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Thursday, January 12, 2006

“That Weird Guy in the Front Row.”

Posted by ERICA C. BARNETT on January 12 at 14:33 PM

Douglas Mays, a perennial candidate whose resume cites his elementary-school experience and high-school state soccer championship victory, just spoke. He told the council, “We are many individuals existing congruently in the oneness of our city. This is what I seek to represent. I look forward to expand my vision of the city. Otherwise I’ll attend every public hearing and be that weird guy in the front row.” Then he thanked council members “for playing along.”

Why do people like Mays have the right to show up and waste the council’s and the public’s time? Because literally anyone - anyone, that is, who’s 18 or older and a citizen of Seattle, requirements that have disqualified at least two potential candidates - can apply. It’s a little hard to take the process seriously when everyone in the city is eligible.

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1

Now you at last have a small taste of what that recall election in CA must have been like. Democracy is scary stuff sometimes!

Posted by Levislade | January 12, 2006 2:53 PM

2

Uh, "at least."

Posted by Levislade | January 12, 2006 2:53 PM

3

damn. I should have applied. I'm becoming an expert in participating in wastes of time.

Posted by cienna | January 12, 2006 3:12 PM

4

I noticed that the Council's appointment timeline for February 6th included a week for a "Background Check". Posting this at the beginning might have saved us all some of "The Horror, The Horror!"

Of course, none of the current council members underwent such a "background check".

Posted by Zander | January 12, 2006 3:41 PM

5

Well that is the problem with Democracy. It's okay stuff in small amounts, but too much will rot your teeth.

I submit that we bring back property requirements ... that'll clear the riff-raff out.

Posted by Brian | January 12, 2006 4:00 PM

6

No, this is not an indictment of democracy. There's just a problem with this particular selection process. Erica is right about this: this position should not be open to such a broad, loosely qualified audience.

Posted by Gomez | January 12, 2006 8:26 PM

7

I remember Doug Mays when he did PR for X-15 (later Life In General) and they did shows at The Crown which I think is where Vera Project is now.

Posted by Kate Martin | January 16, 2006 10:26 PM

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