Sparks fly in Council Debates III

When we last left the Ward One debate between Independent Dick Bove, Progressive Megan Munson-Warnken and Democrat Ed Adrian- Bove was talking about how he tried to kill Urban renewal when he was on the council in the sixties, but then councilman (and later mayor) Francis Cain cast the deciding vote in favor of it.

Funny story about Frank Cain-When the cold war ended some friends and I cleaned out the bomb shelter in city hall and found these old reel to reel tapes recorded by mayor Cain to be played in the event of a nuclear war. You know- don't panic, stay in your homes- that sort of thing. I didn't hear the tapes but they came with written transcripts. Also in the bomb shelter? Saltines- lots and lots of saltine crackers in big metal canisters that were forty years old and rusting away. Nasty.

All right- let me write about this debate already-

Opening statements (continued):

Ed- living in Burlington since 1996. Concerned about "process." Examples of issues where he's had concerns about process: School Redistricting and YMCA. Wants to promote a family environment.

Megan- "Deeply invested in Burlington." "Every day we are walking, driving and biking in Burlington." "I can be a bold creative and very thoughtful voice for Ward One."

Call-in question: What's up with the openness of some local political caucuses and the closed nature of others?

Ed- SEI discussion has been too one-way.

Megan- Only a handful of people go to city council meetings.

Dick- Thank God for Channel 17.

Call-in question: What's the role of the city council in the school budget?

Megan- I'll know more "once I get in there and start asking those kinds of questions."

Dick- Easy question. The council doesn't have a role in the school budget. That's what the school board is for.

Ed- That's why we have a school board.

Question: Reaction to SEI Task Force?

Dick- We have to consolidate schools to keep taxes low.

Ed- If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Magnet elementary schools don't make sense. Ward One voters usually approve school budgets overwhelmingly. Happiness of the children is very important.

Megan- SEI task force has started "wildfires" but I'm not necessarily opposed to their ideas.

Question: Waterfront?

Ed- Keep the 'north forty' open. Rip down the Moran plant.

Megan- Maybe retrofit Moran.

Dick- Tony Pomerleau wanted a high-rise on the 40, but Bernie stopped it. The waterfront is "Bernie's field of dreams." YMCA deal was suspect because CEDO people were on the YMCA board of directors, etc. Rip down Moran. Fixing it up would be "throwing good money after bad."

Question: Main economic driver in Burlington?

Megan- UVM-FAHC, tourism and small biz.

Dick- Let's bring football back. Keep people living downtown. That's beautiful. Reduce bureaucracy at city hall.

Ed- Let's look beyond CEDO.

Question: Zoning Rewrite?

Ed- Very important process but hard to make it interesting for people.

Megan- Frustrated with zoning process. "Five years is a long time." (Note- Megan Munson-Warnken has only lived in Burlington about three years. Unless you happen to know that, it might sound like she's been watching the process for the last five years. She hasn't.)

Dick- Owners of historic houses in Burlington are getting totally screwed by a myriad of complicated regulations. (Teacher and Athena Club Chess Guy Bill McGrath recently testified to the city council regarding just this.)

Closing statements.

Blah blah blah. Ed announced his blog and actually gave out his cell phone number. That's incredible. I've never seen another candidate do that. Jerry Brown announced 1-800-426-1112 a lot in 1992 (a number he's used for subsequent campaigns) but Ed gave out his personal cell number. That's a clear signal he will be an accessible and engaging councilor if he wins the election.

Debate winner: Ed Adrian.

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Next debate: Ward three incumbent Tim Ashe faces independent challenger Loyal Ploof. In a nutshell- Tim crushed Loyal twenty million to zero in their debate. Sorry Loyal. Tim was extremely articulate and clearly has commanding knowledge of the issues. Not to mention his positions are totally spot-on. Loyal...not so much.

Debate winner: Tim Ashe.
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Coming Monday- I tell you who should win this year and why... Stay tuned!!