"I Don't Play Politics!"

EDITORIAL - Thursday, December 4, 2008 - At any meeting, either as a board member or private citizen, I state what I believe and try to back those statements up with both rational arguments and evidence. As a board member I vote my conscience on each and every issue.

At today’s meeting a motion was made, it was seconded, and the chairperson called for a vote. At that point I could no longer raise objections to the wording of the motion, but only vote yes or no. I chose to vote my conscience. I believed that the motion as worded assumed facts not in evidence and as a board member and representative of the City of Ironwood I could not ethically vote yes even though in principle I agreed with the motion. The motion failed.

While I do not find it desirable or necessary for board members to explain each and every vote, I chose to explain mine due to the controversial nature of the subject. I wanted both the official minutes and any press coverage to clearly show that I did not support this project and only voted as I did because of the wording of the motion. At this point another board member encouraged me to make a new motion. I did, it was seconded, and it passed.

Between these two votes another board member chose to leave the meeting. I cannot control that member’s actions; a quorum was still present; and the meeting continued. Many times at City Commission meetings motions are made and not seconded, motions are voted on and not passed, and new motions are then made. Such is the democratic process.

Thus, after the meeting, I was shocked and offended by being “praised” for my ability to “play politics”. While some people might choose to emulate Machiavelli’s Prince I do not. I take my duties as a DIDA member very seriously. My constituency consists of three groups. First and foremost I consider the downtown business owners as they are the ones who fund the DIDA. This group is closely followed by those who actively use our downtown. Included in this group are organizations such as the Ironwood Carnegie Library and Ironwood Historical Society as well as all individuals who live, work, shop, and recreate downtown. Finally I must consider the needs of Ironwood as a whole, and how I, as a DIDA member, can help Ironwood’s citizens achieve our collective vision for the future. I consider this baseless accusation to be an insult to me, my fellow board members, and the citizens of Ironwood.

Steve Frank