Failure to lead
Staff editorial

When Trish Kelley decided to run for office in July 2002, a sense of relief followed. Someone with her background as a community volunteer and PTA mom had more appeal than the self-serving incumbents, Sherri Butterfield and Susan Withrow. Kelley surprised a lot of people – particularly the two ousted councilwomen – by getting the most votes in the lopsided election.

Kelley didn’t run for office on her leadership or knowledge of how to operate a business. She was a mom and housewife. While qualifications for the council are minimal, basic competency shouldn’t be overlooked. Beyond representing the residents, council members make million-dollar decisions at every meeting.

How has Kelley fared with on-the-job training? Looking at her 2002 campaign promises might be the best way to measure how she’s grown into the job. Her promises included open government, civility at council meetings, improved city services, traffic congestion relief, sound fiscal management and transportation for seniors. She’s delivered none of the above.

Instead, Kelley prefers back-door deals, closed-session agreements and believing whatever the city staff tells her. The city staff – approximately 130 employees – can count on her vote. Civility at council meetings?
Absolutely not, and she orchestrated the destruction of the city’s best-ever planning commission. Traffic is far worse now than 3 1/2 years ago when Kelley began her reign of incompetence. The only residents who aren’t stuck in traffic are the city’s seniors who are stuck on their front porch, still waiting for a ride.

Not long after Kelley was elected, a seemingly objective resident said, “Kelley got in over her head. Her supporters persuaded her to run and didn’t look beyond the election when she’d have to lead. She appeared confused about who to trust. She couldn’t associate with the watchdog group (Committee for Integrity in Government) because the press was calling her a puppet. She began listening to the city staff instead of the residents.”

When Kelley wouldn’t listen to the residents, some of them – fallen members of the CIG – made the mistake of listening to her. They abandoned their ethical stance against redevelopment and began attacking each other instead of opposing big government. Her views are no different from the old gals she ran against in 2002.

Kelley can’t – or won’t – work with anyone else on the council. Considering where this council is going, it’s just as well they can’t agree on much of anything.

With poetic justice at its highest and best, Kelley is getting back everything she dished out in past elections. Gail Reavis worked hard in 2002 to get Kelley elected, and in 2004 Kelley worked like a maniac to get Reavis out. Kelley worked for Frank Ury in 2004, and Ury is lining up candidates to replace her. He announced at a public meeting he won’t endorse her.

Kelley lately has little to say as she sits on the council. She’s had little to say for more than three years, despite a lot of chatter about feel-good programs and which council members she’s going to throw out of office. Kelley fooled voters in 2002, and they should keep this in mind when voting this fall.