Politics & Government

Candidate Question Two: Does Council Need Dissenting Voices

Based on recent observations, the council members tend to vote together quite often. What do you think of this trend and what do you think about the need for dissenting voices?

Patch posed five questions to the . We will publish their answers in separate posts. Candidates were asked to answer in 200 words or less.

Question 2: Based on recent observations, the council members tend to vote together quite often. What do you think of this trend and what do you think about the need for dissenting voices?

This is not just a recent trend. Observations over a much longer time would yield the same finding. There are good and positive reasons for this. The primary reason is that the Greenbelt City Council works from a long-standing consensus on public issues. Basic principles such as quality development, environmental sensitivity, excellent public services, and a strong police force have broad community support that is reflected in the council.

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The council is also effective in sorting out differences before they reach a vote. We hold countless work sessions in addition to our frequent regular meetings, allowing issues to be thought out carefully in advance. In addition, Greenbelt’s effective council-manager system of government provides us with professional staff input and informed recommendations on most consequential issues.

Dissenting voices are often heard, sometimes including mine, and there are some arguments, not all of them seen in public meetings. In general, dissent has its highest value when the dissenter might be right. The fact that someone votes “no” does not in itself prove anything, nor is a reputation as a dissenter necessarily a virtue. I have been a successful Council Member over many years by being part of councils that work together effectively.

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If it appears that most of council votes together, it is because consensus on issues is arrived at earlier during our work sessions. Staff and advisory boards provide council with background information and suggested positions. During ensuing discussion, each council member expresses his/her opinion. There is also opportunity for the public that is present to state viewpoints as well. This is when dissenting positions are presented and weighed for validity and relevance. Changes are made, if necessary, in order for a majority of council to agree to go forward on an issue. Discussion can be quite heated at times, especially during budget work sessions—honest!

Therefore, most issues have been clarified before the council meeting itself. The formal vote and accompanying discussion reflect this, though additional tweaking may occur. More active debate occurs when an issue is presented during a council meeting without a previous work session. But the process is the same; the end result is consensus.

Healthy dissent can be constructive and productive, but dissent for dissent’s sake, with no attempt at compromise, is self-serving and benefits no one. It often leads to no positive action being taken. A good example is the current U.S. Congress.

I disagree there is a “trend for council to vote together quite often.” To the extent that council “votes together,” it is a healthy indication that council is effectively working together to reach decisions.

I am of the opinion that the current City Council may be working together better than some previous Greenbelt City Councils. However, I think that there may have been an unintended consequence to expanding the council from five to seven members: more power is concentrated with the mayor, who chairs the meetings and controls the dialog between citizens and six council people, instead of four.

Our role as council persons is to be well prepared for meetings, to identifying alternative approaches to problems, and then to reach a consensus on what action to take (when appropriate). I try not to use my seat on council as a platform for my personal beliefs. I try to take a balanced and even-handed approach to the issues. I am persuaded by the opinions of citizens, stakeholders, and by the observations of the other council members. In the end, council’s job is to work together to make decisions that are in the best interest of the city and its citizens.

Orleans answered question one and question two together.

(Continued from question one)… Public policy is too important to be left just to those elected. If we exercised our ownership of council, time wasted now on self-promotion could be used for discussion of issues relevant to residents; consensus might be achieved and a council resolution would have an impact beyond Greenbelt.

There is now on council one lone vote who recognizes and respects the right of residents to speak at council; sadly the others just tolerate such, except when it is ceremonial or laudatory when they are all too willing to hear from us.

If on council, I would be one more vote to allow residents a greater voice in its process. If elected, I can only promise to pester, nag, whine, and cajole more involvement from residents. Regrettably, there is only my challenge to the incumbent seven; it is inexcusable that in our town, where there are 13,000 registered voters, that only eight are running.

In general, I believe the absolute priority for all seven members of the City Council is the well being of our residents and city affairs. As a group, we discuss all issues in great depth and detail. We usually come to a consensus, on most topics, after long discussions among city staff, the public and ourselves. We do not agree on everything all the time, but I believe we are all on the same page when it comes to the most important issues that have direct and immediate impact on our residents and the city. On many day-to-day issues the decisions are often very straightforward. On the more involved and complicated issues, the decisions are not straightforward and require long and involved meetings to reach a consensus. If the members of council vote together on a particular topic, we are not suppressing our own individual interests or opinions; instead, we have the common interests and safety of our residents in mind. It is important to have differing opinions when discussing issues that come before the council. I think the unity in voting seen is a function of the extensive discussions and consideration that have taken place prior to the vote.

I have voted for items before council not because I was totally satisfied with the proposal, but because if you make the “perfect the enemy of the good,” where your standard is getting 100 percent of what you want, you end up voting consistently “no” and giving the city little if any opportunity to improve the situation down the line.

If the question is how independent is the thinking process that helps formulate the direction that a council member wants to move council, it's important to remember that for six years, I was alone advocating that the city explore marketing and implementing an economic development strategy. Further, in my first term, I was alone stating that one of the top issues was transportation and needed greater attention in our priorities. There was not a vote per se which would easily be seen as an indication of how I differed from my colleagues, but I can tell you that I was in a minority of one at that time. 

Providing for a variety of viewpoints is essential. It is consistent with treating each other with respect, a key element of our community pledge and consistent with my theme of One Greenbelt.

Essentially, the people of Greenbelt have answered this question by electing the voices on council. Citizens have elected council members who they feel have the same vision for our city as they have. While there often is agreement on the council, the reasons for voting one way or another are not always the same. When council members explain their votes, they emphasize one aspect of the issue or another. In this way, differences are revealed. This demonstrates that each council member is seriously considering the issue before making a decision and voting. Council members may all arrive at the same conclusion but come at it from different directions. I don’t believe dissenting voices are necessary. On the other hand, I believe deliberative and informed voices are necessary. Careful consideration of the issues by council members and citizens helps support our collective vision for Greenbelt. Sometimes the details are different, but, in general, I think we want similar things for our city. That is probably why the trend seems to be uniformity.   

Every vote I make is weighed very carefully. I have often been the voice of dissent on the council, but I believe I owe it to the citizens of Greenbelt to vote my conscience. I’m disappointed that other council members are not willing to take a stand on important issues. The rest of the council voted to support cuts to public transportation, and I believe this was a mistake. Had we taken a stand, I believe our previous level of service would have been maintained. I supported collective bargaining rights for our police officers. Despite opposition of the council majority, Greenbelt voters overwhelmingly supported collective bargaining for our police officers in the referendum.

In Question 1, candidates answered:

Candidates are welcome to elaborate in the comments — or to ask other candidates questions regarding their answers.


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