John Ridley Announces City Commission Run For At-Large Seat
Decatur Metro | July 20, 2015 | 11:55 am
Former Decatur City Commissioner John Ridley sent along this announcement this morning…
I am pleased to announce that at the July 20th meeting of the Decatur City Commission preliminary notice will be given to the existing Commission and members of the City of Decatur Community that former Decatur City Commissioner John Ridley has filed papers with the appropriate State of Georgia entities in preparation to be a candidate for the Decatur City Commission At Large position being vacated by incumbent James Baskett. A formal announcement will follow in the near future. Following a formal announcement, a web site will become available and the input of the people of Decatur about their concerns and hopes will be encouraged.This will be a candidacy unlike any other Decatur has ever seen. Mr. Ridley will run a campaign as John Ridley for Mayor in an effort to get an electoral consensus that the current form of government in the City of Decatur be changed to allow all the people of Decatur to elect at the ballot their choice for Mayor with appropriate executive authority that the office of Mayor should contain. The City of Decatur is one of less than 15 city governments in Georgia – which has over 530 incorporated municipalities – that do not have a Mayor elected by all the voters at the ballot box. Under State law, the current position of Mayor is a ceremonial post appointed annually by a majority of the five City Commissioners and has no executive or administrative authority.Mr. Ridley also says that along with the change in form of government that supporting the City Schools of Decatur should be the city’s number one priority. ” I have a good relationship with our current Decatur City School Board which I consider the best I have ever seen and now is the time for voters to demand that the Decatur City Government put in tangible, serious, and legitimate effort to be supportive of our schools. The time for lip service and behind the scenes interference and non action must end. I look forward to discussing this with anyone, anytime, anyplace. I encourage an open public conversation about supporting our schools and changing the focus of the Decatur City Government from rhetoric to real substantial and obtainable action to support our Decatur City Schools.”
Cool. His canvassing team will be the Ridley Walkers.
oh man. you stretched for that one. riddley walker was one strange read (if i recall from hs). especially from the guy who typically wrote about hedgehogs.
Could be worse. He could run on a joint ticket with Commissioner Drake and we’d have signs all over town
Ridley
Scott
Mr Ridley ran unsuccessfully for city office some years ago. Not sure if it was for Commission or BOE. I seem to recall that his campaign was involved in a physical altercation with over yard signs or flyers. Any one remember the details ?
Makes total sense that the Mayor should be elected by voters city-wide. I don’t like the current system – the most senior commissioner gets (almost) automatic title of Mayor.
Interested to hear more details from Mr Ridley. Want concrete examples of “substantial and obtainable action” to support CSD . Hope this isn’t just pandering to all the new residents with school aged kids.
Definitely see a need for better communication between the City Commission and BOE but do not like the sound of Commission having a specific focus on support for the schools. We have BOE with full focus on schools. Plenty of other important things for the Commission to be focused on. In some situations it might be better for the City as a whole if the City Commission does not support everything proposed by the BOE.
No, Mr Ridley won that seat and served one term as a Commissioner. There were quite a few 4 to 1 votes during his tenure.
If he wants to change the way the Mayor is elected, he need to go first to the DeKalb legislative delegation, as it would take a local bill amending the City Charter.
Thanks for the correction. I didn’t remember him serving.
I realize the City Charter must be changed to have the mayor elected by popular vote .
Of course , since the Commission historically votes to give the most senior member the title of Mayor, they could just as easily give it to the one member elected by voters from both sides of the tracks ……
Nothing about the way our state’s other cities structure they mayor/council relationship leads me to think we need to emulate that approach. Cities with strong mayors/weak council or vice-versa have the same issues. The difference in Decatur is that we’ve elected people who put their community over their own self-interest. That’s what’s made a difference here. Frankly, I’d look skeptically at any campaign that prioritizes an individual over the rest of the council, as it moves us away from the consensus approach that has served this city so well, for so long.
Honest question: Decatur’s city commission, in both structure and operation, has fewer power struggles, less grandstanding, less inertia, less petty bickering, and more cooperation in perpetuation of a shared vision than just about any city commission / city council I’ve seen in action. And I’ve seen a lot.
