John Crawford forms exploratory Committee
Posted by Mike Sylvester - 1/7/10 @ 8:28 pm - Filed Under City Council, Featured, Local Politics
The News-Sentinel has an interesting piece discussing the fact that John Crawford has formed an Exploratory Committee. John Crawford (Republican) was an at-large City Councilman who was defeated in the last election.
I have to admit that there is a lot to like about Mr. Crawford; however, I did not support him in his last re-election attempt for two main reasons.
First he supported and championed the smoking ban that was put into place in Fort Wayne. I strongly believe in property rights and I detest the smoking ban in Fort Wayne.
Secondly he supported the failed Harrison Square Project. The vast majority of those polled in Fort Wayne opposed the Harrison Square Project; however, it managed to pass City Council with a vote of 5 - 4. One of those votes in favor was Councilman Crawford.
The entire article is well worth your time; however, I wish to discuss three of its points:
First is this gem; “Crawford would not have voted in favor of the $27 million Public Safety Academy had he known it would fail to support itself, requiring additional subsidies from City Council.” A lot of private citizens (including yours truly) opposed this boondoggle and correctly predicted that it would not be able to support itself. You can rest assured that if I were ever on City Council I would have opposed spending a huge amount of money whose basic strategy was “build it and they will come.”
Second is this tidbit “Crawford also was a late supporter of the city’s $125 million Harrison Square project, the success of which he said remains unclear.” Councilman Crawford’s vote tipped the scales and allowed what will likely turn out to be the second largest waste of taxpayer dollars (The Grand Wayne Center is likely the largest waste) locally. It is incomprehensible to me that anyone other than Greg Leatherman can possibly believe that the success of the Harrison Square Project remains unclear. The Harrison Square Project is a dismal failute and the majority of this City predicted that it would be a dismal failure.
Third is this fact. Mayor Henry has been a completely uninspiring and ineffective Mayor in my opinion. That being said the only announced candidate on the Republican side is Paula Hughes. If Mr. Crawford were to join the race I would likely support him over the other two likely candidates.
Mike Sylvester
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21 Responses to “John Crawford forms exploratory Committee”
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Dr.Crawford had a grasp on how the city operated like no councilman before.He is one smart person.And for Dr.Crawford to vote his convictions instead of what was popular,the smoking ban,cost him the election.Even though I disagree with that vote I have to admire him for his stance.If he can win the mayors primary he can win the general election.And would be a welcome change.
If he sticks to his convictions, and you happen to disagree with his convictions, that is all the more reason to oppose him.
Robert,
I had a discussion with someone the other day that turned to the subject of a local politician. They said, “oh, I hate him.” It only had to do with one thing the person had done. So I rattled off a litany of votes one at time and my friend agreed with every single vote.
If you have a good viable candidate that you can agree with 75-80% of the time or more, that’s enough in my book to consider them.
I cannot think of a single politician I ever agreed with 100% of the time.
There is no greater advocate of big government and Big Brother than John Crawford. From the smoking ban, to red light cameras, to Harrison Square, when the issue was whether to expand government intrusion into private lives, Crawford answered with a resounding yes.
Dr. Crawford has convictions.Character is what you do when no one is watching.He had the thought at some time about a no smoking ban and if he did not go through with it he would be a hypocrite.How would you feel about a cancer doctor that would not support a ban?I disagree with the ban,it hurt business,but I respect his convictions.This is one smart guy and would be a great mayor.
Mike,
Crawford would be infinitely better than Paula Hughes. I agree with you that it should’ve been obvious to anyone paying attention that the Public Safety Academy was going to require massive subsidies to stay afloat.
Also, while Crawford did support Harrison Square his vote was NOT the one that tipped the scales as the vote was 6-3. Only Schmidt, Smith and Schoaff opposed it…
John Bloom,
How would you feel about a cardiologist who did not support a ban on cheeseburgers?
Mike,
During the summer, everytime I was downtown with 6,000 other people watching baseball in that beautiful stadium, all I could think of was “dismal failure”.
Mr. Green Jeans,
Just because it works as a baseball venue, doesn’t mean it works as a business model. I think Mike’s critism has always been of the way it came into existance, the business model that does not make it self sustaining, and the way it was financed. Each of which is a different argument than whether or not it is a wonderful structure to play and watch baseball 70-days out of the year.
