The fix is in
The fix is in
How did Don Gischer get elected in the first 5 seconds of voting? The Bellingham City Council voted 4 -2 last Wednesday to appoint Don to fill Joan Beardsley’s position until we voters elect someone i
How did Don Gischer get elected in the first 5 seconds of voting? The Bellingham City Council voted 4 -2 last Wednesday to appoint Don to fill Joan Beardsley's position until we voters elect someone in November to fill out her last 2 years.
We can't be sure with political jostlings, but several respected political observers - junkies and operatives, to be exact - felt the fix was in for Rebecca Johnson. I was watching Terry Borneman carefully as the first vote was taken - and as Don got his 4 votes. Terry had 5 seconds of uncontrolled facial panic as he looked down the table at his fellow council members and then stared wide -yed up at someone in the back of the council chamber. He was clearly blind sided. He and Barbara Ryan refused to allow Don's appointment to be unanimous - both voicing loud NAYs when council president Bob Ryan ran the vote a second time with a suggestion for a 6-0 vote.
What happened? Best I've learned from several people is it was payback time to Barbara Ryan by Gene Knutson for her snub of him for the mayor appointment last fall. The council had just spent half an hour in executive session but only discussed the resumes and qualifications of the applicants with no discussion of voting or nominating. John Watts and Bob Ryan were not expected to support Rebecca, so it took Gene to decide to nominate Don, and it took Louise Bjornson to go with Gene. Interestingly, Don is probably as acceptable to the unions as Rebecca and so neither Gene nor Louise will lose their support this campaign season.
What we saw was a political fix - a fix that included Terry and Barbara - get busted by Gene who had no interest in the back-room deal. We tip our hat to Gene - and even have to give Louise credit for rejecting the deal. At least this is the best analysis so far based on several reliable perspectives.
We can't be sure with political jostlings, but several respected political observers - junkies and operatives, to be exact - felt the fix was in for Rebecca Johnson. I was watching Terry Borneman carefully as the first vote was taken - and as Don got his 4 votes. Terry had 5 seconds of uncontrolled facial panic as he looked down the table at his fellow council members and then stared wide -yed up at someone in the back of the council chamber. He was clearly blind sided. He and Barbara Ryan refused to allow Don's appointment to be unanimous - both voicing loud NAYs when council president Bob Ryan ran the vote a second time with a suggestion for a 6-0 vote.
What happened? Best I've learned from several people is it was payback time to Barbara Ryan by Gene Knutson for her snub of him for the mayor appointment last fall. The council had just spent half an hour in executive session but only discussed the resumes and qualifications of the applicants with no discussion of voting or nominating. John Watts and Bob Ryan were not expected to support Rebecca, so it took Gene to decide to nominate Don, and it took Louise Bjornson to go with Gene. Interestingly, Don is probably as acceptable to the unions as Rebecca and so neither Gene nor Louise will lose their support this campaign season.
What we saw was a political fix - a fix that included Terry and Barbara - get busted by Gene who had no interest in the back-room deal. We tip our hat to Gene - and even have to give Louise credit for rejecting the deal. At least this is the best analysis so far based on several reliable perspectives.
