Editor’s Note: This column and the previous column by “Abe Lincoln” are anonymous columns submitted to Home in Henderson. We apologize for any confusion the lack of disclaimer may have caused.
Little Tad Lincoln and I were discussing local politics the other day. I take particular interest in local politics as I’ve always believed local government is the grassroots ecosystem of America. And after all, we’ve had 150 years to observe local governments from on high.
Little Tad and I get real pleasure in the process going on in Henderson. Some would call it dirty politics. I call it refreshing. It’s great to see so many people from so many different walks of life getting caught up in the election. You’re surprised a past president is watching your politics? Don’t be…….we’ve got all the time in the universe up here.
And judging from what I’ve read and observed of Henderson’s finances in the last seven or eight years, I think it’s way past time for everyone to be up in arms about who’s in charge of them….and why.
When I had a war to finance back in the 60’s, 1860’s that is, I had to always keep an eye on where the money was coming from, and what was likely to change as a result of that war that would affect the country’s future revenue sources. Many was the time I sat with my Secretary of the Treasury, I had three of them in five years you know, and asked the simple questions, “Where’s the money coming from?”, and “Will it keep coming?”. Those are some pretty simplistic questions but ones I found vitally important in keeping the federal government fiscally strong.
Of course, that was on the grand scale of things, and a hundred forty five years ago, but it’s really no different today and on the local level as well. The money has to be there and it has to keep coming in. Insure that both entities are taken care of and the rest of government will follow along nicely. Little Tad and I both agree that those questions weren’t asked often prior to your sitting council’s arrival.
Now, power, that’s a whole ‘nother animal, as we used to say in Illinois. Politics many times is played off as a bid to see who can get the most money for his or her district when, in fact it’s really a game of seeking power. You’ve seen this many times in the last century. Men of tremendous wealth engaging in the political process. You think they need more money? Lord no. They’ve climbed that mountain. And when they got to the top they wondered “what else is there?” And many times the answer is… power…plain and simple.
I get a kick out of watching this fellow with really bad hair, what’s his name? Oh, Trump. You think he needs more money? Get real, as Little Tad likes to say nowadays (I think he’s watching too much of your television). Mr Trump needs power. That’s his drug of choice. Not money. And he does some pretty outrageous things to get it. My missus, Mary Todd, tells me his many wives like the money. Power helps somewhat, but it’s the greenbacks that keep them at his side. I guess maybe she’s right. That hair of his though, I just don’t know. I know my hair isn’t the greatest, however I’ve been dead a long time. For Trump, it’s the sweet smell of power that keeps his steam engine puffing.
How about in your little town of Henderson. Is money the dictator of your politics, or is it power? Well, ask yourself this question….”Who are the players in your political process?” And I don’t necessarily mean the ones running for office or presently holding them. Do they reside in rented houses? Live on a dirt road? Clean chickens for a living?….I suspect they are all well-heeled….would they not be?
So, that being the case, do they have plenty of money, and will it keep coming for them? And if the answer to those questions is in the affirmative, then what’s driving them. You guessed it….the big P word….Power. Got to keep a watchful eye on those kind. Many times they cloak themselves in righteous indignation at the mere questioning of their motives and ethics. I had several Generals in the war that carried on in this manner. Couldn’t stand them personally, but at the time, I needed them to do dirty work in a very dirty atmosphere. But that was war……..we weren’t building a library you know.
So, what do little Tad Lincoln and I foresee in your upcoming election? And mind you, we don’t have a crystal ball up here either, all that free will stuff you know. But, from our educated and researched viewpoint (we asked several of the archangels….they think they know everything)….. here’s what we see happening:
Mayor:
Pete O’Geary will win handily over Jeanne Hight. Why? Too many people are unsure if Ms Hight is grounded enough to handle the job of Mayor. O’Geary tried to shoot himself in the foot by associating with the group that has billed itself as a “New Direction”. But, facing only Ms Hight, he will win handily despite his perceived friendliness with this group.
