Council, students locked in chess match
It would seem as if the chess pieces are moving again in City Hall, and, yet again, it would seem that students are the ones in danger of checkmate. This last Tuesday the city council had an open work session concerning a new law some members of our city council would like to see implemented: The age requirement for running for a council position moved from 21 to 25, and mayor from 25 to 30. It would seem that a select few members of our council wish to try and put this law on the books, with the hope that a more “mature” group of individuals would be the only ones able to obtain a leadership position here in Milledgeville.
Now, maybe it’s just because I consider myself a “mature” political participant in the Milledgeville arena, (and possibly because I’m only 22), but this type of move not only strikes me as a direct attack against student’s rights in the political participation process, but it also reeks of self-motivated use of political power.
Maybe it’s because students (who normally are between the ages of 18-25) make up a third of this city’s population and are on the cusp of having real representation for ourselves. Maybe it’s because I think some members of our council are still feeling the effects of almost being defeated in the race for their position by a GCSU student and are trying to lock in their control in time for the next election. Or maybe it is because the timing of this process happened to begin on Spring Break and will most likely end in vote in the summer, when the majority of students are “by chance” out of town. Maybe it’s because of all those reasons that I am 100 percent against this type of legislation. Maybe.
Whatever the reasons I may have, I consider this move not only non-representative of students’ needs as citizens, but also quite tasteless. In my mind, political leadership should be chosen by voting adults who vote for those with like-minded qualities. Unfortunately, very soon those with similar qualities to me and all students will be excluded from political participation because we just are not “mature enough.”
I know right now every student reading this column is saying to themselves, “Surely this will not pass.” Unfortunately, I’m afraid it most likely will. If my theory is correct, no amount of “political participation” is going to stop this one. Now, I don’t personally believe the whole council is for this law. If I had a lick of sense, I’d say that Councilman Mullins and Councilwoman Shinholster would be in opposition to this law. But, on the other side of the coin, I would most assuredly bet Councilman Vance, Councilman Chambers and Councilwoman Walden are gung-ho for this to go through. That still leaves Councilman Morgan, who can be counted on to consult his district to see what they wish. He might vote for it, bringing it to pass, or he might not. Unfortunately, even if he does vote no, that still leaves Mayor Bentley to cast the final vote. Looking at the Mayor’s track record so far, I don’t think he would hesitate to side with those for it.
Now, that’s only my theory. Take it or leave it. Trust me, I would love to be proven wrong. Nothing would make me happier then seeing that our representatives actually appreciate us as “mature” citizens and not a monetary commodity for this city. But if I had to put my money where my mouth is, I’d say… Checkmate.
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Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 6 2007. Filed under Opinion.
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