Felons on the loose?
What's behind this one? I'm told the city attorney has been asked if it's okay for a convicted felon to run for city council.
Is there a felon running for city council, or plannning to?
The plot thickens.
Is there a felon running for city council, or plannning to?
The plot thickens.
posted by The Observer at 8/06/2007 06:46:00 AM
7 Comments:
There are many felons on the loose. This case may make reference to a request to change the city charter to permit a person convicted of a felony whose rights have been restored to run for city council in line with state law. After all, our society gives lip service to paying one’s debt to society so I see nothing wrong with changing the charter although it cannot be done in time for this election.
There is at least one councilperson at present who has filed massive numbers of false civil and criminal complaints against councilpersons industry and citizens at large. Is perjury a good honest way to obtain a foolish court order and attempt to squelch free speech? Is it a felony?
This is from a request submitted at last council meeting. If you follow the link on the City of Monroe's website you will find that this request would bring the City in line with the rest of the State - i.e.; once you have served your time you may run for office and have your voting rights restored.
According to the minutes this was submitted via written request by Omar Ferdin.
Observer,
Have you been out of town? Haven’t been watching the City Council Agendas?
There is a fine gentleman from Dorothy Edwards’s precinct that wants to run. I don’t remember his name, but he shows up to most of the council meetings to ask many questions about things he doesn’t appear to understand. I think his name is Ferdinand something or another. He reminds me of McElliot or whatever the guys name is that ran against Edwards’s last time out. They both show up to most meetings to hear themselves talk.
Anyway – apparently he got busted for something, but feels he is fully rehabilitated. Further, he must feel he is the best person to represent his precinct.
I for one am a snob and feel that once you have been busted of a felony, you have lost the right to serve in public office or vote. I thought that was a rule in this country. I guess you can have a judge or president expunge or pardon your record, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t still an ex-con in my book.
Now – I must admit that in my youth I have been known to fracture a law here and there, and if not for good planning and a little luck I might also be a ex-con. The difference is I wouldn’t be dumb enough to get up in front of City Council and announce to the whole city that I was a con.
In my book this makes him an idiot unfit to serve. I’m pretty sure there are other more qualified individuals (Willie Hall) that haven’t been convicted from that precinct.
If we are going to change the charter lets do it for good reasons. I’d like to see the charter changed so we don’t have an all-new council every two years. How about longer terms where we have only 2-3 council members turning over each year instead of the whole board every year. Do we really need an elected, full time city clerk? Evans does a great job, but he is getting towards retirement and the next person may run unopposed with no qualifications just for the salary. There is no requirement that you have the skills or qualifications – only that you get the most votes.
Anyway – I don’t see the need to let a convict on City Council. It is bad enough we have a few with dementia and one that could never be convicted of a crime due to insanity.
There is a younger man from the east side looking to run for council. He was in prison for a couple of years for drugs and a weapons charge.
He may make a good council person, since he may be able to just pull out a gun and shoot at whoever gets up to the podium just to see themselves on tv.
Roundybout -
Changing the charter would do nothing more than bring us in line with the State of Michigan regarding electing someone with a past felony conviction. I am all about giving folks a second chance - besides, the voters would decide.
Love the idea of extending the election cycle. I would love to have 36 or 48 month terms (alternate districts). I think this would help greatly.
Oh, yeah - Mr. Hall is no longer running. Heard something about him leaving his position with Mac Steele and moving. Looks like the Ms. Edwards or Mr. McGhee.
City resident:
Funny,funny commment.
Hey, I say let anyone on council as long as they're not in jail and their taxes are paid up.
A strong case could be made that some counci members, present and past, have robbed the taxpayers for years.
Who knows, maybe a felon could snare the ex-con vote and that would put him over the top.
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