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Character counted for little in council's big power playBy Ron Littlepage All is not hunky-dory on the City Council. On the surface it looked as if Councilwoman Alberta Hipps had no opposition when she was chosen by her peers to be the next council president. But make no mistake about it: There was a bare-knuckle brawl as supporters of Councilwoman Ginger Soud tried desperately to keep her in the powerful president's job for a second consecutive term. It wasn't pretty as several local businessmen from the building and development industry applied pressure and twisted arms right up to the last minute in an attempt to get some of the 13 council members who had signed written pledges in support of Hipps to defect to Soud. One prominent politico who has been closely involved with the council for three decades put it this way: "They have offered all kinds of crap. I've never seen anything like it." Being dangled as bait to get council members to go back on their promises were chairmanships of powerful council committees such as Finance. One councilman was told he could have anything he wanted if he would support Soud. But there was more than just political horse trading going on. There also was a lot of bad mouthing. Those lobbying for Soud, still holding grudges from last year's bloody battle over a tree ordinance, called Hipps and Councilman Matt Carlucci, who was seeking the council vice presidency, "tree huggers" and "too liberal." They also denigrated Hipps by saying she wouldn't be strong enough to stand up to Mayor John Delaney. Although there was at least one defection to Soud, in the end there weren't enough votes to get her a second term, so Soud's name was never officially put into play. Hipps was elected unanimously. However, a truer picture of the pitched battle could be seen in the race for the vice presidency where Carlucci squeaked out a 10-9 victory over Councilman Lad Daniels. Soud and Daniels were being pushed as a team ticket. Does all of this political maneuvering really matter? Yes. First, despite all of the smiles and handshakes, there will be much bitterness on the council because of this battle and that will carry over into how this city is governed. And second, we all need to be aware when special interests try to grab control of the council for their own purposes. An irony in this whole messy affair is that Soud and some of those lobbying to get council members to go back on their written pledges to Hipps are closely associated with an initiative called Character Counts. According to Character Counts there are six pillars of character. The first, trustworthiness, is described this way: "Be honest. Don't deceive, cheat or steal. Be reliable -- do what you say you will do. Have the courage to do the right thing. Build a good reputation and value it. Do not lie. Keep your promises." When reminded of the Character Counts campaign, one council member involved in fending off the attacks on Hipps and Carlucci said in frustration: "Character don't count much around here, buddy." It surely didn't for some people. |
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