Clarksville TN – The start of every new calendar year brings news of great importance to the city of Clarksville.
Who will the mayor appoint to city committees?
Who’s in and who’s out?
Ever since the beginning of time, coffee shops and office gossipers have waited with “giddy” anticipation on learning just who the mayor likes, and who they don’t, and it comes in the form of committee appointments.
Committee appointments mean more to the individual councilmen than they do to me. There’s this “pecking order” in politics that almost becomes silly. It gets worse in state government, and at the federal level, well, it’s quite absurd.
So, let’s see who’s in and who’s out this year.
Joel Wallace-in
David Allen-out
Jeff Burkhart-in
Bill Summers-out
Geno Grubbs-in
Deanna McLaughlin-out
James Lewis-in
Kaye Jones-out
Mark Harris-in
Nick Steward-not sure,but probably out
Wallace Redd-in
Val Guzman-remains to be seen
One of the most interesting observations of this city council, to me, has been the relationship between Kim McMillan and councilman Jeff Burkhart. Burkhart, who you would think would not be an ally of this mayor, has voted with McMillan over 80% of the time.
I guess the position doesn’t offer as much “intrigue” now that his nemesis, Johnny Piper, is gone.
I’m not surprised at the relationship between Bill Summers and Kim McMillan. That one went south pretty quick. Besides, the rumor of Summers running for mayor just won’t go away.
Do I wish things were different? Of course. But they’re not. This is the name of the tune we dance to.
All city councilmen are responsible for putting the city first, so whichever committee they’re asked to serve on, we would hope they would do the best job they could. This community has a lot of issues that need to be addressed and we just can’t continue to be bogged down in “petty” politics.
Ha! Wow! I almost believed that one myself. Whew!
So at the end of the day, those council-members who are “in” can go about their business as part of the mayor’s team, part of the “in” crowd, while the others can just wait, and hope for better days.
That’s just how the game is played. Sorry.
Now, would somebody call David Allen and tell him we’re out of paper clips?
