Bruno, Sammy, SheVegas, whatever, I’m Mike, and I think I might want to be your Mayor. Wow, how’s that for commitment, yet, that’s the truth.
Would I make a good Mayor, it’s hard to say, I’m not sure what it means to be Mayor of Sheboygan. In fact, the committee of the whole meets tonight to discuss just this issue. The introduction of Jim Amodeo as Chief Administrative Officer has also altered the Mayor’s role significantly.
Last week, while waiting downstairs while the Council discussed what appears to be the sale of City owned land for a possible casino at Sheboygan’s South Pier District. I met two gentlemen whose attendance was more than just in passing.
I will call the first man: Warrant Server, because that’s what he was. Warrant Server drove in from the West Bend area to serve papers on a potential mayoral candidate, yet, that’s not the strange part. This weirdness served as an intro into to two other citizens looking to get involved, friendly guys, one invited me out for a beer. I accepted.
I new him as Cederwell, as that is the name he performs under. turns out his real name is Erik Neave, and he’s a political “noob” interested in what happened at the meeting, it was invisible after all. I explained that everybody inside had a confidentiality agreement, that’s how it works, no way of finding out. Unless it’s leaked, as “Source” spilled the beans to The Sheboygan Press the very next day.
We talked about City politics and the role of the Mayor, when I mentioned I would like to have a Rock the Vote thingy within the next week or two to give the candidates a chance to introduce themselves to the public. He was excited, I was excited, this would be fun, informative, and help get the young ones involved.
Music and presentations, tied together by someone who could run a tight and entertaining show, livestream it and upload to Youtube. Anybody can watch any of the candidates presentations at any time, getting the word out in a strange election. What could go wrong?
I mention I was thinking about running for Mayor as an informational candidate, in the tradition of Pat Paulson, Hunter S. Thompson, and legions of other fools and dreamers. It’s a great way to get a message out, yet, would require really running, and If I run, can I cover the race?
“So was I” (thinking of running) said Erik. You should, no you should, went on for awhile, discussion shifted to issues and potential candidates, we went home, neither a candidate for office. The next day we talked again, agreed to go forth with the event and boom, I’m here.
I mentioned my idea to local radio personality Ben Olson, and he agreed to help with the event, nothing more. Candidates were invited in the forums of the Sheboygan Press, and by, e-mail. Great response from some candidates, zero response from others, Mayor Bob and the Department of Public works were extremely helpful, yet scheduling, and what would be a conflict of interest if I ran, are still issues that I can’t resolve.
The Committee of the whole should clear up some of the confusion as to the future role of the Mayor tonight, This is important, if the Mayor has to become more like the Queen, this isn’t that important anymore. Erik said, he would decide tonight, and I would love somebody, anybody with a pulse to take over an event, or let it die, under the circumstances.
Feedback told me, next Wednesday evening would be great due to the short race and holiday season, this is just an intro after all, not a debate, the goal was to get young kids involved, nothing more.
update: Erik just left a message on my answering machine, he’s running for Mayor of Sheboygan, Wisconsin took out the papers this morning.
I guess there’s a reason things are done in the traditional manner, to much drama, this time, it’s my bad.
