If at first you don't succeed, campaign, campaign again....
KJAM reports that Dell Rapids voters will go to the polls again this fall to vote on a $16 million dollar construction bond issue. Dell Rapids voters turned down the bond measure in May: a 52% majority supported it, but bond issues require 60% to pass. Superintendent Tom Ludens wants to have another vote in the fall to give bond supporters more time to press their case with a wavering 8% of the Dell Rapids electorate.
I am reminded of conversations I had this spring when I was campaigning for the school board. Some folks were worried that, if elected, I might blog about disagreements with majority decisions of the board. "Once the board votes, that's the decision," folks told me, "and you have to support it." I could see their point: for the school board to function properly, individual members can't sit around rehashing votes they may lose. The board votes, policy is set, and we move on to the next issue.
That thinking is even written into the Madison Central school board's member code of ethics: "Once a decision has been reached by the majority of the board assembled at the meeting, I will support it graciously" [clause 6].
Evidently the Dell Rapids school board doesn't apply the same thinking with respect to the popular will. Dell Rapids voters expressed their will. The Dell Rapids school board didn't like the result, but instead of accepting that vote and moving forward, the board has been pushing for a do-over since the week after the election.
A board member continuing to call for revotes on decided issues might cause meetings to run a little longer. Calling a public revote costs actual tax dollars. Given that added expense and trouble, I would think justifying a repeat public vote would require more than someone's desire to have a few more months to persuade a few more voters.
If that's the case Cory, why is there a ballot issue every two years or so to get rid of video lottery? You'd think the proponents of the measure would listen to the will of the people!
ReplyDelete...or the abortion ban...?
ReplyDeleteReally, I don't mind having public votes. I'm just wondering what the difference is between a school board member questioning the majority vote of the board and the school board as a whole questioning a vote of the public by redoing the vote.
Didn't our school board do the same thing with bond issues over the years, until it finally passed?
ReplyDeleteAnd in CA the will of the people was to not allow gay marriage, but their courts over-ruled that.
Seems the will of the people only is honored when it doesn't go against someone else's wants.
Maybe Dell Rapids can do like Harrisburg and leave out about half of the costs ($10 Million) to get the bond issue to pass, then use Capital Outlay Certificates to fund the rest of the project without voter approval.
ReplyDeleteAt least in Dell Rapids, the board has determined that a majority supports the concept. Now, they have to garner a SUPER majority of 60% for it to pass. That's not fair either. If 59.9% approve it, the minority still wins and the bond issue fails.