Mr. Mayor, It's Not a Game

Dear Mr. Mayor:

This is an open letter to Globe's Mayor which was recently published in the SilverBelt, Copper Country News and - here.

The purpose of this letter is to set the record straight about your statements quoted in the June 15,

2011 issue of Copper Country News. You stated, “I think it is sufficient to say that Mr. Moss was notified

that his initiatives as written pose several concerns and he was advised to review them with his legal

counsel.”

Your remarks to CCN validate why I do not have confidence in your credibility. Now, here is the truth of

the matter.

On Thursday, June 2, we filed our official Ballot Initiative paperwork with Globe’s City Clerk. That same

afternoon, I received an e-mail from the City Clerk that reads as follows: “We have concerns regarding

the proposed text for your initiative petitions, please consult your legal counsel.” May I assume

the “We” to be you and the City Attorney?

Friday morning, June 3, I visited with the City Clerk. I asked for an explanation of the cryptic e-mail

message. The Clerk revealed the nature of your concerns by explaining that the texts of the Initiatives

far exceeded the 100-word limit specified by law. I informed the Clerk that we were aware of the

100-word rule, and that the rule applies specifically to the number of words permitted on the Petition

Form itself. I explained that the full-page documents we submitted were ‘attachments’ to the Official

Petition, and that only the summary language of 100 words or less, would appear on the front of the

Official Petition. The City Clerk did not raise any other “concerns”.

Several days after I had confirmed with the City Clerk the subject of your misplaced “concerns”,

you decided to play games by tossing out words to local media that insinuate the Ballot Initiatives

have “deficiencies”. And, you referred to the e-mail quoted above as your official communication to

inform me that “deficiencies” were inherent in the Ballot Initiatives. Yet, you refused to identify the

nature of the supposed deficiencies to me or the Copper Country News. So what was your purpose for

making such claims? Could it be that you were trying to create public confusion and thereby interfere

with our Ballot Initiatives Campaign?

This is reminiscent of your remarks on September 13, 2010 at the conclusion of our Citizens

Presentation to City Council. You attempted to confuse constituents by asserting, “I don’t think we (City

Council) could stop this prison project even if we wanted to.” You knew then, as you know now, that

your statement was false. Since then, you have done everything in your power to bring a big private

prison to Globe, no matter how many residents voice opposition.

It should also be noted, Mr. Mayor, that I have met, spoken, or corresponded with you and City

Attorney, Mr. Graves, on several occasions during the past nine months with the specific intent of

working together to put the private prison issue on the ballot --- so that the people could decide. During

this entire time, you have done nothing to facilitate such discussions, or to find a cooperative remedy.

Instead, you have engaged in political gamesmanship to try to score a ‘WIN’ for your personal agenda --

- rather than seek common ground by working with citizens to create a Ballot Referendum. Apparently,

Mr. Mayor, you fail to appreciate the fact that the good citizens of Globe do not consider this important

public policy issue to be a mere political game.

To a certain extent, our town’s year-long ‘private prison debate’ has become a secondary issue. Now,

an even more serious concern is about ‘good government’. Good government requires elected officials

to genuinely listen to the voice of their constituents, demonstrate integrity, and respect the democratic

process. Regrettably, Mr. Mayor, your words and actions during this long private prison debate have

not measured up to these basic principles of good government.

Jim Moss

Globe Resident & Business Owner