Manouvering over the Empty Council Seat

 So you think that with no council meeting this week, there is nothing going on? Quite to the contrary! It started before the end of the year: machinations over filling the empty seat council that former Councilman Steve Knepper vacated when he became mayor. 

Some people believe the custom is the next highest vote-getter—Bill Hosch—is automatically seated. Former Mayoral Candidate Sue Green Knepper says she has “done research,” and that was never the custom. I do believe I recall Buff Bofelli got an open seat in such fashion, though the council person resigned subsequent to the election. 

Knepper says she has been invited to compete for the seat. As she has never held office, one cannot say how effective she would be. She may be excellent and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have two women on council for a change. 

Hosch, however, is a known quantity: I am often impressed by how well he can harness the ordinances to the facts of a situation, but his most valuable asset is the willingness and ability to defend an alternate opinion. 

 Every day I am more concerned with the monolith represented by Kelchen (doing his grandfather’s bidding), Delaney (doing his PC clients’) and sucking in Councilman Rausch. The newest councilmember, Megan Oliphant was pathetic l when I brought up a fair plan to spread the sidewalk joy around town last week. Didn’t have the guts to say a single word! 

Cascaders, you have an equal right to this seat—write a letter, and/or plead your at the council meeting Valentine’s Day.