Mayor of Montrose

Target by the radical Left

Montrose citizens elected a new City Council in April.  They voted for change - conservative agenda.  One of the candidates elected, Michael Badagliacco, campaigned on change including: 
(1) moving city elections to November; and
(2) returning authority over the Police chief to elected officials, i.e. City Council.   
Mr. Badagliacco was elected by the new City Council to serve as Mayor.

One of the new Mayor’s actions was his proposal for charter amendments for the November 2026 ballot that included the aforementioned items.  He ran into opposition by the minority on the Council and by a small citizens group who wanted a non-elected body to determine if the proposed issues should be on the November ballot.  This only delayed the matter and now this same group is crying foul by claiming the Mayor is rushing through the ballot initiatives.  The resistance is overlooking the fact that the ballot initiatives could have been part of the City Council’s outreach since April, which would have provided the voters six months to review and inform themselves whether to vote yes or no.  Despite the delay, the voters still have plenty of time to be informed since the Council is holding meetings on each proposed item.  In fact, three months:  August through October for the voters to decide before November.

Our new Mayor was not elected to do nothing, retain the status quo, or delegate responsibility to a non-elected body.  Unfortunately, the Mayor’s rightful actions have raised the ire of the opposition that some are now calling for his recall.

The message is quite clear by the local Deep State.  We do not accept the election results, i.e. Election Deniers (same thing is occurring against our School Board elected last November) and we demand you adhere to our demands or else will threaten you with a recall.  A recall should only be executed if an elected official has been found guilty of unethical conduct and/or committed a crime.  Otherwise, if you do not like the record of an elected official, then you have every right to vote them out at the next election.  That avenue is the legitimate course to take and is democratic, but not a recall just because you dislike the new leaders or disagree with their policies.

These “election deniers are opposed to:

(1) Moving the City Council election to November, which would SAVE the Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars.

● Cost of a coordinated November election is $5,000 - $10,000

● State pays 40% of a coordinated November election cost

● Stand-a-alone Spring Election average cost is $25,000 - $30,000 with no State assistance

● Stand-a-alone elections have a 25%-35% voter turnout compared to November elections in an odd year with 40%-50% voter turnout, and 60%-87% during an even year.

● November coordinated elections result in a far greater voter turnout that represent the “will of the majority”.

  (2)  Returning authority of hiring and firing the Police Chief to a joint decision between the City Council and City Manager.

● Police Chief being held responsible by the citizens via elected officials known as the City Council.  Example of representative government.

● Removing the non-elected City Manager, a bureaucrat, from this sole authority, which was only granted in 2014.  He/she would still have daily administrative duties.

● Note:  Nationwide most Police Chiefs are hired/fired by Mayors and some by City Councils.

Individuals that proclaim to be pro Democracy are actually anti since they advocate the status quo of retaining authority and power with a non-elected official.  Ironically, many of these individuals also support the “defund the police” movement.

The opposition claims the new City Council is destroying all the good by previous Councils.  Let’s review that “good record”:

(1)  City’s long term term has gone from $6.5 million to well over $100 million

(2)  Failure of previous councils to create a raining day fund for capital projects

(3)  Favored tax breaks for a few chosen business owners, but not others

(4) Taj Mahal new Police Building

(5)  Still NO routine police presence on Townsend Avenue - daily drivers race down the avenue and/or run through red lights

(6)  Failure to provide a pedestrian overpass for Tortilla Flats “Hispanic” school children

(7)  Excessive compensation for the City Manager:

● $230,00 salary to manage a town with a population of 22,000.  $120,000 - $180,000 is far more appropriate for the size of Montrose.

● High-end vehicle for his personal use at taxpayer expense.

● Full benefits for the City Manager and his family.

Voters you will have a choice in November that the opposition wants to deny you from exercising your Constitutional right.  You can vote yes or no on the Charter amendments, but at least you will have the right to do so as voters.

Ken Konkel

Montrose