Charlotte Politicians especially the Democrats, think just because Anthony Foxx recently slid into Mayor McCrory's seat, everything will be smooth sailing from here on out.
Their arrogant behavior demonstrated by giving Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Harry Jones a $38,000 Bonus he does NOT deserve, proves Charlotte's Leaders actually think they rule the roost and that Voters are Stupid!
Notice how they didn't approve of Jones' bonus until AFTER Foxx won the Mayor's race. Sneaky bunch aren't they?
If Charlotte Politicians were bold and arrogant enough to pull this stunt, voters can be assured that when they get some more Stimulus Funds into their hands its going to be wasted on experiments and junk just like in the past.
Nothing valuable or helpful to Constituents. No, instead that money will be wasted fulfilling personal Political Favors and other junk, along with more Property Tax Increases for voters (low income and middle class citizens only) of course.
Well guess what people??
In case you've missed the latest news reports Democrats recently lost important races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City!
NY-23 was just a mercy win, not anything to really brag about.
Perhaps Charlotte's Leaders aren't aware of this fact but Virginia is a key state for Political victory.
Voters who were fed up with status quo drama and broken campaign promises showed their displeasure at the polls on Super Tuesday 2009.
If Anthony Foxx does a poor job (I hope he doesn't) and if Pres. Obama doesn't get this country's High Unemployment Rate (10% and rising) situation under control, Democrats will NOT survive another sweeping victory like 2008 for a long time!
This includes North Carolina because Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) is looking pretty good to voters right about now. Including Democrat voters.
Only a few dumb diehards are still voting Straight Tickets or along strict Partisan party lines.
There are now more Dems voting for Republicans, more Republicans voting for Dems, more Black voters casting ballots for White Candidates and Independent Voters doing their own thing.
Do Charlotte's Leaders really think that Dirty Politics, the Charlotte Observer, Law degrees, Fraternity brothers or Sorority sisters will be able to save them during the next two elections if they continue this Tax and Spend, Public Corruption, Cronyism crap?
Do they also really think Partisan Politics is the answer to longevity in Public Office?
If Charlotte Politicians especially Dems, really believe those false ideologies I have some swamp land in Florida I want to sell them. Ha Ha!
So....
If Charlotte's Leaders especially Dems, keep up their same status quo stupidity, during the next two elections (2011 & 2012) NOT even Black Voters are going to support them.
You think that Voters, especially Black Voters are stupid??
Just ask former Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson or Creigh Deeds.
While your at it also check out the Atlanta Mayor's Runoff election scheduled to take place this December between Caucasian candidate Mary Norwood and African-American candidate Kasim Reed.
People are tired of Status Quo Politics!
Charlotte Leaders you better wake up and stop being Arrogant or your days in Public Office will be short lived.
Here's a word to the wise: "He who laughs first, laughs last".
Atlanta's Mary Norwood will face Kasim Reed in a Runoff election December '09. If elected she will become Atlanta's first White Mayor since the 1970's.
Jones gets bonus but total pay is same
Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones will receive a $38,400 performance bonus, but his total compensation remains the same as last year, under a deal unanimously approved Wednesday by county commissioners.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioners praised Jones for, among other things, leading the county during a difficult economic time.
The "pay-at-risk" money - which commissioners have in previous years called a performance bonus - is part of an overall $302,854 compensation package. It also includes $215,655 in base salary.
The pay plan keeps Jones' compensation the same as in 2008-09, though a board committee determined he actually would have been due more money this year, said commissioner Dumont Clarke.
Jones, however, asked that his pay be kept level. "That was his request," said commissioners' Chairman Jennifer Roberts. He "wants to be treated like all the other county employees." The county didn't award any merit raises this year.
Jones' evaluation has been in the works for weeks, with talks largely being kept private initially as allowed by state law.
But some commissioners acknowledged last month that paying the money could raise questions in light of steep budget cuts across the county. Two other local public officials - Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman - declined merit raises or bonuses for themselves and staff to help save money.
Jones is eligible for a higher bonus than Gorman or Walton, up to 30 percent of his base salary.
Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts said the board had a "difficult conversation" about the pay plan because of the economic conditions.
Still, commissioners also have said they wanted to reward Jones for meeting goals previously outlined by the board.
Clarke said Jones told commissioners earlier Tuesday evening that 2008-09 was both his most challenging and best year as manager.
