New Steps

Two years ago Gina King and I ran side-by-side for separate seats on the Zephyrhills City Council. We did the things campaigners do: We visited the city’s sewer plant, we spoke at candidate’s nights, we shook hands at the (then) city’s single polling place, Alice Hall. In the end Gina won, I lost, but not by much. We both had visions of bringing a little more light, a little more common sense, a little more class to city government.

Now, on the eve of a new election season we both realize that those modest aims are more difficult to accomplish than either of us would have dreamed. The entrenched power structure of the city; the embedded self-interested folks and worst of all, the appalling apathy of the citizenry just can’t be changed by the few who truly care about the direction the city is traveling.

Gina did her stint on Council and did, indeed, bring to light some of the more egregious goings-on. The under-the-table deal that pay favored councilperson’s health insurance to the tune of sometimes double their ‘honorarium.’ The sneaky renaming of 6^th Ave. despite a city ordinance that spelled out how such renamings should be done. The wholesale annexation of developments without determining whether the city’s resources could service them The amazing loss of a half-million dollars from the city’s coffers. These, and more, were the kinds of things that popped out when she began to kick over the anthill that is City Hall. But Gina’s was only one voice.

Now, it appears, she is not going to run to reclaim her seat. And more’s the pity.

What we want to point out as forcefully as the written word will allow, is that until the citizens of this town rise up and demand to be heard there will be no change in how things are done around here. The good-ol’-boy network, the government-by-pals, the waste and inefficiency will continue. The only time there is even a hint of life from you, the voters, is when you perceive a threat to your own self interests – a development that might invade your privacy, a potential that a new development might flood your yard or home. Then, and only then, do you stir yourself to voice your sentiments. That, my friends, is disgusting.

Arjay Morgan