I am someone who believes in the representative form of government. The only exception to that rule is when a process designed to protect the taxpayers from despicable politicians is abused. Today we have the potential for the first recall election since the charter was instituted. The ironic thing about it is the recall is taking place in a Ward where the last legally elected official violated the law by drinking and driving, then while in custody he allegedly tried to bribe a police officer with a take home car. The people of the Ward sat by and did nothing.
Now there is an attempt to recall Council woman Dottie Greer. Did she commit a crime? Did she violate the charter? No, to both. So what has this person done? When the residents of her Ward could not get any help from their Councilman, Dan Gould, and he challenged her to run for the office if she could do better, she cared enough about the City and Ward 7 to place her name on the ballot. She won the election. Dottie Greer has been someone who truly believes that solving problems and representing her ward is not done by what the “in the know” and “the movers and shakers” want. No, she believes in trying to do what is best for her residents. What are the thanks some residents show? They are taken in by a “paid for by campaign” that was far from a grass roots effort. This was bought and paid for by likes of TR Hughes and Glennon Jamboretz and Ken Kielty. It now appears it might have been paid for by Mayor York using city tax dollars.
To the people of Ward 7, you are the first to ask for a recall. I just want to find out if you knew that those circulating the petitions were paid help from Rolla, Fairview Heights, St. Louis, and Ferguson. Did you know this was not a grass roots effort but a clever campaign that cost over $15,000 to complete (which by the way was more than all the money spent in the last election), and did you really know that this was a recall election petition before you signed it? If you really want the best government money can buy, then stay silent. If you want to stand up and say money can’t buy my signature then come forward and tell us what led you to sign and we will get you the proper forms to get your name off the petition. Your name can be taken off by filling out a simple form, so if you were misled and lied to by these people please contact us.
