Monroe needs a mayor who will guide the city in a vigorous approach to economic development that produces tangible results; provide a fiscally responsible, thoughtful and long-term approach to local taxation; and lead City Hall in smooth and efficient operation.
We're not convinced either candidate, incumbent Bill Ross or challenger Michael Boyce, is right for the task.
In keeping with The Monroe Times' long-standing practice, we invited both candidates to meet with the editorial board to discuss issues, goals and qualifications. Boyce declined our invitation, stipulating he would only meet with us if we video and audio taped the proceedings and make them available, unedited, on our website. He earlier declined our reporter's request to interview him for a story about the candidates. (For the record, we also gave both candidates the opportunity to respond to written questions for profiles, in which their answers were published in their own words.)
His refusal to speak with us on both occasions reflects a pattern of behavior over the two years Boyce has served as Ward 3 alderman. While Boyce's frequent battle cry is for a more open, transparent government, his actions indicate he's interested in more "transparent" proceedings as a self-serving method to control the situation.
There has been a litany of complaints aimed at Boyce, most frequently accusing him of intimidating others at City Hall and clandestine scheming. While these allegations boil down to "he said, she said," there's enough smoke to indicate that Boyce has been unduly manipulative and is more interested in seizing control than working collaboratively. That's unfortunate. Boyce may well have some good ideas that would benefit Monroe, but we suspect electing him mayor will result in an autocracy at City Hall. That's not an acceptable option.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ross' tepid leadership has fallen short. As a result, he is partly to blame for the animosity he says is going on at City Hall. He acknowledges his style is more laid-back; he's against micromanaging, believing instead that city department heads and aldermen should be given the leeway to do their jobs. In theory, that's an admirable approach. In practice, however, this model doesn't work unless there is strong leadership to hold employees and council members accountable and propel the city forward.
Ross served 12 years as mayor beginning in the mid-1990s and is wrapping up his first term back after a two-term hiatus. During the past few decades, we've seen Monroe stagnate in the myth that we can continue to exist as a modern-day Mayberry. Growth and meaningful development is virtually non-existent and without them, we wonder how much longer our city can continue to keep its head above water. Monroe and its residents deserve to thrive.
We want Ross to continue as mayor with a few caveats: He must reject the notion we will have a fairy tale ending without a solid, measurable approach to economic development. He must lead the city in developing and implementing a solid 5-year plan, as he says he intends to do. And he must, as he says he is willing and able to do, adopt a more assertive approach to leadership, corralling disruptive forces and maximizing what each alderman brings to the table.
This is what Monroe deserves.
We're not convinced either candidate, incumbent Bill Ross or challenger Michael Boyce, is right for the task.
In keeping with The Monroe Times' long-standing practice, we invited both candidates to meet with the editorial board to discuss issues, goals and qualifications. Boyce declined our invitation, stipulating he would only meet with us if we video and audio taped the proceedings and make them available, unedited, on our website. He earlier declined our reporter's request to interview him for a story about the candidates. (For the record, we also gave both candidates the opportunity to respond to written questions for profiles, in which their answers were published in their own words.)
His refusal to speak with us on both occasions reflects a pattern of behavior over the two years Boyce has served as Ward 3 alderman. While Boyce's frequent battle cry is for a more open, transparent government, his actions indicate he's interested in more "transparent" proceedings as a self-serving method to control the situation.
There has been a litany of complaints aimed at Boyce, most frequently accusing him of intimidating others at City Hall and clandestine scheming. While these allegations boil down to "he said, she said," there's enough smoke to indicate that Boyce has been unduly manipulative and is more interested in seizing control than working collaboratively. That's unfortunate. Boyce may well have some good ideas that would benefit Monroe, but we suspect electing him mayor will result in an autocracy at City Hall. That's not an acceptable option.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ross' tepid leadership has fallen short. As a result, he is partly to blame for the animosity he says is going on at City Hall. He acknowledges his style is more laid-back; he's against micromanaging, believing instead that city department heads and aldermen should be given the leeway to do their jobs. In theory, that's an admirable approach. In practice, however, this model doesn't work unless there is strong leadership to hold employees and council members accountable and propel the city forward.
Ross served 12 years as mayor beginning in the mid-1990s and is wrapping up his first term back after a two-term hiatus. During the past few decades, we've seen Monroe stagnate in the myth that we can continue to exist as a modern-day Mayberry. Growth and meaningful development is virtually non-existent and without them, we wonder how much longer our city can continue to keep its head above water. Monroe and its residents deserve to thrive.
We want Ross to continue as mayor with a few caveats: He must reject the notion we will have a fairy tale ending without a solid, measurable approach to economic development. He must lead the city in developing and implementing a solid 5-year plan, as he says he intends to do. And he must, as he says he is willing and able to do, adopt a more assertive approach to leadership, corralling disruptive forces and maximizing what each alderman brings to the table.
This is what Monroe deserves.
