Comments on: City Election Could Be Ultimate “Job Stimulus”

By: Gordon

Gordon — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:52:47 +0000

What Paul says about candidates and their families being run through the wringer is right on, but that happens at all levels, and we generally seem to have a lot of people willing to run for Legislature, governor, Congress, president, etc. Of course, maybe the opportunity for bribes, kickbacks etc. isn’t high enough on City Council?

By: Nemo

Nemo — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:26:26 +0000

Did I read that correctly? 22,000 a year? I thought the City Coucel was a full time gig, or am I mistaken.

What does the mayor make? Just wondering.

EDITOR NOTE–We are operating on memory because we can’t find the salaries on the city site, but Bieter has kept his salary at about $90-94,000 with little or no increases. He also has not taken any car allowance. Chief of BPD gets about $118,000 and is highest paid city official right next to city atty. Team Dave staffers and other dept heads also do very well.

By: trekkerguy

trekkerguy — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:17:30 +0000

Wow, is this a Tea Party site? Why is The Guardian against any progress or moving forward in this city?

EDITOR NOTE–if having competitive elections is “Tea Party” we are guilty. We feel the same for the Repub dominated legislature as well.

By: Paden

Paden — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:43:35 +0000

In addition to Paul being right on, why would any reasonably intelligent individual want to associate with the Bumbler. He, at best, exudes Jr. High leadership skills. If he hadn’t removed the 10 Commandments or had neighborhood meetings, he wouldn’t have anything to his name. He’s now talked a couple of blind innocents into running for the Greater Boise Auditorium Districts Board so he can rob them of their money to help build his absurd baseball stadium. As Paul stated, this is why we get what we get.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:33:54 +0000

Paul for Mayor! Good points about reasons why the job does not attract the people we really need in leadership.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:17:36 +0000

The problem with running for public office is the media has made it a free for all. They can’t just deal with the candidate they have to deal with every family member back to Adam and Eve when someone runs for office. Most people just do not wish to have their family members run through the mud.

The second issue is the sheer costs of running for an office that pays so little and the uphill battle it is to knock out an incumbent.

Third issue is apathy. Most people just don’t care who is on the city council as long as the toilet flushes , water is running and the potholes are fixed. Voter turnout will validate this observation. People for the most part just don’t give a hoot for local politics. Too bad because that is where the big impacts on their taxes lies.