In Augusta, we have two citizenries: one that seems satisfied with the status quo and the other that is up in arms with pretty much everything that goes on.
The satisfied are okay with things as they are-most can’t tell you who their commissioners are, nor can they tell you anything that is going on downtown. The other group find fault in most things and seemingly are tired of the incompetence that has plague our local leadership since consolidation. We went from a city of leaders, black and white, who were top-notch politicians, leaders who had either a background in business-because they ran their own companies or leaders who were true freedom fighters-who stood on the shoulders of their ancestors to try to make things better for their community.
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Now, we seem to have “elected officials,” and in some cases department heads, who are more concerned with TV lights than they are with doing the people’s business. However, we are to blame. We have continued to elect politicians, or should I say “fame seekers,” who we like. People who have the simple self interest and who lack the ability, in most cases, to even consider or interpret the true concerns of most of the community.
If this was not the case, then how do we explain some commissioners and even some state elected officials who have no deep rooted knowledge of what is truly needed for this city to move forward? Elected officials who don’t even have the decency to answer questions presented to them or feel the need to answer questions from the very people who elected them.
That is because for so long we have lacked a level of accountability that is just now returning in the form of what we heard the mayor call a “Trashy Blog.” This is not a swipe at “The Augusta Chronicle,” but we must be honest: it lost its thunder years ago. That’s because for so long it was considered a race-baiting, one-sided journal. As the news left, it became an Associated Press-filled drink coaster that most people still received out of normal practice. The fact that we have a paper (currently electronic) should be an indication that this city is trying to be progressive.
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Now to hold our elected officials accountable. Speaking of upcoming elections, I got a lot of flack about my comments about the mayoral race. One thing in particular was the fact that I called Marion Williams out for running for mayor. People said he had been elected four times in the past, the majority of the city loves him and he always speaks up for people. I asked them to name anything he had done in those 16 years… Crickets.
Understand me — I’m not saying that Rev. Williams is not a nice person, I’m just saying that for Augusta to progress, the way they are leaning, then he may not be the right person for that job. I also was asked why didn’t I mention Charlie Hannah in my column. My response was that I didn’t realize he was still running. Charlie is a very nice guy — I just think he will be better served on the school board then as mayor. He does have a good following and will pull some votes, but so will Marion. Like it or not, Marion is going to pull quite a few votes, and this race is going to be like most races with lots of people in them, everyone should be shooting for second place. In most cases, that is who will win the run off.
Now about the fire chief resume being handed to the city administrator. If that column came out at 8 a.m., my phone was ringing by 8:15 a.m.
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“If your smart ass got anything to say about me — next time use my name!” Commissioner Clarke said. “I did drop off the administrator a resume, but that was the end of it. At no time did I force him to do anything or make any recommendations. I can’t say the same for the other commissioners,” Clarke said to me sternly. “Now, that I got you straight – how is Monica?”
Clarke has always been very transparent, especially when speaking to me, sometimes to the disappointment of other commissioners who try to hush him up.
I made a comment on my Facebook page recently about Augusta running out of good places to eat. Can anyone tell me about some good places to eat in Augusta? I wonder if the new restaurants headed to South Augusta will do well, considering—oops. Here I go talking about another column.
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com.
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