Franklin Election results part 1: Blogs make an impact

Incumbent Tom Taylor had little trouble winning a second term as Franklin mayor; in Basil Ryan, he faced an opponent who, despite expressing some worthy ideas, could not overcome his controversial past.

What struck me about the late stages of the campaign was the way a single local blogger was able to inject an issue into the race without the need for mass mailings, media exposure, financing of any kind, or corporate sponsorship.

Former FranklinNow blogger Fred Keller, who now blogs independently at Bullseye, is a fiscal and social conservative with whom I've rarely agreed when it comes to matters of public policy - - though we recently shared cocktails at a local pub, which makes our ongoing debate a great deal more civilized and productive and will likely lead to additional "board meetings" (see the Great Good Place and The Third Place).

Through Kevin Fischer's NOW "This Just In" blog, Keller challenged the candidates to sign a pledge that, if elected, they "will not submit an annual budget proposal to the Finance Committee with a Tax Levy greater than the latest Consumer Price Index."

Not only did both candidates agree to the spirit of the pledge, they actually physically signed a sheet of paper to that effect - - which, of course, meant coordinating a time and place with citizen Keller during their final campaign sprint before election day.

And, in the NOW newspaper story after Taylor's reelection, the pledge was cited:

"I heard it loud and clear from the people of Franklin that they are concerned about taxes. I have made a pledge not to recommend a budget that exceeds a 3 percent tax levy (increase)," Taylor said.

Without regard as to whether one agrees with the substance of Fred Keller's tax pledge, no one can deny the sea change that his interaction with the candidates represents.

In an era where public indifference reigns, local bloggers are doing more than simply commenting on the issues; Fred Keller single-handedly created and gave substance to an issue to which the two candidates for mayor felt they had to respond.

If the mayor finds it necessary somewhere down the road to exceed the 3% benchmark, he will have that pledge to answer to - - a pledge prepared and put forward not by a news organization or political action committee, but a single concerned citizen with a computer and an internet connection.

Feel that shift in the wind, Franklin alderpersons and administrators? Welcome to a new era of scrutiny and accountability.

In the case of development (and this particular blog), that means no more sprawling "Law Enforcement Centers," roads to nowhere, and glorified strip malls - - at least not without a documented step-by-step narrative that can be easily accessed by any interested party so responsibility can be attached (for instance: how do we get to the point where a commercial development is already being built - - and the fate of a nearby family home still needs to be voted on?)

Change is in the air, as two - - two! - -  outgoing alderpersons now realize (barring a recount change).

In Part II: The not-inconsiderable significance of two non-controversial aldermanic incumbents losing their seats.

Comments

[Fred Keller]

Awe… shucks… it was nothing.

Thanks to both candidates and Kevin Fischer for playing middleman. I learned the difference between tax “rate” and tax “LEVY” from the “Big-Fisch.”

Thanks for the "plug" John, or is it "props" nowadays?

[Bryan Maersch]

Thanks again Fred ya big Ga-lute!

I also don't think you would have ever seen a posting of the School Boards Goals if it had not been for local bloggers.

Elected officials are no longer operating in a vacuum and will be taken to task for their decisions.

[Kevin Fischer]

Very nice piece, John.

All of the Franklin bloggers are to be commended for their community spirit and commentary on election issues.

[Greg Kowalski]

I'm glad the tax issue has been settled. I'm sure Fred will keep this monumental achievement forever in memory. He deserves plenty of congratulations for it.

On this end, I will still keep a big eye on the issue of developments in the city.

There's hope that the two new members of the Council can bring forth some change in what developments can happen and how the process is handled.

[Bryan Maersch]

Looks like Fred is working to get the current council to sign a similar pledge.

Maybe the (still to be confirmed) Council members would like to get in on this too!

[John Michlig]

The dynamic has changed: Election's over.

Don't expect the "candies and flowers" treatment for a while - - at least until the next election cycle.

[Bryan Maersch]

From what I have been told, the yet to be confirmed winning aldermanic candidates have refused to sign the pledge.

It also looks like most of the council does not want to be the fall guy when it comes to raising taxes.

All the candidates said over and over again as they were stumping for votes "we get the message that taxes are too high".