Archive: Opinions

Election season started early in Lansing this year.  At least the part where we should care about election season, with the announcement that two Republicans will be facing off in a primary election.  Whenever voters have a choice we should pay attention and make our decisions thoughtfully at the polls.

That means comparing where the candidates stand on issues important to the town.  And evaluating whether each candidate is the right person for the job.  And for the candidates it means going all out in their campaigns to tell voters what they are really about.

The first part is easy.  It is clear that there are opposing opinions on what is best for the future of Lansing.  So evaluate what each candidate wants to do and vote for the one philosophically closest to your own.

The second part is less easy.  It has to do with whether or not a candidate will be an effective leader.  I suppose there are conflicting opinions on what defines effective leadership, so I'll give you mine:  an effective leader comes up with a plan, then convinces others to implement that plan, then leads the charge to actually make it happen.

I don't think we've had a president in recent history who I would consider a true leader.  Politics there has gotten so strident in Washington that it is almost impossible for legislators in opposing parties to agree with each other.  The same can be said for Albany.  I knew that this pattern was trickling down from federal to state to county to municipalities, but I never hoped it would do so as quickly as it has.

My perception may be all wrong, but I believe that is what has prevented any substantive initiatives from going forward in Lansing in recent years.  Any time a pro-active approach is put forward it seems that a wait and see approach is implemented.

Without planning for the future you get the future that comes along, not the one you want.  It seems to me the Town has been on an anti-planning binge for almost a decade.  Not just town planning, but long term financial planning, out-of-the-box planning on various issues...

Should there be more business in town?  Yes.  Should the town attract businesses by improving infrastructure?  Not right now.  What sort of businesses should the town attract?  Anything but fracking, evidently.  Should the town build a town center?  Yes, but really, no.  Should the town protect agriculture?  Absolutely.  But take its time.  Should there be a sign law?  Yes, but it took an awful long time to put one in place.  Should the town have a leash law?  Yes, but we haven't for some years now that has (pardon the pun) any bite, and, well, there doesn't seem to be one on the drawing boards.  Should there be a long term capital asset replacement plan?  Well, yes, but let's not rush to establish financial procedures that would actually make something like that work.

It's not that things aren't going generally well in the town.  Municipal services are pretty good.  But there doesn't seem to be any kind of grand plan, something for the township to aspire to, a goal that we can all share and reach together.

That's where strong leadership comes in.  That's why there should be as much choice in elections as possible.  And that's why this November's election will be so important on the local level.  The full slate won't be set until the end of summer, but we do know who some of the candidates are, so it's time to start paying attention.

Ask them what their vision is for Lansing.  Ask them how they will get the Town Board behind that vision.  Ask them for an action plan with an anticipated time frame for each accomplishment on the bucket list.

Voting effective leaders into local office is the only way our town has to become proactive and to build a future Lansing wants.

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