Opinion: Does Deaf and Dumb Best Describe the PCB City Council?

by Rex Lee Reid
Photo by Pascal Meier on Unsplash Photo by Pascal Meier on Unsplash

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL - Last month I asked the question, is the PCB City Council deaf? Well, based on the meeting held on the fourteenth I would say it is much worse than I had thought.

Look, the voters sent a very, very, very clear message in the last election. They do not want the former mayor having anything to do with city business. Now you can disagree, and you do not have to like it, but the facts are the facts.

So, why did councilman Jarman and Register vote to appoint the former mayor to the airport board and then to hold that vote over to the next meeting so councilman Casto could break the tie against the will of the voters?

Well, let’s look at councilman Register’s comment to see if we can get some insight, “I was sent here to represent the whole city”. Then the simple question must be. Then why are you not doing that?

It is obvious to the casual observer you are not representing the voters’ will. You are representing the exact people and groups that were repudiated in the last election.

But what is to be said about the “reasoning” behind councilman Jarman’s vote.? Well, like all politicians who think they know better than the voters. He will give some circular irrational explanation for his vote as he becomes the proverbial cat chasing his tail right before your very eyes.

And rest assured when councilman Casto, the want to be mayor returns. He will perform that very same trick right before your eyes.

That being said, what is one to make of the new mayor’s and councilman Colburn’s response? “We know a guy who works at a bank and was on the planning board.”

Note to the mayor and councilwoman. If you want the voters to help you stand up against what is shaping (sadly) up to be a three-person cabal against the will of the voters. You are going to have to step up your game.

And you are going to have to do it fast or the people are going to lose interest in trying to help you. The voters understand you are not going to win every battle, but they want you to put forth a forceful and rational alternative they can rally around.

There are numerous locals that would be a perfect fit for the Airport Board. The next meeting is your chance to compare and contrast, we just want our good old boy crowd, with the voters deserve a competent professional from the aviation industry.

Or said another way, two members have nominated a Proctologist, two members have nominated a Podiatrist, and the voters need or maybe more to the point the council needs a Psychiatrist. Here is hoping at least three members can pull their head or foot out, I jest of course, or do I?

www.RexLeeReid.com

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