Enjoyed the Ward Voting Debate on Hal Row's Show - Harry Hipps

I’d like to offer a couple of thoughts on the WHKY debate on the ward specific election, and the campaigning in general.  In the interest of full and fair disclosure I should say that I know Joe Brannock personally but do not personally know Mr. Byrd, though I would like to. Joe is a smart, likeable guy with a lovely family. And though I haven’t met Paul Byrd, he sounds like a thoughtful, concerned man who thinks things through and is sincerely interested in the welfare of the City.  I also will say that I plan to vote Yes! for the amendment. 

Both Joe Brannock, representing the Citizens for Equity in Government (advocating for the amendment) and Paul Byrd, representing the No Steps Backwards Coalition (opposing the amendment) represented their positions well in an informed and civil debate. Both were persuasive and articulate and I think this was one of the finest events in Hickory’s political history. It was evident that both gentlemen had carefully thought about the facts and had the best interests of the City at heart as they made their cases. They were frank in their disagreement, but stuck to the issues in a statesman like way and it was a true pleasure to hear this in our City.

It struck me as ironic that this is exactly what is missing in City government and why we are discussing this issue in the first place. City council votes unanimously almost all the time with little or no discussion. Some matters are routine of course and don’t require a debate, but the controversial and more substantial issues aren’t often given proper debate either. Furthermore, the vote is over before public input is allowed and so the citizens are routinely deprived of the type of debate we heard on the radio. This lack of input and discussion is a contributing factor in much of the disgruntlement we have today and has led to some poorly conceived ideas.

The contrast between the great debate between Mr. Brannock and Mr. Byrd and the debate with Mr. Brannock and Mayor Wright was stark. The WHKY debate was public, recorded and civil. The Republican’ Women’s debate was public but drew the Mayor’s ire when it was recorded. I’m not sure why because it was PUBLIC, and if you want to talk to the citizenry what difference does recording it make?  Furthermore, the Mayor struck an angry, conspiratorial, and even threatening tone that has characterized the debate (with some parties on both sides going to the nastiest and most personally vicious arguments).  It was disappointing to witness the same political atmospherics we have in Washington politics applied to Hickory. It’s fine to articulate your views and opinions passionately, but the ominous, dark, patronizing tone was sad to hear.

At the end of the debate on the radio, it was good to hear Joe and Paul joke about eggs and ending on a neighborly note even though they disagree on this issue. Years ago, politicians debated, campaigned, then after the vote, put the election behind and worked together to do the people’s work. All concerned were glad to live in a country that allowed everyone to speak their mind and still live as neighbors when we don’t always see eye to eye. At the end of this, too, we are going to have to move forward, because there will always be challenges to face. And we have to do something to keep Hickory the nice, livable hometown we want it to be while adapting to a tough, fast changing world.

To those who oppose this issue I would like to ask this: If this isn’t the way you want to go, what do you propose to allow the voices to be heard that aren’t heard now? What do you propose to focus on the blighted, neglected areas of Hickory? What do you propose to change the rubber stamp council that votes unanimously almost all the time and doesn’t allow for public comment until after the vote is taken? And to those that wish to comment on all sides of this issue, can we have more of the enlightening, thoughtful competition we heard on WHKY and less like we heard at the Republican Women’s Forum? We can disagree without being disagreeable and draw strength from the different perspectives we have. Thank you, neighbors!