This is what iks me with all the griping about elected officials' salaries. A salary boost is like what, a 100th of one percent of the annual budget? Meanwhile, a REGULAR person, say a teacher or whatever, can't afford to take one of these positions, even assuming they could raise the money to get elected in the first place. So we end up either with wealthy (typically self employed) folks or those otherwise unemployable. What this city needs are folks to run for office with succesful careers with large corporations, which is exactly what the city is.

Posted by JohnnyDee | reply to this comment
April 14, 2008 3:07 pm

Scott, thanks for asking the question. And I now have more questions: Now that the Council has voted to increase the pay of members 24%, will that be enough for Ms. Boling and Ms. Emerald? How do they feel about the pay increase versus the cuts the City is making elsewhere in the budget? How would they vote on the pay increase issue? Should Council members vote their own pay increases? How many of the current Council members "moonlight" in their outside businesses? If so, has their outside work affected their performance? Again awaiting answers. Thanks in advance for your research.

Posted by Jennifer | reply to this comment
April 15, 2008 6:53 am

No NEW clients or business? Or no clients or business?

Posted by JF | reply to this comment
April 15, 2008 3:40 pm

Johnny Dee, you make a great point. Raising Counsel salaries is not something anyone thinks sounds good, but all you'll attract is super wealthy or destitute idiots. And for those in the middle who do get elected, trying to support their families on $75k a year, may be tempted to boost their income or line up a plumb private job once out of office, thereby creating conflicts. Department heads in the City all make over $100K, as do many deputy directors, deputy city attorneys, etc. Let's face it, it's interesting when your "boss" makes half of what you do. Still, I think if the City were not such a mess, there would be sufficient support for a pay raise.

Posted by Rock On | reply to this comment
April 18, 2008 12:51 pm

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