It is easy, even in vogue, to be cynical about politics and government these days.
The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal has put the country through a tawdry, nearly yearlong sexual soap opera that has soured people on the entire political process and made them hate the media even more than they already did — if that were possible.
We just went through an election where less than half of those eligible to vote actually did and many of the offices went to the highest bidder, that is, the pol who could raise the most campaign money.
Some of Gov. Paul Patton's top advisers and campaign workers have been indicted for breaking election finance laws. The former mayor of Williamstown is in jail on charges of knocking off a couple of banks. Democrats throw it down with Republicans. Republicans battle with Democrats.
No wonder the public gets turned off.
But sometimes, the system works. Sometimes, the people rise up and speak, reminding the politicians and government officials of the meaning of words such as democracy and republic.
And when it happens in places like Crescent Springs and Fort Wright, it makes it all the sweeter. Because there are times when the little folks can win.
Remember earlier this year, when Crescent Springs City Council meetings looked like a big-time wrestling match? Angry residents would show up at meeting after meeting with plenty to be mad about.
The council tried to push a nursing home, city park and city building on the residents, many of whom didn't like any of the plans the elected officials were offering.
Then, in a deal that looked more cooked than a holiday ham, Mayor George Stewart resigned and Councilman Ken Robinson became mayor. Mr. Robinson and a council majority then hired Mr. Stewart as the city's first full-time administrator.
That gave the citizens even more fodder for their protests. They didn't want an administrator, and they certainly didn't want Mr. Stewart.
Well, on Election Day, the voters ran out Mr. Robinson and the four council members who backed him. The new council, led by Mayor-elect Claire Moriconi, ran on a ticket of restoring trust in city government and bagging Mr. Stewart.
Mr. Robinson and the lame-duck council may have pulled a fast one Monday night when they beat the new council to the punch and fired Mr. Stewart. The outgoing mayor explained he knew Mr. Stewart was going to be fired next month anyway.
But by firing Mr. Stewart now, it looks as if they guaranteed him a $22,000 severance that the incoming council was going to fight.
Even with Mr. Stewart going out the door with some city money, he is still going out the door. That's what the people wanted. And that's what they got by going toe-to-toe with council for months, and then showing up on Election Day.
Just up Interstate 75 in Fort Wright, some city council members seemed to have forgotten their civics lesson about representative government.
There was talk of renaming all or portions of Kyles Lane, the major east-west artery. So council, in a show of good government, sent out a survey and asked the residents what the new road should be called.
The survey came back with a 2-to-1 majority supporting keeping most of the road named Kyles Lane.
So council, in a show of lousy government, did the exact opposite, voting to change the name to Fort Wright Parkway.
“I couldn't believe it,” said newly elected council member Dave Hatter, the top-vote getter in the Nov. 3 election. “The people spoke, they told us what to do after we asked their opinion, and most of the council completely ignored them.
“What happened to representative government? What happened to a government for the people?” asked Mr. Hatter, who voted with the people and against the name change.
The people didn't take it. They showed up at meetings and sparred with some members of council. The residents then collected petitions, posted signs of protest in their yards and contacted reporters.
Wisely, the council plans to relent. It's expected tonight to reverse the earlier name change.
“We're not opposed to a name change,” said Lee Stauber, the Fort Wright resident who confronted council, then circulated petitions to protest the change. “But they didn't listen to the people. That's what upset us.”
Sometimes, the system does work.
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Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
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