Why the council isn’t shaking in its shoes

Opponents of a proposed asphalt plant on Northview Drive have indicated in no uncertain terms on this page and elsewhere that there will be political ramifications for Statesville City Council members who vote to allow the plant to be built.

We doubt it. That’s because voter apathy and an unwillingness by qualified residents to challenge the sitting council on Election Day have conspired to give the incumbents an air of invincibility.

Not unlike politicians at the state and national level, the city council has been able to do what it pleases in recent years without being overly concerned with what a handful of pesky voters think.

Here are a couple of issues that could have — and perhaps should have — riled up the electorate in recent years, but didn’t:

• The council’s approval of a big fee increase for legal services for attorney Eddie Gaines;
• The council’s unwillingness to roll back property taxes in 2007 despite a dramatic increase in property values; and
• The council’s attempt to curb free-speech rights of the area’s homeless population.

By the time most of the council members who vote on Maymead’s application for a special-use permit stand for re-election, this contentious issue will be distant memories for most residents.

If the Maymead plant opponents want to add some bite to their bark, they need to look beyond their back yard and reach out to others who believe they are not being heard or represented by the current council. We can imagine more than a few firefighters and parents of skateboarders would join a coalition calling for change.

In reality, removing some members of this council shouldn’t be that difficult. In recent elections, incumbents Paula Steele and Michael Johnson were unopposed and held onto their seats with 69 and 82 votes, respectively. Incumbent Flake Huggins Jr. retained his seat by garnering only 125 votes and newcomer Bonita Eisele won her position with a paltry 63 votes.

Until the majority of residents exercise their right and responsibility to hold their elected officials responsible for their policies and priorities, the status quo and their supporters will continue to rule.