in the public schools from their city hall chair.
The journalism book has lesson after lesson — ethics, Robert’s Rules of Order, meeting minutes — why wouldn’t our candidates take some time to educate themselves equivalent to the level of a college freshman studying journalism?
And in the spirit of a true college student — going to class isn’t necessary, just study up on your own time so you can ace the test.
Julie Finley is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.finley@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 12:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like West will get the endorsement - although Middleton should know about the city budget! - Looks like they are criticizing Chick with the school comments (Although several alderman candidates have school connections)
Julie is partly right - often candidates for office have very little idea of the role of the office, or any details of what they need to know. If previous elections are anything to go by - they will endorse a candidate in the Democrat primary and ignore the Republican or the Independent - it looks bad to change horses after the primary and the run-off. On the plus side not many people seem to pay attention to the Democrat's opinion.
BTW Julie - congratulations on your engagement - I assume the rumors are true!
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Julie has hit the nail on the head. The city can do very little to affect the direction of the school system.
Elected positions are jobs and those who apply need to about how government works. Would you go to a doctor who knew nothing about medicine?
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 2:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good story i hope they take your advice and learn more about the city bussiness.anybody whom dosen't take the time to do something as simple as looking at the budget and educate themselves, i question there purpose for running.----------MS. FINLEY ANOTHER HOT SUMMER IS FAST APPROACHING,WANT YOU GUYS DO A STORY ON THE NEGLECT BY OUR CITY ALDERMANS AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,FAILURE TO PROVIDE OUR YOUTH WITH A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL. I THINK IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 10 YEARS OR MORE SINCE DUNCAN PARK HAS BEEN CLOSED. MAYBE THE CITIZENS NEED TO GET A PETITION GOING AND DEMAND THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS MAKE THIS A PRIORITY.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 2:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Would you go to a doctor who knew nothing about medicine?"
I have been to a couple around here that fit that category. I'm surprised the really good doctors don't shun them enough to warrent their desire to pack up and leave because they give a "sour taste" to the entire medical field around here. That is not fair because we do have some doctors who are VERY good at what they do.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Two things:
that budget should be in a .pdf format as well as printed and if you're too dull to be aware of the budget and where it is located, then for God's sake, don't run for an office where you are involved in allocating public money.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, that's disappointing. I hope they take your words to heart and educate themselves.
Posted by sandyman7 (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW If we all took college credits in journalism, then you would have no one to tell how dumb we are !!
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on April 30, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Before I would cast dispersions on the candidates, I think I would look at my own staff and daily product.
Seems to me that the paper might encourage its personnel to bush up on Grammar 100, Spelling 100 and Math 100.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you're running for mayor or alderman, you should know something about the city budget. You should have a copy of it, and you should have studied it. Julie is saying that knowing some job basics for these positions doesn't require more than a high school education, and this was some necessary homework. I agree. How can you promise to effect change if you don't even know what you'd change?
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Heck, some of these candidates running, until recently, had never even attended board meetings. No wonder the ones who don't already hold office know absolutely NOTHING about the office for which they are running. It's all about prestige. Maybe 2 or 3 have attended meetings in the past but the rest have only recently begun attending since announcing. Pitiful.
Posted by classicnatchez (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If my memory serves me there were at least three candidates at the forum who had mentioned that they had reviewed the budget.
They were Mr. Sanders, Mr. Dillard and Mr. Fields.
Posted by waterbourne (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just shows you that some of these knot heads have no business in public office. Gwen Ball is the main one that is completely clueless and will spend half of the year back in Missouri. Yes, Missouri was her primary residence up until she filed with the city to run for office.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on April 30, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you think the ND has a handle on budget numbers, then please read this article and comments: http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2007...
Posted by nowHEARthis (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Before I would cast dispersions on the candidates, I think I would look at my own staff and daily product. Seems to me that the paper might encourage its personnel to bush up on Grammar 100, Spelling 100 and Math 100."
It is amazing to me how the commenters who criticize the Democrat for misspellings can't even spell correctly in their own comments criticizing the paper. I believe that is "brush" up not "bush" up Gary. I guess we all make mistakes, don't we? Or should we discount your opinion because you can't spell.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with rantnrave. In addition, if the Democrat makes some mathematical errors in an article about the budget, it's no excuse for the candidates running for municipal offices to be ignorant. Gemccull implies that Julie has no right to have the opinion, since sometimes her writers make spelling, math and grammatical errors. Or maybe he just doesn't think the candidates need to be familiar with the budget.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on April 30, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Julie's article was a good one except for the reference to Journalism 101. That part was not necessary, JMO.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's reasonable gemccull. Sorry I read so much into your comments.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The budget is public record, as are all of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor (at least the ones we know about), but if you can't physically march into City Hall and demand one, how can you get a copy? It's not online, the City's webpage doesn't work or has moved and I haven't found it. Do you have to request a copy using snail mail?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You just have to be a stool pigeon of PW, Sam, to get one!
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 30, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Slow news day Democrat, you need to give us bloggers something to blog about...after all it helps your exposure.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep. It's time somebody got all the websites in order (or built) with the official and court public records available online.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's called .pdf......
and i certainly wouldn't hire anyone to handle public money that has no clue as to how and where the money is spent.
Posted by 2of4 (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Julie wrote an article that should be viewed as one to help citizens to make an informed decision. We need to realize that we constantly critize those running for office or are in office but we don't have a clue ourselves as to what we are crtizing sometimes. How many of you have asked our City Clerk for a copy of the budget, minutes or any other information he is responsible for? Julie already says he is easy to work with and he is usually in his office. Our City Clerk has a very qualified staff who are more than willing to accomodate any request you might have. It seems that everyone running for an office makes promises, actually the same promises made by the incumbents or others running for office and we the citizens need to really think long and hard about what the position the candidates are running for are really responsible for. We have a strong alderman weak mayor system. We need strong leadership in our alderman positions. That is where decisions are truly made. the mayor only breaks a tie. So study your present aldermen/alderwoman and their records when you make your decision on May 6th. Have they truly voted or made decisions that show they want the best for all of us? Do we want them to continue to make decisons for our communtiy? Do we want them as our mayor? Someone that cares for our community does not appear when they are running for an office and disappear when they lose. Someone that truly cares about our cmmunity is not afraid to stand up against other elected officials when necessary. Someone that truly cares for our community does not have to be popular and say what they think we want to hear. They tell the truth!!!!
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
2 of 4...our city clerk has done an exemplary job, I agree. I'm not so enamored of the person(s) responsible for upkeep of the City of Natchez' website...it isn't there, there's a spot for it on the Mississippi state government website, but, alas, you can't get there from here...the information shouldn't have to be obtained from the City Clerk by seeing him in person.
Mind you, that isn't an excuse for not getting the information if you are a candidate, but for us regular folks, taxpayers in the information age, it's an egregious cloak over needed information we really are entitled to.
May 6th?...not all will vote that day will they?...I guess, that shows where your allegence lies. Otherwise, much of what you say I agree with.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Sam, some of us will be voting that day. I like to play the field. But who to vote for? One seems to have family with a house that is a neighborhood blight and another seems to have a hatred for the "garden district". Decisions, decisions.......
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm saving my vote for the day that counts...the BEST man will win...have a little faith!
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