My Position on Positions

At a recent Charter candidate meet and greet, or speak and listen, sponsored by the Newburyport Democratic Party, a lot of candidates showed up. They were, for the most part, willing to express particular leanings, or biases on some of the issues that a Charter Review Commission would examine. Some want a Town Manager, some want longer terms for the Mayor and City Councilors, some want higher paid Mayors. The menu was chock full of "prescriptions for the patient."

That troubles me a great deal. To continue with the metaphor, the patient, our form of governance, may be sick, but I'm not sure we can develop an informed diagnosis, let alone a cure, without study and consideration.

With all due respect to my peers on the ballot, I have refrained from offering specifics. Anyone who knows me, knows I have opinions about nearly everything, and have never been shy about expressing them. My hesitation about offering up specifics is rooted, as most of my public comments have been, in a belief about how this Charter Review should be undertaken.

If we are to consider our governance model, and utilize the Charter Review process to suggest changes, I truly believe that those changes need to be rooted in research, in thoughtful public conversation. I believe that when people make up their minds, or even indicate a "leaning," it is human nature to look beyond ideas, opinions, and even facts that contradict those positions.
It just seems to work out that way; I've seen it in my experience on the School Committee, as part of the Skate Park Siting Committee. I've seen it in my own life.

Because of that, my approach to the Charter Review is different.

In my 14 years or so of public service, I have been committed to, and practiced, a set of principles about how a government serves the community best. It against those principles, those ideas, that I will measure our current governance model, and it is in the hope that we can improve our commitment to those principles that I will measure any recommended changes.

Principles of Good Governance

I believe that good governance is efficient. It doesn't waste resources, it looks to leverage additional resources for the good of the community. It plans ahead, and realistically anticipates needs like maintaining and improving infra-structure.

I believe that good governance is accountable and transparent, that it happens in the light of day, that decisions are weighed carefully and publicly, and that votes taken in the course of making those decisions are explained clearly.

I believe good governance is inclusive, that it actively seeks opportunities for the community to provide input.

I believe that good governance is creative. It looks for new and innovative ways to deliver better, more efficient services, to bring more people into the process of governance, and to anticipate future needs.

Positions

The question for a Charter Commission, in my eyes, is first to determine whether our present form of governance promotes these principles. Are we efficient in spending our tax dollars, in delivering the best quality services for the many constituencies present here in Newburyport? Is our government set up in ways that allow us to create and implement long term strategies for maintaining and improving services?

Do we have the flexibility to make decisions efficiently, thoroughly and implement them in a timely fashion?

Do we provide opportunities for direct dialogue between the decision-makers and the community? Dialogue, in it's full meaning of the word, not just off-line conversations or brief moments in which opinions are expressed but not directly responded to.

Are we accountable for our successes and failures, our struggles and achievements? Is our government structured in ways that allow for consistent implementation of ideas, of thoughtful and creative approaches to current and anticipated challenges?

If our conversation, as a convened Charter Commission and a community indicates we are not doing any or all of these things, the next step is to look at alternatives.

I have some thoughts about whether we are currently doing these things; and I probably have some ideas about how we might improve what we are doing.

I intend, as a Charter Commissioner, to actively engage in a very public discussion. I intend to do the research of alternatives, should we determine the need to offer some. I intend to clearly state to the community why I believe change is needed, and what kind of change might best achieve those principles I have stated above.

Whether I am a Town Manager aficionado, or committed to a weak Mayor form of government doesn't really matter, because I really believe that this election isn't about positions; and in particular, not about my positions.

It is about transparency, it is about the crafting of a rigorous, thoughtful and efficient approach to governing our community. It is about learning from the past, and building for the future.

I ask for your vote on Tuesday.