Mayor Janice Daniels and the Troy of tomorrow

Voting for a recall is a big decision. Sometimes, you might feel there’s a lot of reasons to recall a candidate.  Maybe they’re not who they said they were, or that they proposed ideas that were against your vision of government.  Sometimes, it’s because you think Mayor Janice Daniels may have lost her marbles along the way down Crazy Street.

Let’s be clear, I do not like recalls, nor advocate them unless the office holder is convicted of a felony, etc.

Mayor Daniels, to be clear, has not burned our city down, nor destroyed life as we know it, despite what the advocates of recall are suggesting.  But things are getting difficult.  I initially began this post in July.  I put it on the shelf, because I wanted to see how things turned out.

In July, Mayor Daniels presented a unique vein of creativity in interpreting medical thinking on homosexuality, and it’s gotten quite hard to admit the Mayor of Troy is actually out there speaking for me.  One time when I was out of town, someone interrupted my conversation to ask if I was from that Troy, the town with the crazy mayor.

I asked where they heard about it, and let’s just say you don’t want a Wonkette post dedicated to your legacy.

In terms of policy and politics, I’m not satisfied on a lot of levels.  The City of Troy is the vanguard of advancement in suburban life.   Its commercial alley exemplifies the success of a business-oriented community, but it’s also a quiet community that allows for reflection.  It’s a delicate balance, as the bedrooms and businesses that pay the bills for the best suburb in Detroit are facing a crisis of expenditures and income.  We face a commercial graveyard of empty rental space, and nothing cures that like cutting spending and payrolls in city government … right?

For the record, I would rather have a fiscal conservative at the helm of the city.  But with future budgets, does the mayor have what it takes to do it properly?  After all, read Mayor Daniels’ position paper (pdf).  Then read then-City Manager John Szerlag’s (pdf).

I am left with doubt.  City Manager Szerlag jumped ship after a legacy of work that exemplified commitment to a town that grew up around him.  We lost a good city manager because of an environment that worked against the history of Troy’s growth and health.  Even in a tight spot like a global recession, the city still had a rainy day fund after the deluge of the recession.  And that’s because we separated the politics from the day-to-day business most times, saving up where it counted, and producing a strong fiscal structure that could withstand not only 2008, but all the years after it.

Instead, the best city manager you probably could have for a city of our size decided to leave.

For Mayor Daniels, it’s not just about the wacky gaffes or her amazing ability to politicize a simple community award in less than 60 seconds.  Her beliefs are incongruous with logic, her data seems to be delivered solely by fringe media, and she often voices her concern regarding imaginary obstacles to policy, like federal “debt-money”.  

She exhibited her inexperience with election law by submitting a last-minute challenge, as well as challenging already-invalidated signatures in her rushed submission to prevent a recall from going forward.  In short, she’s exactly what one should expect when hiring someone off the street to lead a city.

We have a mayor who has to prove more than just bias against handbags and medical issues of alternative lifestyles.  We have a mayor up for recall who may or may not have answers for the city, but moreso for the lack of leadership that combines all of the skills of Troy residents, and leads them to the city everyone used to look up to.

Heck, let’s try to find the results that put her in office, and realize that this election wasn’t an overwhelming victory for the mayor in 2011.  In fact, try to find the actual results (pdf) on the City of Troy Elections website.  Again, I want to call it an oversight by the crack squad at the City of Troy Internetz, but I’m left wondering if we’re just not even updating our city website anymore.  Seriously, I’ll do it for free, Troy.  FREE.

Anyways, here’s what happened in Troy only one year ago:

MAYOR CITY OF TROY

Vote for not more than 1
Robin Beltramini 7,092 47.82
Janice L. Daniels 7,709 51.98
WRITE-IN 29

Again, I am not a fan of recalls, and I do not endorse Robin Beltramini.  I believe we can voice our concern and recall a public official, but we also have to realize the alternative choice may not be what we need.  We need to realize the consequences of voting, and we have to carry that decision to full term.  In Wisconsin, Gov. Walker survived, mostly because Wisconsin voters wanted a fiscal conservative in office, and not immediately to flip to a Democrat.

In Troy’s case, it might be a milder form of conservative ideology.  Less homosexual smoking death opinions and more ideas about helping businesses rent empty office space.  You know, like a transportation hub.

Our biggest “controversy” of the past decade was the divisive private business called “Hooters” that opened years ago, and got heavy flak for zoning too close to the Rochester Road/75 exit.  We kicked out a mayor for proposing a civic center that would complement our city center.  I mean, we’re all worried about a Hooters and an auditorium.  And even for those who are rallying to recall Mayor Daniels.  We didn’t get a bus stop for Troy, and we’re out for blood.

We are the definition of #FirstWorldProblems.  I don’t see Detroit doing this, so perspective is recommended.

I remember an exclusive interview with the “embattled” mayor.  The Oakland Press interview reflected honesty that I have no issue with in her personal life.  If you want to be an ignorant bigot, go ahead and be one in private.  But as mayor of Troy, there is a question of performance, leadership, and responsibility for all residents.

Mayor Daniels stands by her choice to stand as the anti-gay Mayor of Troy.  Her decision of making an issue of other people’s private lifestyle is not in contention.  ”I expressed my personal opinion.”  Hardly freedom-loving there, nor tolerant.  She goes further:

“Either you agree with me or you don’t. Wouldn’t it be nice if more elected officials expressed personal opinions to see if they stand for something?” 

I agree.  I think elected officials should express personal opinions, and Mayor Daniels is correct.  Personal opinions can guide policy, and few have the ability to separate their ego from their job.  We should see if they stand for something.  In fact, I wish more people expressed their opinions and personal beliefs in public like Mayor Daniels.

That way, we can vote them out accordingly.

Mako out.