Is There a Thomas Jefferson Amongst Us?

I had a dream last night. This one woke me up! I was sitting on the steps of Huntington City Hall and suddenly a horse and buggy swiftly pulled to the curb. Out stepped President Thomas Jefferson! Ole Tom sat down beside me, quietly asked me if I could use a little advice, and began to explain why he had been so successful as the leader of our country. He emphasized that a true political leader is someone who comes to the job with a mission and a plan. He said that a true leader is not looking for a lifetime job. He comes to the fore after identifying issues of public concern and contemplating what actions must be taken to resolve crucial public policy issues.

*

The President continued, "True leaders build a consensus for what must transpire in order to get the government working as an effective system of deliver for quality services to the people." I listened intently, as old Tom conveyed to me that he had been "studying the Huntington situation".

*

"If I were President of Huntington," he said, "I would make the hard decisions knowing they would be very unpopular to many. However, I would get the place straightened up, even though it made everyone in the city mad as hell! It would take just about four-years, and then I'd get back in that carriage sitting there, go back to my farm, tend to my animals and plant some corn and tobacco. I don't think anyone should be President of Huntington forever anyway."

*

"What would you do that would make everyone in our city mad, Mr. President?” I asked. Without hesitating he said, "I'd take heat, but here is what I would do." He handed me a worn and tattered piece of parchment paper. "That's what the President of Huntington will have to do."

*

Without another word, President Thomas Jefferson walked swiftly to his carriage, stepped quickly into the coach and motioned to the coachman to pull away. As his carriage learched from the curb of Huntington's City Hall heading east down Fifth Avenue, he stuck his head out the coach window and shouted, "If you have to clean up the messes made by former leaders, do it boldly! Future generations of Huntington residents will honor you for your leadership and intestinal fortitude! If the City of Huntington were a business endeavor, it would have already been in receivership. Who amongst you will come to the forefront and accept the challenge?”

As the dust from his horse-drawn buggy drifted toward the Ohio River, I looked at the handwritten list of actions Old Tom had given to me. Here is the President's to-do list:

1. Identify an individual with proven business acumen and leadership skills and handpick a slate of executives who will run as a team for Mayor and City Council and who will commit to spending only one term in office. Lobby the WV State Legislature to establish home rule and eliminate the current Business and Occupation Tax. Replace it with a Local Option Sales Tax and a City Payroll Tax.
2. Consider a financial reorganization, which might well mean filing for protection and receivership (bankruptcy). Yes, that is drastic, but if you do not get your financial house in order now, future generations of Huntingtonians will be even more “crippled” as they attempt to straighten out the mess you are leaving them. You must not leave the unintended consequences of past decisions to burden the young people of tomorrow. Should they have to straighten out the accumulative mess?
3. During financial reorganization, renegotiate all labor union contracts to ensure that the projected revenue streams of the City are able to meet salary and benefit requirements. Also, “freeze” the current pension plan, and start a new-and-affordable contributory pension plan for short-term employees and new hires and with future employees sharing a larger part of the contribution/investment.
4. As a part of the financial reorganization, drop the City’s self-insuring health plan and establish one in which the premium burden is borne by the employees. The present insurance program has broken the bank!
5. After the financial reorganization, and “home rule” legislation is WV State Law, prepare a City of Huntington Operating Budget that will allow the hiring of an adequate number of police, fire and street department personnel, along with the equipment necessary to keep our city well protected and immaculately clean!
6. Sleep in the office of Senator Robert Byrd and Representative Nick Rahall until they find a place to stick an “earmark” to pay for the cost of splitting out our combined sewer system and to properly close down the current city landfill and establish a new one which will focus on recycling solid waste. While these Huntington leaders are at it, ask the "guvment" for funding to update the areas infrastructure - bridges, streets, etc. (Yes, the President did mention that he was aware that our nation is financially in a "red-funk", at present.)
7. Give top priority to the enforcement of all ordinances related to residential and commercial properties; including zoning, fire/safety, building codes and dilapidated/fire-damaged structures.
8. Review all current ordinances and enforce them! Property owners must take responsibility for the condition and appearance of their properties!
9. Enforce all litter laws and fine the perps!
10. KICK ASS AND TAKE NAMES!

Upon reading that last one, I woke up in a cold sweat! Who amongst us indeed, I thought. Will someone step to the fore to carry out the President’s plan? I’ve always admired Thomas Jefferson, but I wish he would have appeared in the dream of the right person for the right time. I’m just a messenger. Is anyone out there listening?

(I’ve just got to stop eating junk food before I go to bed!)