In my years on KISD?s School Board and now as a City Council member this is a question I have frequently had to consider. {{more:Read more …}}When faced with an important issue it is natural for those in leadership to become strongly invested in their position. You seek out information that supports your position. You surround yourself with others who share your position and you embark on a plan to ?win? others over to your position.
Typically the longer the debate rages the more invested and intransigent we become. As a psychologist I understand this is a normal process of debate and politics. Unfortunately as we frequently see in our national politics, this process is not always conducive to compromise and problem solving.
Let?s consider our community?s current conflict over water rates. Our City Council enacted Ordnance 589 early this year to rectify a shortfall in our water fund. As those of you who attended our last city council meeting heard, the Council freely admits this was too aggressive an approach. Most of us also stated we should have (1) elicited more citizen feedback before enacting the ordinance and (2) should have done a better job of noticing our citizens regarding the increase after it was passed.
Speaking personally, it is not always easy for me to admit I made an ill-advised decision or mistake. It is made even more difficult when some of your opposition?s rhetoric has been highly personal. I for one like to be right and I want to ?win.? But in a situation such as this I have to ask myself, ?is it more about being right and winning or what is best for the community? or simply put ?When does my desire to win actually become a loss for the community?? It was in this spirit at our last council meeting that, although we denied the citizen?s petition on advice of legal counsel, we also placed repeal of Ordinance 589 on our September agenda.
We are now being criticized on two fronts. One side believes we should have held our ground and should not have compromised. They believe we are ?caving? to a group of people who have insulted us and want to roll Kennedale back to the 1970s and 1980s. Meanwhile, the other side is still angry because we aren?t going about solving the problem in the manner they demanded. If we aren?t saying and doing what they want us to say and do then we aren?t listening to our citizens. Although both side will probably disagree with this observation, it looks like winning has become their most important goal.
I would like to appeal to the majority of Kennedale citizens. Those who may or may not support the water rates but care more about solving the problem than pushing their particular position or appealing to their ?core? supporters. We have a new committee looking at this issue. It is made of up of good people, all Kennedale citizens, who want to find a more acceptable solution to this problem. They have been asked to give their recommendations to the Council during the September meeting. Let?s give them a chance. I do not have a clue what they will propose. Like you, I will be waiting to hear what they bring us. Meanwhile, I have no doubt that those who want to ?win? will continue their rhetoric. But I beseech you, the majority of Kennedale residents; let us not let a few people?s focus on winning lead to our community losing.
Thanks for your for consideration,
Dr. Mike Walker
