To the editor:
When we look at our supposed leaders, what defines them for our vote? Do we need character, a person with moral and ethical codes? Is integrity important, one who lives the values they portend? Where does knowledge and ability factor into our selection process?
Westwood’s retiring mayor, John Birkner Jr., hopes to bring his “talents” to the Assembly. He has shown a lack of sense as defined by the Proverb 6:32 (NIV); so is it reasonable to question character and integrity? It’s not our place to judge another, only to assert we choose representation that reflects our own values and goals. Those values affect the application of knowledge and experience—if it exists.
Birkner’s lack of sense in leadership showed in his 2007 campaign when he portrayed a $5 million engineered landfill as a “pile of dirt.” He cited he would make it a park; regulatory and financial concerns, no problem, ignored. The landfill was closed November 2007 and had preliminary approval for a park with sports fields and a roller hockey/basketball court, not a concession structure.
The new park’s topography changes, without regulatory approvals, didn’t give the landfill’s constructed cap proper time to settle. Result: methane venting system failure. The mayor was advised such could happen; he decided the objective outweighed the concern. It may now cost taxpayers over $800,000 to address.
Westwood’s two mayoral candidates have posted their bios online. The Democrat shows no job experience to indicate a familiarity with complex decision making. The Republican shows experience as a construction management consultant. Both are nice people, but as our current mayor has shown, just being nice doesn’t get the job done.
Thomas Edison said “Seeming to do is not doing.” A candidate’s vision of a future, with no specific plan or track record of skills, offers little assurance of a better Westwood.
Westwood’s fiscal future has challenges. Infrastructure has been ignored. Flooding concerns, land use and economic development, all received token attention. All affect property taxes. They require more than a vision and lip service.
Whomever taxpayers vote for, we should set aside partisan politics and engage as a community. We need character, integrity and ability. Remember, vision lies in our imagination, results lie in doing, and knowledge ties the two of them together. Vote Nov. 5.
Thomas Wanner
Westwood
The writer is a former Republican mayor of Westwood
