Winners and other participants...

[dhyatt]

Today there were winners and others. All the incumbents won which simply demonstrates that life in Cary is basically pretty good and there's not much to complain about. A very tough environment for a challenger.

District 'A': The only real surprise of the day: Jennifer winning outright with 52%. Her strength in neighborhoods was obviously underestimated. Congratulations to her and her team for putting in a fine effort.

District 'C': Jack Smith won huge. His near 70% victory serves as a reminder that most voters were clearly interested in maintaining the status quo and appreciate Cary's quality of life and the time and effort Jack has put into achieving it. The energy of the Harvilla campaign points out that property rights are not to be trifled with. Most voters evidently felt Smith also understands this.

At-Large: Julie's victory in the face of a strong Republican push demonstrates that 'ole fashion compassion for neigborhoods and their citizens is still the way to win - especially when backed by a well organized campaign (this is also true for Jennifer's campaign). It proves the point (once again) that $$$ without a winning message doesn't get the job done.


Note: Former Mayor Lang (looking quite fit) and current Mayor McAlister were both present at Jack's post-election get together. They generally stayed in opposite corners and it was a riot seeing Jack work the crowd around and between them while occasionally conversing with each of them in turn. I had to chuckle to myself... Oh! and this: Former Mayor Lang said he voted for Julie because "she's the lesser of two evils and he won't have to listen to her for the next four years." That garnered a laugh from most everyone present.

[Tonya]

I think I need a good, stiff drink--maybe several.

[Lisa]

=D>
Hands to the people that brought honesty, intergrity and a high standard to this election,

and to the rest of them, good job of playing the game of politics.


" Our elections are free, it's in the results where eventually we pay. "
Bill Stern

See you all in two years! I-)

[StanN]

The losers were:

*the extreme right wing of the Republican Party. Those who clearly labeled themselves as Republicans lost. Those that won underplayed their party affiliation...but that didn't help Ed Yerha.

*the candidate with the most money tyoically wins over 80% of the time, the losers included those behind the scenes who urged the best financed candidate to go on the attact with distortions and attacks and of course the candidate who took their advice.

*Mayor McAlister who came out of the nominating process looking weak, unable to steer the nomination to his loyalists and choices - was his belated support of Jack Smith an attempt to repair the damage?

Although I agree with DonH that the vote was an affirmation of the status quo, to some extent the losers are the citizens of Cary. The Council remains factionalized and disfunctional. Leadership is still lacking. Issues like economic development, the redevelopment of downtown and the appropriate levels os spending on roads and P&R, the competence and politicization of the the town manager, the role and influence of the Chamber are unlikely tto be resolved in a clear-cut or optimal manner. Cary continues to grow without a clear-cut direction, identity or strategy.

For me it was a good news/bad news election. Neither the worst nor the best of the candidates won. Perhaps mediocrity and a lack of a clear direction is better than the alternative.

stan

[bobo]

Tonya wrote:

I think I need a good, stiff drink--maybe several.

Pass the jug of corn this way when you're done! :-D

[Dharma]

Pass the jug of corn this way when you're done! :-D

Why don't those of us who KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON, drink the jug together........I'm especially sorry for those of you in New Hill.

For JR, it was about money and those fabulously FAKE, honey dripping flyers. If the rest of Cary had attended the CTC meetings, she wouldn't have gotten 1 vote. Well, maybe one - the one she casted for herself.

Here's to you Jen! I hope you'll sincerly pretend to be a nice person for the remainder of your term. It goes to show, the best MAN doesn't always win.

[Wuptdo]

Oh well, it least Flecther is gone! :-D :-D

Stan wrote:
Although I agree with DonH that the vote was an affirmation of the status quo, to some extent the losers are the citizens of Cary. The Council remains factionalized and disfunctional. Leadership is still lacking. Issues like economic development, the redevelopment of downtown and the appropriate levels os spending on roads and P&R, the competence and politicization of the the town manager, the role and influence of the Chamber are unlikely tto be resolved in a clear-cut or optimal manner. Cary continues to grow without a clear-cut direction, identity or strategy.
Guess what Stan, I agree with you! 8O

Stan wrote:
Perhaps mediocrity and a lack of a clear direction is better than the alternative.
You get what you vote for and the voters have chosen. (If only my last LTE has made it the Cary News, oh well, at least Flecther is gone).

Now if we can get Jackie Wagstaff to move to Cary to run against Mayor Ernie in the next election. That should liven things up a bit. :wink:

Flecther is GONE!!!!

Wuptdo B-)

[NotReally]

Why don't those of us who KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON, drink the jug together........I'm especially sorry for those of you in New Hill.

For JR, it was about money and those fabulously FAKE, honey dripping flyers. If the rest of Cary had attended the CTC meetings, she wouldn't have gotten 1 vote. Well, maybe one - the one she casted for herself.

Here's to you Jen! I hope you'll sincerly pretend to be a nice person for the remainder of your term. It goes to show, the best MAN doesn't always win.

What you dont understand is the the Cary Voters have electorally bitch slapped New Hill.

[Tonya]

What you dont understand is the the Cary Voters have electorally bitch slapped New Hill.

I doubt this vote has anything to do weith New Hill,as I suspect the average Cary citizen knows nothing about New Hill. (I hope it's not too offensive for me to suggest tha Cary has average citizens :wink: ) And if what you say is true, that is a worse indictment of Cary and its citizens than anything I've heard in a long while.

[d4vendel]

Sorry folks, but it was no slap. Look at the interviews of people at the polls. New Hill was not a big issue with the average Cary voter.

- David F.

[bobo]

d4vendel wrote:

Sorry folks, but it was no slap. Look at the interviews of people at the polls. New Hill was not a big issue with the average Cary voter.

- David F.

I'm sure it wasn't, but perhaps it should have been. If the CTC would do what they have to an entire community and private property owner outside Cary, imagine what they are capable of doing when dealing with individual Cary citizens.

By the way David, this issue goes much deeper than Cary taking advantage of the little guy. :(

Notreally wrote:

What you dont understand is the the Cary Voters have electorally bitch slapped New Hill.

I agree with Tonya and David. I'm sure the CTC's treatment and attitude toward New Hill and the Seymour's was very low on most Cary voters items of concern. It's human nature for the majority not to concern themselves with something that doesn't directly impact them. :wink: