LETTER: Rod Robison is dedicated to Columbia
Thursday, April 2, 2009 | 3:13 p.m. CDT
BY
Stacy Floyd, Columbia
I have known and respected Rod Robison for many years. He loves Columbia and he was prompted to run for the Sixth Ward council seat because of his dedication to our city. He has been a volunteer for numerous organizations, including Boy Scouts of America , the Columbia Police Department, Show-Me State Games and Mizzou Track and Field.
Successful in business, Rod wants to bring jobs to Columbia so other families can live, work and raise their families here. Rod also wants to make Columbia safer. He is the only candidate endorsed by the Columbia Police Officers Association.
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Residents of the Sixth Ward have an important decision to make on Tuesday. This decision will shape the next three years of Columbia’s future. Please make the right decision and vote for Rod Robison.
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Comments
Rod Robison is so dedicated that he never applied for a single policy-making position in city government or even attended a single meeting of his neighborhood association . . . until he ran for City Council.
I'm sorry Dan, but as someone who ran for office on a slim resume, that logic doesn't fly. If Robison saw something in Hoppe's political stances that he didn't like, should he have waited three or six more years before he dare run against her? If Hoppe does defeat Robison, is it OK for him to run again in three years, or will he still be not dedicated enough?
Could you and the other Robison runner-downers let us know whom we should choose between Allan Sharrock and Jason Thornhill? Both are relatively new to the political arena, and I would wait for Columbia citizens to choose the less-dedicated candidate.
The right to run as a candidate is not the issue. The issue--at least as framed by the letter writer--is the candidates' dedication. Dedication to the hard work of policy-making, on the city and even the neighborhood level, is utterly absent from Rod Robison's resume.
And being active (or inactive) in policy making should not be a reason to write off a candidate, nor to promote another candidate. From the original letter:
"I have known and respected Rod Robison for many years. He loves Columbia and he was prompted to run for the Sixth Ward council seat because of his dedication to our city. He has been a volunteer for numerous organizations, including Boy Scouts of America , the Columbia Police Department, Show-Me State Games and Mizzou Track and Field."
Seems like a man who has contributed to Columbia and several organizations to me. If he was active in policy making and I did not agree with his stances, does that mean I should vote for him anyway? If one doesn't agree with Barb Hoppe's policy making, or Laura Nauser's, or the mayor's policies, does the fact that they have gone out and done so factor into the voters' decision?
You're right, John: lack of relevant experience and knowledge are surely the best qualifications for any job.
At least, Mr. Robison seems to think so, since he touted those two attributes at the Shepard Boulevard Neighborhood Association meeting (the only one I've seen him at in seven years).
Asked about policy-making experience, he proudly stated that he had none and would hold that record up against anyone else's on that issue.
Asked about his vision for the city, he equally proudly declared that he had none.
Yes, that's a record of demonstrated leadership that we can all envy.
For someone to win against an incumbent, they first must convince voters of 2 things:
1) To fire the incumbent
2) Convince voters to hire him or hire. That he/she is more qualified and can do a better job.
I think Robison fails on both counts, especially #2
I am afraid that he will be manipulated by short sighted money interests who do know how policy works and Robison will be nothing more than a rubber stamp.