Whatever faults or challenges we have as a city, and there are of course plenty, we’re still viewed by a lot of other places as a community to aspire to. Wouldn’t this just be an example of fixing something that ain’t broke?
I think I get from the release what Mr. Ridley wants to do. I’m just not sure about the why. Anyone know?
“Decatur’s city commission, in both structure and operation, has fewer power struggles, less grandstanding, less inertia, less petty bickering, and more cooperation in perpetuation of a shared vision than just about any city commission / city council I’ve seen in action. And I’ve seen a lot.”
+1
Well that would certainly all change if the good people of Decatur elect John Ridley, Scott.
Or, more frighteningly, if some good people do not rise up to oppose him!
I guess if someone invariably supported City policy, that might be a question. But the better question, I think, should be about policy, not getting along.
I don’t know Ridley, but one of his issues from several months ago was the $110 million in City debt over the last 10 years (no pun on “if it ain’t broke” implied), 70% of which was not subject to voter approval. That’s a legitimate issue. So is prioritizing support of CSD, something that hasn’t exactly been the City’s calling card over the last several years. So is the decision of whether the mayor should be directly elected by the voters, which I assume would weaken the City Manager. Important issues, which can’t be set aside by appealing to the charms of unanimity (which I don’t in general associate with healthy democratic bodies).
I’m not making any statement on the issues sure to arise in this election. I’m just looking for clarity on how a change to a strong Mayor structure is expected to deliver better results in addressing them.
Didn’t understand his reasoning, but Decatur’s former mayor called for city-wide voting on that position a few years ago:
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/03/27/mayor-bill-floyd-to-call-for-decatur-to-popularly-elect-its-mayor/
A shot in the dark here…when annexation was being considered, wasn’t there some discussion that a mayor elected by the citizens had more authority in the state legislature’s eyes than one selected by the commission? If so, maybe that’s part of Mr. Ridley’s push toward this change. Annexation will come up again, so I guess he is thinking our efforts would be taken more seriously.
That was Mayor Floyd’s rationale and even he, in his role as universally loved Decatur icon, seemed unable to get much traction for the idea. So I’m curious what Mr. Ridley’s motivation is (whether it’s the same or something else).
With the Commissioners paid $4,800 annually, is he looking for all or part of the City Managers power, who really runs the city, or is this about the $170,000 Salary? Looks like we need to recruit a viable candidate that shares the vision and can work with others. Mr. Ridley seems to be the perfect candidate to replace King Reed in Atlanta when his term expires.
From the perspective of a life long resident, 67 yrs, we have had many mayors, some I agreed with, some not so much. But few over stayed their welcome, none used it as a stepping stone to higher office, and I think most had the best interest of Decatur at heart. I would hate to see the present system of electing the mayor changed.
I glad I am moving, but this should be entertaining. 🙂
What y’all really need are contested elections where all these issues get aired out in public & you know what you are getting with every candidate. Need more people to step up, run for office & make it a horse race. I would hate to see Ridley run unopposed. He has already been a city commissioner & commission meeting were entertaining, but frustrating. Yeah, there were a lot of 4-1 votes. Steve, Scott, DecaturMan & Peter are right.
For intelligent and informed information about Decatur’s budget and indebtedness, look here: http://www.decaturish.com/2015/05/whats-it-to-utz-depth-and-taxes/ and here: http://www.decaturish.com/2015/06/whats-it-to-utz-decaturs-budget-breakdown/
Thank you for that reminder Steve. I appreciate when policy discussions are “intelligent and informed” and I agree that Utz is that, many times over. I certainly cannot say that I’ve been impressed with the policy discussions that I’ve heard over the years from Mr. Ridley. Any chance that Mr. Utz will be running against Mr. Ridley? *fingers crossed*
I had the same thought. I don’t know Mr Utz or I would speak to him.
+1 Steve. Mr. Utz wrote a very informative and understandable article about our Debt situation.
Here is the city debt itemized
http://www.decaturish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Debt.jpg