Green Jeans:
You really should have been thinking “dismal failure” at every game you were at.
The City is on the hook for a project whose main portion has not even been built yet; in fact, there is realistically no plan at all to get all of this private investment we were promised.
The old baseball stadium was a bit boring; however, it was paid for. Building a new stadium was just another case of “economic rearrangement.” The new stadium downtown benefits downtown businesses and hurts business near the old stadium.
Anyone who thinks the Harrison Square Project is a success does not understand economics nor do they remember all of the promises that were made by the City and Harrison Square.
Mike Sylvester
Mr.Enders,well I guess the cardiologist would go with his convictions also.And your point is?
Mr. Green Jeans - Many of us who opposed the moving of the baseball stadium feel that you (assuming that your initials are indeed S.T.Jr.)were the most mislead of the six councilpersons who stuck us with this boondoggle! We remember the chewing out that you received at the Local Government Property Tax Control Board hearing because you and king Richard tried to introduce partisian politics into the testimony. This board, by a one vote margin, recommended to Commissioner Musgrave that she allow our local property taxes to “back-up” payments of the bonds that were to be issued to finance the building of the stadium and the parking garage. She did follow their advise and now, with the failure of any private investment at The Harrison plus what is happening at Jefferson Point (where the management seems to be having little ability to keep the venues leased - one is now a BASEBALL CARD SHOP!), it appears we will soon be required to begin using our property taxes to help pay off the bonds.
Does this sound familiar? We now have in our property tax levy an item to pay off the Airport Authority Bonds that were issued to finance the building of facilities for the former Kitty Hawk Airfreight Company at Fort Wayne International.
No, we think the good Doc Crawford should stay with his patients because it appears that he is helping them - he sure didn’t help us stop this total distruction of public trust on this project.
It amazes me to no end when people see a full stadium and a championship team and they assume money is being made and everything is wonderful. They have absolutely no clue about simple economics.
Just dug up a brouchure which is still on the city web site. It says 80% of people believe in redevelopment of downtown. Wow that’s a general question. Plus, it goes on to say, hardball capital is investigating the feasibility of using the field for football and soccer. That makes me laugh everytime I read it. There’s more,could be an indoor waterpark, ice skating, IMAX theatre. A study showed 387 new market-rate housing units per year and 127 affordable housing units per year. Obviously the Zimmerman/Volk downtown housing study was a waste of money. But then again what did you expect from someone who researches housing downtown. Did they really expect it to come back and say that was a bad idea. Kind of like accepting funding for global warming. If I think there is global warming I’m going to get more funding for research. WOW!!
Crawford is a typical politician. He doesn’t agree with something but still votes for it. It gives him an out when he wants elected again. But I’m with most, i’d support him for mayor since so far its a very weak field of candidates.
John Bloom,
Holding certain convictions preclude people from holding certain jobs. A pacifist cannot serve as Secretary of Defense, no matter how much you admire him for standing by his principles.
If Crawford holds the conviction that adults need to be told how to live their lives, then he can best serve the community by continuing his medical practice.
Enders - I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I think I would still rather still be taken advantage of by a dumb guy than a smart guy!
Mr.Enders I feel that no matter what we believe to be right anyone who follows the rules and gets elected or appointed to a posistion is a consitutional right.What we can do which is our right is to vote against that person or the person that appointed them.
Mr.Enders,If a person gets elected he has every right to that office.It is a consitutional right.It is your right to work agaist him.Lets keep all our rights.
Perhaps Dr. Crawford could run for school board and see to it that kids learn proper spelling and punctuation. Don’t you agree, Mr. Bloom?
Anyway, welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. In the interests of sportsmanship, I should advice you that certain browsers such as Google Chrome and Firefox have spell check features. I personally rely on spell check, and I suspect many people who post here do as well.
Yep Mr. Enders I tired to edit my remark which did not work out .My bad .But the point still is If a person gets elected,that is their right.And the recourse is to work against their election,or to vote them out .But everyone has the right to be what they can be in this country still .And if you think you can define who can run for office and who can not.Then you are the arrogant ass that I think you are.
I’ve noticed no spaces between commas and periods. That could be a carbon-based error :)
John, download Google Chrome, it’s quicker and won’t let you ignore mistakes like that. Not that it bothers me.
http://www.google.com/chrome