Sullivan has people’s mandate
To the editor:
The people have spoken – 63.1percent of those who voted, said they wanted to see an end to the policies of the past when they voted for John Sullivan. In no uncertain terms, John spelled out what he planned to do if elected.
Jim Burch with his promises of more of the same policies which led to financial hardship for many of our residents was soundly defeated. Like many others, I was fooled by Jim when he first ran for the City Council two years ago promising to “drastically reduce the budget and reverse tax increases from the previous six years.” How quick he forgot that pledge. He and the others on the Council including Tate, who was appointed, Donnell, Day, and Bertolini, constantly voted to support the administration’s spending plans which led to a deterioration of the city’s credit rating and caused untold hardship on many of our residents.
Jim Burch voted to approve Ordinance 55-08 very late at night after most of the people went home and after being misled by the city manager and his finance director who told the Council that $157.5 million of “Non Revenues” which were Reserves, was being brought forward (Nobody knew we had that much) and included in the 2008 budget as “Reserves.” The council was told that none of it would be spent unless approved by the Council.
Mr. Burch told me the next day when he found out that only $71 million of the $157 million was not going to be spent. That was not what he was led to believe. He and the other council members were misled yet they did nothing to change the vote. You can see all of this on a video by visiting John’s Web site.
It was very troubling to me to see both local newspapers endorse Jim saying he was better qualified than John and that his vision for the Cape was better than John’s. Rubbish. John has spent the better part of a year studying the city’s operations and, like me, he concluded money was being wasted and that the citizens were being overcharged for city services. I cannot tell you how gratified I am to see that the people heard John’s message and decided they had enough. John’s campaign sign said it loud and clear: “Had enough yet.” You bet it did. And the people listened to the rest of his message which promised changes in the administration. That too has happened with the resignation of Terry Stewart.
While I cannot speak for John, I have great confidence he will not let the voters down in his efforts to improve the city while reducing overall costs. It remains to be seen if he can find four other like-minded people on the Council who will share his vision and help him to make those changes which the people want. He was given a mandate by the voters which should not be ignored by his fellow council members.
As for me, I am very happy and optimistic for the future. Go get them John! Make it happen!
Sal Grosso
Cape Coral