Cronyism vs. Transparent Governance
My name is B. Dwight Foster, B.A., MPA, Candidate, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, University of Michigan. I have also been nominated for the CBD-Citizen's District Council ELECTOIN on April 4, 2006. I was a precinct delegate in 1992 for the Democratic Party of Detroit, MI. The CBD-CDC advises the DETROIT CITY council on matters of urban development in DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
I write you today, as an informed citizen, in response to "Council Aims" which outlines a possible Detroit City Charter Amendment to allow the Council to 'appoint' a replacement for a Council vacancy due to incapacity to fulfill the duties of the office. Your article claimed that this is in keeping with the Wayne County Commission which has appointed family members to serve out terms of their spouses. And in another instance, it has been the 'custom' of the U.S. Congress to appoint the surviving spouses too. Custom does not infer best practice. In many cases, it insinuates cronyism, in the area of public administration, whereby such 'customary' practices are vestiges of defensive management instead of transformational leadership.
As a Public Administration professional I commend any attempt by the city officials to curtail spending, to wit, in this case, the cost of a mandated 'special election'! However, a simple policy adjustment to what the Honorable Kwame Kenyatta has proffered makes for better governance. That simple adjustment would cease and desist the quasi-unethical practice, though definitely sentimental, of allowing a spouse with or without the capacity to fulfill the office, ownership of that office, without being next in line on the ballot of vote getters!
If a special election which seeks to defer to the 'people' their voice, is too costly, the next best alternative,socio-economically speaking, would be to still listen to the voice of the 'people' by taking the next highest vote getter! This would be more legitimate than the policy now afoot and sanctioned by the Research and Analysis Division to devolve the power of the people onto the City Council. I am sure the Mayor's office would, as the Executive Branch, like to make that appointment! Neither of the two branches should be allowed to usurp that mighty and marvelous power imbued in Detroit's citizenry.
Ergo, the best practice to institute, to keep both branches at bay, would seem to be the one that I have humbly submitted-to take the next highest vote getter in the General Election. I would propose that the Charter be so Amended to reflect this sanguine action that should satisfy The People, The City-Legislature, and the The City-Executive Branch.
Best,
B. Dwight Foster, B.A., MPA, Candidate, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, University of Michigan (Graduate of Detroit Southeastern H.S., Class of 1986).
