Commentary on Council President
Councilman Cory Storch called Councilwoman Annie McWilliams the "council president-elect" Monday, giving a clue to at least one change that will take place on Jan. 1.Seen above at her June 2008 primary victory party, Annie McWilliams has proven to be an astute learner since taking office on Jan. 1, 2009. She already had a political legacy as the daughter the late two-term Mayor Albert T. McWilliams. In 2008, she attended many City Council meetings and she has taken notes and asked questions at every meeting this year.
She is the complete opposite of the kind of council representative that Plaintalker perceives as "place-holders," the politically tried and true sort who are not likely to buck the machine or make waves. Storch said at the 2009 reorganization there was a new direction with a "thinking council" as Adrian Mapp and Annie McWilliams joined the ranks. Certainly the administration has received more pressure in 2009 for accountability and transparency than it did in the previous three years.
Now that voters have returned the mayor to office, the push for thoughtful decisions is likely to continue. A new city administrator is going to find that Annie McWilliams expects full explanations and sound rationales for proposals put before the City Council. If she can "count to four" on the 2010 council, look forward to progress.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 2:14 AM
7 Comments:
McWilliams blog reveals nothing to me about anything relative to the current mess the town finds itself in. Some basic questions of interest:
-Woulld you term her a 'New Democrat'?
-What is her relationship, or public views, with Mr. Green?
-What are her views on the current budget crisis?
-What has her voting record been, relative to the Mayors wishes. (ie has she been a rubber stamp)?
-What are her qualifications to govern and challenge the Mayor?
-What are her perceived relationships with other council members relative to block voting on key issues?
-What are her stated views on the PMUA and the BOE?
Frankly we would have been better off with Mapp as he in this position would have been a better challenge to the Mayor and fiscal responsibility.
Mapp has done quite well recently in bringing issues to the fore and making sure the public knows the rules for municipal government. As for your questions, time will tell. I will be observing along with all other interested citizens.
OK...but the entire council should be expecting full explanations and sound rationales. Playing musical chairs is nice, but we need the full collaboration of this council to get things moving since it is obvious this mayor and her administration can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.
Bernice, I see you are busy rubber-stamping and cheerleading the New Democrats.
If anyone wants to know the voting record of the council members, they can find out through the city clerk's office. All the council votes are a matter of public record. I mean rather than asking you for this, Bernice. Residents are becoming too dependent on bloggers to do the work they themselves should be doing in terms of finding things out. Some of the other questions about McWilliams and the others can only be answered if people ask them directly.
McWilliams for President...a..er..Council President I meant! No need to get ahead of ourselves.
I agree with 11:07.I can appreciate a good blog such as yours Bernice. But too many people are starting to depend on bloggers as factual reporters and want you guys to ask the tough questions of our officials. You guys don't hide behind your words and feelings.
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