"I Know What The Citizens Of Ward 3 Want!"

I enjoyed last night's meeting of the Board of Aldermen once I got inside chambers, almost five hours of political bliss. Upon arriving at City Hall I had to cut my way through a cloud of cigarette smoke created by our mayor, Nickolas Guccione. I found it revolting to see him standing right out in front giving lip service to his cigarette—what a way for a Mayor to embrace those coming to the meeting, poisoning them with his second-hand smoke.

Another discouraging situation came right in the beginning of the meeting during the "Ceremonial Matters" while listening to our Mayor floundering over words and sentences trying to read the proclamations. He doesn't read much and it shows every time he flops around in an attempt to sound mayoral. Remarkably, overlooking his unmistakable reading impediment, smokers hack, and lack of knowledge about procedures, the meeting went on, it was out of control, but the Aldermen saved his biscuits and kept it running—four hours and forty-five minutes worth. I found it funny that during discussions, Guccione raised his hand to speak on two occasions, he even tried to make a motion.

Mayor Guccione doesn't seem to remember where he stands on issues as apparent last evening when the Board passed a revised cooperative agreement resolution for Ranken. When the original resolution was presented, Guccione as an Alderman voted for it at all three readings. During his campaign for Mayor, he opposed it and vocalized his opposition at every opportunity saying "I made a mistake." Now he's all for the deal and gave a dissertation about how good it would be for the City. Flip and re-flip, anyone wanna bet on the possibility of a tri-flip?

I also found it interesting that our Mayor doesn't use the gavel to close discussions or votes very much, in fact he only hit it four times last night. I have a theory about this phenomena: He is a staunch union man and perhaps using a gavel that looks like a hammer may cross some imaginary carpenter's union lines. Since he is a member of the meat cutter's union, the City may need to buy a gavel that resembles a meat cleaver, then they could put a rubber chicken on the Dias and he could hack away.

The most important discussion of the night by far, was regarding the appointment for the vacated Ward 3 seat. Guccione reiterated that "it's my appointment" at least half dozen times during the discussion. Alderman Forrest Gossett suggested an "open process" to include all of the citizens of Ward 3 and read state statutes to support setting procedures for appointment. Gossett has a vast knowledge of governmental procedures and led the charge to have an "open government," suggesting the creation of a procedure for future boards to follow when, and if a similar situation should arise. Guccione believed he was being attacked by Gossett and opposed  him by asking the City Attorney, Paul Rost: "How can you write an ordinance that would undermine my authority?"  Rost tried to explain that he would still have the appointment authority but now he would have a pool of diligent citizen to choose from using the application process. Guccione wasn't having any of it, "I don't care how many names you present to me, I have made my selection. I know what the citizens of Ward 3 want and if you don't approve my candidate, the seat will remain open until the election next year!" He hasn't figured out what was said, I don't think he ever will. Gosset had to re-read the statute and Guccione still didn't get it, he's in way over his head and still on the defense.

All of the Aldermen supported open government and agreed upon the application process. They directed staff to create the appropriate ordinance. Opposing "open government" is a crucial underestimation in Guccione's young administration. After speaking with a very good friend, she stated; "Gucionne is being too defensive." He knows the rifts he's created in the board with his dirty campaign and is delusional that the Aldermen are out to get him, he's taking this process way too personal. Being as stubborn as a jackass in a tin barn on issues in an attempt to flex his mayoral muscles in opposition of the Aldermen is not good for the city, it's pure politics and not representative government. He claims to know what the citizens of Ward 3 want just because he was elected, he's sorely mistaken. He needs to listen to the recommendations of our newly reelected Alderman in Ward 3, Rick "Bulldog" Stokes, he knows what we want, he's still there! To reject the "open government" policy will bite him in the ass sooner than he may think when the disenfranchised citizens of Ward 3 start coming before him in open forum to tell him that he does not know what Ward 3 citizens want. Ward 3 residents want representation, not a contrary Mayor hand-picking one of his "buds" to fill a hole.

If our Mayor throws out the citizen's applications for the vacated seat through a newly created "open government" process in favor of "my candidate," it will be the real beginning of his political downfall. But, he knows nothing about diplomacy and doesn't care to learn. I would think that since he's on record as saying he will not consider any of the applicants, he may be setting the City and himself up for being sued. But, I don't think he cares about that either, Guccione is a dangerous Mayor, dangerous to Wentzville.