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June 21, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 20, 2004 Our View The answer is simple: Win the political game It's politics, not little league - and that is a very big difference. In politics, everyone doesn't get to play. Those in power pretty much try to hog all the spots in the lineup to thwart their political opponents. It's not fair, it's often not nice, and frankly it's the American way. When people use the phrase, "there's just too much politics here," rarely are they talking about politicians. It's an implied understanding that political maneuvering outside of politics is unappealing, even shifty. But politics is, by definition, skillful partisanship, public spin and legislative dealing designed to win the battle or vote or whatever the case may be. That's politics. At the end of it all, it's up to the voters to decide who was better at the political game. Politics is what Mayor Alan DeBoer did last week by not re-appointing Colin Swales to the planning commission. Plain and simple. Civics 101. DeBoer simply used the power that was given him to thwart his political opponent. It likely had nothing to do with Swales' ability or performance. It likely had nothing to do with whether DeBoer personally liked Swales. It most likely had to do with Swales opposing many of the things DeBoer wanted to get done. DeBoer doesn't hide his motivation. He candidly says he ran for mayor to champion projects that he believed in, and push them through. Swales also is not reserved about his views. To his credit, he openly advocates his opposition to many of these projects. We doubt anyone would say Swales was a biased member of the planning commission. He rarely, if ever, missed a meeting, has a sharp knowledge of the law and is passionately interested. Once his duties as a planner were done, he was equally passionate about voicing his opinion on projects as a resident of the city. To his credit, he recused himself from the Sid DeBoer home proceedings, because as a neighbor he was biased and planned on opposing it. So everyone's playing the game of politics right now, and playing it rather well. DeBoer made his move and bumped Swales. Now it's Swales and his backers' turn. It's our guess they will be heard tonight at the council meeting. It's our guess they will have plenty of shots to fire the way of the mayor, and those who are in his camp, as we head toward the coming election. For us, we prefer having guys like Colin Swales as members of the planning commission, or even the city council, for that matter. In a non-political world, we think DeBoer should have reappointed him. But we can't fault DeBoer that he didn't, because it's politics. Plain and simple. Now it's time for Swales to fight back, say, as a candidate for mayor? Because at the end of the day, we, the voters, get the chance to decide who has won this latest political game. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams