Consensus building needed for city council re: Shadrach-Kilraine commentaries
To the editor:
A few days ago, Tom Shadrach wrote a disparaging letter to the editor about sitting City Councilman Joe Kilraine. I had to admit when I read that article, I was shocked. Not because I remembered how he spoke so negatively about Charlie Pease during that campaign (I supported Charlie and he wanted me to vote for Joe), but because I thought it was such a foolish decision from an otherwise smart individual.
As someone who covered the city council for three years, the one thing you realize is that in order for anything to get done, you need to be able to build consensus. We have seen the importance of this in action with the controversy over the Cape Coral Rowing Club. Consensus could not be built and the Rowing Club is being screwed over because of it. That is why we need city councilmembers who work with others, not someone who publicly attacks them.
To build consensus requires building relationships, respecting each other, finding common ground amongst disagreements. It definitely does not mean uniformity or complicity. I can tell you there are decisions that every single councilmember and the mayor have made that I disagree with. But airing those disagreements out in such a public setting? This would destroy any chance to get your policies into place.
Think about it logically. If you attack city councilmembers publicly, as Mr. Shadrach has done not just to Councilman Kilraine but to other councilmembers as well, then why would they ever want to work with you to get your policies enacted? Even if you had the best ideas, the best resume, the best qualifications, they still wouldn’t be inclined to help you achieve your goals. This isn’t fair of course, but it is human nature, and we have all seen it played out in politics over the years-just ask Gov. DeSantis how it’s working out for him and Speaker Perez.
What saddens me the most about all of this is how so many people running today are driven by anger and hatred. Anger I can understand, I am certainly angry at many decisions made by the City Council. The difference is I am angry at actions, not people. Jesus himself commands us not just to love our neighbors, but to love our enemies. That is why I am driven by love, not hate — love of Cape Coral and all the wonderful people that make this city the best place to live.
We need a City Council that can work together while disagreeing respectfully and with civility. Otherwise, like the 2010-2013 Council, nothing will get done and the citizens will suffer in the long term. As the wise philosopher Yoda says “anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering. This is the path to the dark side.”
Sean Hartman
Cape Coral
Editor’s note: Sean Hartman is an announced candidate for Cape Coral City Council, District 1. Tom Shadrach is an announced candidate for Cape Coral City Council, also in District 1.