Do we have a de facto mayor?
To the editor:
The appointment process on Monday, Nov. 17, appears to be different than what was discussed at the previous council meeting. In fact there was a vote as to whether plurality would be the deciding factor as to who would be mayor. Councilmember Deile and Councilmember Gill wanted a majority vote in order to install the mayor. That motion was made and it was defeated.
A motion was brought forward for one vote for one council person and that passed. Mr. Burch introduced a motion to make the vote a plurality rather than a majority vote. This motion was passed with no discussion. It seems to me that Mr. Day brokered a deal which would stop the vote at a plurality and then everyone would vote for that particular person and make it unanimous. Obviously he and Council Member Burch were in favor of a plurality until it was Mr. Deile who reached the plurality and then the game changed.
The city attorney stated that there must be a vote of at least four council members to install a new mayor. After the city attorney made that statement that if there was a 3-2-2 vote then there should be another vote and that the vote should be affirmed by at least four people. Day stated again that he favored a plurality with an additional vote and everyone agreed, including the Mayor Pro Tem.
In my opinion the agreement was breached on Nov. 17. That is just my opinion; watch the video and draw your own conclusions:
http://www.ccminutemen.org/upload/20081110-Discussion.wmv
Brought to you courtesy of the Cape Coral Minutemen.
John Sullivan
Cape Coral Minutemen