Roberts said Jones "has done a very, very good job, an excellent job as manager in a very difficult year." She cited Jones' work addressing budget cuts because of falling tax revenues and his work on the Critical Needs Task Force to help address social services needs in the community.
But the county also faced questions about inadequate accounting at the Department of Social Services, including an investigation into possible misused money in a charity program for Foster Children. The county announced steps to help shore up practices within DSS, including putting its finances under control of the main county finance department.
Mecklenburg has offered bonuses to the manager for years, but decided five years ago to restructure the pay system to reflect a CEO-style package of a base salary with another piece of pay tied to performance.
Under the plan, Jones is eligible for a bonus of up to 30 percent of his annual salary based on a series of criteria, including how well the county performs on annual goals and a management plan approved by commissioners. Based on his current salary, he could have received a bonus up to about $65,000 this year.
Jones has not received the full bonus since commissioners approved the new pay structure in 2004.
Clarke said Jones' performance in the past year earned him more money. He said he's being paid about 10 percent less than what his performance score called for.
Cuts in mental health
Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved about $2.76million worth of service cuts to the county's Area Mental Health department because of reduced money from the state. The state cuts were actually larger, but county staff has promised $3.7 million to help make up the gap.
Jones said he hasn't yet identified where the money would come from.
Bill Knight wins Greensboro Mayoral race
The City Council just got a lot more conservative — starting with the guy at the top.
First-time mayoral candidate Bill Knight ousted incumbent Yvonne Johnson in Tuesday’s City Council election.
The victory is the first by a challenger over an incumbent mayor since voters began electing the mayor at-large in 1973.
Knight ran on a platform of Fiscal Conservatism and cleaning up the city’s police department. He will lead a council that, in the course of one election, now has a supermajority of registered Republicans.
“The voters spoke to change,” Knight said.
About 18 percent of the city’s registered voters turned out for the election, which included the nine Greensboro City Council seats and one bond referendum.
Candidates, their campaign staffers and supporters were tense Tuesday night as the results from the city’s 106 voting precincts rolled in.
The race between the mayoral candidates was close. Johnson, who has served one term as mayor, congratulated Knight when it became clear he would win.
His margin was 935 votes out of the 34,347 cast in complete but unofficial results.
Johnson has caught criticism over the chaos that has been a mainstay of City Council the last two years. But she was still pitting her 16 years of experience on the City Council against Knight, 70, who has never held political office.
Knight was surrounded by giddy supporters and family Tuesday.
“I am struck by the significance of this,” he said after the hubbub died down. “Four months ago, no one knew me.”
Knight, a retired certified public accountant, has promised to cut tens of millions of dollars from the city budget — an appealing prospect for voters who are disappointed that Greensboro has the highest tax rate among large North Carolina cities.
“I want an efficient city government. Let’s remake what a municipal government is all about,” Knight said.
Knight also has been a supporter of former police chief David Wray, who resigned in 2006 after accusations that his department was improperly investigating its black officers.
Some in the crowd were celebrating a conservative victory for the city, although the City Council is a nonpartisan board.
Bill Burckley, a political consultant who worked for Knight’s campaign, attributed Knight’s win to a low turnout in the city’s predominantly black precincts in east Greensboro.
Karen Bragg, a District 1 voter and Johnson poll worker, said the mayor’s campaign had worked hard, but there may have been a feeling of complacency among supporters.
“If people don’t come out, this is what happens,” Bragg said. “No slight against Bill Knight. It’s just not what I expected.”
McArthur Davis, who worked on Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small’s campaign, said Johnson’s loss was backlash from some white voters who felt alienated by the city’s black leaders.
“With a low turnout in east Greensboro, that was enough,” Davis said. “Greensboro just took a huge step back to reject a person with 16 years’ experience.”
Councilman Robbie Perkins, a Republican who often voted with Johnson, said her loss was likely part of a national reaction to liberal victories.
Last year, Guilford County voters decisively elected Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain, 142,101 to 97,718.
“There’s a political pendulum in this country,” Perkins said. “In the fall, it swung one way, so we’re seeing it swing back now. That first swing was a strong swing, and now that it’s swinging in the other direction, we’re going to see that reflected in our communities as well.”
Johnson said she is not certain what she will do now.
“I’m just happy I’ve had the opportunity to serve the city for two years,” she said.
The new City Council will be sworn in Dec. 1. Their terms will last two years.
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Sources: MSNBC, Richmond Times Dispatch, McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, Under The Dome, News Record, My Fox8, My Fox Atlanta, Youtube, Google Maps
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