June 19, 2013
Wednesday PM

Dear Editor,

I just read Mr. Arriola's letter to the editor on the subject of local government and our various comments about it. I would like to clarify a few points. I have run for Ketchikan city/borough government (at the time they were combined positions). Out of seven running two of us chose to put forth concrete proposals of what we wished to accomplish upon election. So I am on record with positive solutions. In my letters due to limited space I often just assume the reader can figure out the right approach when the current wrong one is highlighted. I feel I have offered my services and as an American have the right to cry foul when I see it in government.

I have approached the council in a spirit of "working together" several times over the years and have found that it never works. Through a variety of mechanisms individuals are shunted aside and ignored. I can recite chapter and verse for you.

I also see much value in publicly airing the business of local government as I find activities conducted in light tend to be much better governance. In the process of changing for the better the first step is pointing out the problem. Discussion by the public is always healthy for a democratic form of government.

As to getting out the vote that you mentioned, I have to ask, "Are people apathetic or have they just been taught that it doesn't matter what they feel?" When faced with voting for the same old faces time and again and the same old backroom politics there does come a point of 'why bother' nothing changes.

We also have a burden in that our population is a transient one in large measure. To many of them high property appraisals represent a quick profit in the housing market so they have no interest in keeping spending and taxes down. They also make up a voter pool that does not know past practices of candidates and are not concerned with long term planning for the area. This insulates politicians from a good deal of accountability and makes reelection much easier. Thus is becomes more incumbent on those of us who plan to stay here to speak out.

I welcome the exchange of ideas on this topic and readily admit that I may have errors of judgement in my proposals. I am eager to hear of a better way. There has to be a better way than the current one which we have tried for many years and it only keeps getting worse.

Trying to change things in short 'sound bits' is difficult. It makes giving the examples, reasoning, and proposed solutions very, very hard.

I would hope to spur others to come forward with good solutions and proposals for new candidates who will represent the people who pay the taxes.

While I am not running I would enjoy the chance to have an in depth discussion of this issue, maybe over a cup of coffee, with you. Perhaps there I could detail the avarice I refer to from the elected bodies and can lay out several options for doing things differently.

It was good to hear your viewpoint.

Sincerely,

Douglas J. Thompson
Ketchikan, Alaska

About: "Third generation Ketchikan resident with an interest in efficient, honest, open government."

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