Of Cabbages and Kings
by BOB BARTON
It probably seems to many Kyle folks that the first five months of 2010 have been dominated by a hodge-podge of elections that would never end. They are wrong and voters will prove it Saturday, May 8 when an almost total turnover of the city council is completed.
When the polls close at 7 p.m. that evening, the council majority, regardless of who wins the single contested race, will be made up of four recent arrivals to the local election scene.
Newcomers Jaime Sanchez and Russ Huebner have been cutting their teeth on the intricacies of city governmental management for about two months, after emerging victorious in the closely contested February special election, as did our new mayor, Lucy Johnson.
This election already has one foregone conclusion. Brad Pickett is uncontested for a three year term by virtue of being unopposed in his first quest for local office. That alone testifies to his well organized and energetic early campaigning.
There are two contestants for the other vacancy. Diane Hervol has been very active in city affairs for quite a number of years. She has served two terms on the city’s planning and zoning commission, which is a great learning experience as well as good historical background for holding down a council spot.
Her opponent is Jason Welch, a bright young man seeking a role in civic affairs. He is personable, but misguided a bit concerning at least one political fact. According to several reports, he has alleged that undue influence was exerted in the selection of our future library site on Scott Street at the southwestern edge of the older section of the city.
The rejected site at the extreme northern part of town was about half an acre in size. The approved site is more than two acres on high ground. It was chosen by the city council on a seven to nothing vote. The Library Board and the city’s architectural firm have devised final plans that have drawn nothing but strong approval.
Slightly more than $200,000 was paid to the Sledge family for the larger site. The smaller site was alleged to be a “gift” by some, although a majority of the folks who investigated the matter say it was more of a partial land swap involving a prior land deal between a major developer and the city.
It’s about time to stop flogging that dead horse.
Without question, from my viewpoint, Diane Hervol is the far better choice.