Let me address this New Direction group for a moment. In a speech I made when nominated by my Republican party to run for Senate in 1858 against the venerable (and full of hot air) Stephen A. Douglas, I made the following observation: “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.”
It strikes me as poignant at this moment in time in your fair little community the parallels between the half slave and half free and the becoming all one thing or all the other. Your tax base, yea your very personal and municipal financial livelihoods have been enslaved in the past decade due to fiscal irresponsibility. As Little Tad and I see it, this New Direction group is no more than a regurgitated exposition of several of your previous councils dressed in the New Emperor’s clothing (yes I get to read your books up here too). And it is a very likely proposition that this election will determine whether Henderson will become all one thing (on the road to fiscal recovery) or all the other (on the road to fiscal takeover by your beautiful State of North Carolina). Call us crazy, call us dead, but Little Tad and I think this is your defining moment, your fork in the road.
Ward 1:
George W. King will defeat Mary Emma Evans. It will be fairly close but Mr King will come out the victor. Ms Evans seems like a very sweet lady, and a religious person (hard for me to understand these folks sometimes since I was an agnostic) but she doesn’t seem to have the governmental prowess to do the city’s bidding. Mr King does possess a great deal of common sense…something an unschooled lawyer such as myself is well qualified to see. Your voters have recognized this also.
Ward 1 at Large:
Bobby Gupton will defeat Mike Rainey. The vote won’t be that close. Your citizens as a majority appreciate the fiscal responsibility Mr Gupton has infused into a previously uninformed, poorly directed council. They trust Mr Gupton and feel safe when he’s watching the storehouse. Mr Rainey didn’t accomplish the fiscal restructuring during his tenure that Mr Gupton has forged.
Ward 2:
Lynn Harper will be the victor here. Your voters appreciate this strong woman’s character, her no-nonsense approach to financial matters, and her ability to promise as delivered as her campaign signs proclaim. Mr Inscoe unfortunately is a puppet of this New Direction group. I say it is unfortunate for Mr Inscoe because the voters recognize his allegiance and it has doomed him.
Ward 3:
Garry Daeke will continue in this seat. Mr Daeke has been accused of being slow to come to decisions. Trust me, until you are entrusted to do the people’s bidding, you can’t fully understand the processes one’s mind carries you through to arrive at what you perceive as best. As a past agonizer over decisions, I commend him for his ability to not have knee-jerk conclusions. The voters appreciate this also. His opponent, Frank Terry, is unfortunately unknown to the electorate.
Ward 3 at Large:
Possibly the brightest star in your community’s universe is Elissa Yount. I would have been proud to have her as an adviser during my earthly political days. This aggressive lady doesn’t mind mixing it up with the “good old boys”…..God I love that saying. And she doesn’t back down. She has an agenda….making your town better…and she’s not willing to budge an inch in settling for less. Her opponent, Brenda Peace, can’t begin to offer the things Ms Yount possesses.
Ward 4:
Hate to say it, but as Little Tad and I see it, you don’t have much to choose from here in terms of improving your representation in this ward. Mr Davis and Mr Bullock may be nice people but they don’t have what is needed in tough times to make needed changes. The voters will return Mr Davis to his seat without much fanfare for lack of a better choice.
Ward 4 at Large:
Ranger sure has a way with words doesn’t he? Reminds me of the old men who used to come into my feed store in the old days, plop down by the wood stove, and chew the cud with their buddies. You had to be from the area to understand what exactly they were saying and how they said it. Same with Ranger. He leaves me scratching my head sometimes with his down home homilies, but, that being said, he has the down home charisma the voters have come to appreciate. He represents the common man for them. And he does keep his finger on the pulse of finances. He’ll go back in office, easily overcoming the opposition, George Daye and Lora Durham.
So that’s the way we see it, or foresee it. Time for me and Little Tad to go find Ms Mary and have our discussion about State Politics. One word of advice in that area…..as was previously said about Richard Moore….the most dangerous place to be in an election year is between Mr Moore and a camera. Watch out for yourself.
Abe Lincoln (and Little Tad)