User Posts : Bakersfield.com

Team Abernathy Signs Rookie Up

Newsflash from the world of sports

It was revealed today that Team BCSD, better known as the bellicose five, has a new rookie player, Don Vereen. He was moved up from the minor league (past president of the Westchester Kiwanis) by Scout Abernathy and was brought along during spring training by teammate Jerry Tate (also a past president of WK). Coach DeWalt says he has the right stuff (he's a Republican).

Abernathy feels that after a few years of pinch-hitting on the board, Vereen will be ready for the "Big Show." He will earn a spot on the Ward One City Council Team and Scout Abernathy will fill his vacant spot with another hand-picked rookie.

And the Game continues.

And The Winner Is....Oh, Wait, Nobody Won!

The Bakersfield City School District Trustees gave an outstanding performance tonight worthy of an academy award.

An air of anxious anticipation hung in the air of the boardroom as each trustee acted as if they were actually listening to the speeches being given by five of the six candidates.

When the results of the first vote were announced, the crowd gasped in amazement - no candidate had received a majority! DeWalt for Vereen (because he's a Republican and she called him "Don"); Tate for Vereen (Never, ever vote against a fellow Kiwani); Van Horne for Bryan (Look good vote); and Tafoya for Haynes (who knows why?).

On the second vote, it was all Vereen. The act was over and Superintendent Lingo helped Mr. Vereen read the oath of office.

Mr. Vereen stated that he is a minister. That's appropriate because God is going to have to help the children of the BCSD because this board isn't going to.

I Only Know What I Read In The Newspaper

During the final months of 2006 there was a flurry of activity at the local level. There were articles in the paper, editorials, letters to the editor, blogs, forums, and more - almost all of them were about local politics. Many people were actually thinking, weighing the qualifications of one candidate over another, judging their stands on various issues, taking sides and, in some cases, arguing vigorously for the candidate who fell within the parameters of what they wanted in a public official.

Unfortunately, after reading the paper on November 3rd, these same individuals fell into a local government coma. They seemingly were content to let the people elected now do all the thinking and acting as if to say, "Elections over! Now life can get back to normal."

But events and circumstances have been reported. A councilman who ran on his accounting experience is not filing complete conflict of interest forms, experienced planning committee members are replaced with "new blood," education board members who promised to help raise student scores argue over what to call school holidays, the county retirement liability will eventually bankrupt the County budget, and the list goes on. But no one wants to think about it much less do anything about it.

"We the People" in the Preamble was not meant to only apply during elections. We the people must be involved in out leaders and their actions all the time - democracy is a full-time job!

Make a resolution to attend at least one meeting of a government board every month or at least get an agenda and find out what is going on. Become familiar with the Brown Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Know your rights and exercise them. If you think some action by a board is wrong, write to the newspaper. If an elected official is not carrying out campaign promises or is doing something unethical or worse, illegal, use the power of the people - organize or support a recall election - you don't have to be stuck with a bad leader.

I'm sorry, but I must confess: Even as honest as I think I am, my conscience is stronger when I know that someone is watching me. Government shouldn't be watching its citizens; its citizens should be watching it!