Honestly, I haven’t analyzed the proposed budget yet. Like unwinding a string tied in a knot, it seems a daunting task. I understand that at least two board members are asking for more information (now). I think we are all still awaiting answers to the “missing” money and the reason for the budget shortfall.
The short answer is that as long as the superintendent is still working there, the whole operation is suspect. Everyone involved in the finance department needs to be fired and just start over (unless the “flip” on the bad actors and turn “state’s witness”). Make the superintendent file suit to get his golden parachute. Consider this my continued vote of “no confidence.” The board has to earn the respect of the taxpayers. The children and teachers deserve to have leaders they can trust and respect.
A failue to prepare on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. This adage applies to the “emergency” with the school board budget. Prior planning prevents poor performance, Sir! I learned that at 17 years old with a crusty drill sergeant cussing in my face at boot camp. Maybe more people need to go to boot camp? Maybe we need to run a Republican Elected Official Book Camp here in Hall County to remind everyone what we Hall County Republicans stand for? Let me know what you think about that.
Read The Time story here–>Gainesville school board approves $7.5 million loan
I called yesterday afternoon to confirm that no challenger has qualified to run yet.
Read The Times here–>Incumbents for Hall County judgeships throw hat in ring
Qualification for all non-partisan candidates starts June 23, 2008 and ends at Noon on June 28, 2008. In Hall County, the only non-partisan races for us are the two State Court Judge positions held by Judge Gene Roberts and Charlie Wynne. The fee for qualifying is a whopping $4,734.64! My guesstimate of the annual salary for the positions based upon the qualifying fee is $157,821.34 per year or about $13,000 per month. That works out to about $73 per hour.
Word on the street has it that Judge Wynne will draw competition this time. I don’t think anyone is planning on running against Judge Roberts. I still have my fingers crossed for Judge Baldwin. Letters supporting him need to be sent in before June 24, 2008 to the Judicial Nominating Committee.
Some of the issues likely to be raised if there is a contested election are: the cost/benefits of the “DUI Court” program, the overtime required by the Sheriff and Chief of Police for officers to sit in State Court “on call” for trials that never happen, ways to expedite the plea process, and courtroom demeanor and treatment of attorneys and defendants in court. Probably the biggest campaign issue will be the selection and payment of attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants. There are issues about who is considered “indigent,” how the attorneys are selected to be appointed, and how they will be paid for the services provided. Currently the Public Defender does NOT handle cases in State Court, but Brad Morris has put in a bid to provide those services on a per-case basis.
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