Better Blogs VI: Mayor's Blog
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's Blog gets updated only once a month and is inside of his old re-election site. I found out from it not from the popularity of other blogs; but while I was listening to Charlotte Talks on WFAE. So, in standard blog metrics (incoming links, freshness of material, and traffic) - it's not the greatest blog.
What makes it better? He's a mayor of a major American city.
What I've found interesting about the tenure of Pat McCrory is that he's managed to do a number of things that tick people off (the arena, light-rail, etc.); be a favorite punching bag of AM Talk Radio; and is a Republican in an area with a fair share of Democrats. In spite of all of this, he manages to come out of elections with comfortable margins.
You gotta wonder why that is.
The blog alone can't be credited. He's been a mayor before there was Google - let alone blogs. My theory: I think that he does a pretty good job managing his own image and doesn't let the news media do it for him. If he left that to the Observer, they would only report on the controversy with his dealings with the Democratically-controlled City Council, his appearances at the Republican National Convention, and other stories that write themselves. If he left it to the folks at WBT - you'd swear he was a card-carrying member of the Communist RINOS of America. If you left it to this guy, you'd wonder if he was in a helicopter with George Shinn.
However, he's been the Mayor of Charlotte longer than anyone else, and through an unprecedented time of growth and transition. He's done that largely by getting his side of the story out there. He engages the Observer and doesn't just let them write what they will. As for WBT, he's got a show on Sunday morning. This blog is an extension of that. All he does is post the text from e-mails that he's sent to his own distribution to the blog for all of us to see.
Simple, yet effective.
Here in Cabarrus County, officials can do things which the voters asked for and lose elections. For instance, Carolyn Carpenter was Chair when Matching Grant incentives for parks were reinstated, school funding came up to a level where parents might not have to pay educational fees to supplement their children's free education, and residential growth policy was changed to factor in school adequacy and not how much a certain builder contributed to the Cabarrus Taxpayers' Association. In spite of all of this, she faced a crushing defeat in the recent Republican primaries.
This was due, in part, to the image that people had in their minds. They remember her as the person who raised taxes - plain and simple. Even though the taxes were raised to cover the debt service of previous administrations and that debt service was (and is) the only portion of the budget to outpace tax revenue growth - if you don't believe me, click here.
But, I digress. As always, I highlight a recent, interesting post from the highlighted blog. In all honesty, the articles are all interesting and well-written. I could focus on the recent article on transportation policy which is of particular interest to a commuter like me or I could talk about his resistance to a City tax hike. The most interesting article has to do with, what the Mayor calls, a decrease in respect. Here's a taste: I was honored that the White House called me last week and asked for my help to generate an audience that represented a cross- section of Charlotte, as the President wanted to have a conversation with the citizens of Charlotte. Republicans, Democrats, people from all cultures and backgrounds were invited. I also made sure to invite all elected officials in Charlotte Mecklenburg - School Board, County Commission, and City Council and the region’s Mayors. After the President gave a 45 minute speech with no notes, primarily on the War on Terrorism and international challenges, including Iraq, he took off his coat and said "let me take some questions." Many hands were raised and staff was ready to give microphones to those recognized by the President. All of a sudden, Mayor Pro-Tem Susan Burgess stood up and started giving a speech, without being first recognized and given a microphone. Totally, oblivious of the many other citizens behind her, hands raised, waiting to be recognized, following rules most learn in elementary school. As she continued to speak and speak and speak without asking a question while reminding the President that she was Mayor Pro Tem and represented her City Council, I bowed my head in shame and embarrassment. Not because of the critical points she was making, but because of the disrespect she showed toward the audience and because she interrupted the President twice as he tried to politely get her to ask a question out of respect for everyone’s time. (Her speech was a complaint about both the deficit and about cuts in the budget—go figure.) The President, to his credit, listened with respect to Ms. Burgess and critical speakers and then gave thoughtful answers to their questions/comments.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THE ARTICLE
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