Ever want to grade your local town councilor? How about a member of the school committee? Better yet, what about those that represent you up at the State House in the General Assembly and State Senate?
As we lead up to the 2012 Elections, North Kingstown Patch is taking a look at our local and state politicians and how well they've served their constituents over the past election cycle. For this "Report Card," we're asking North Kingstown's constituents to do the grading.
In our poll below, we have grades ranging from A to F. (Sorry, no B+ or C- grades in this poll.) We'll tally up the votes and, using a calculation, will determine a final grade for each politician.
This week, we're grading Town Councilor Chuck Brennan to start things off. Brennan, an Independent, was elected to the council in 2010. Brennan voted against the controversial 24-hour shift for firefighters this past year. (Click here to see more of what Brennan has done in the past two years.)
For Brennan, one term on the council seems to be enough. The former North Kingstown police officer will not be seeking reelection this fall.
How would you grade Chuck Brennan as a town councilor?
Voting will close on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. We will post the grade on Thursday, Aug. 16.
This poll is meant to assess a politician's performance as a public servant and elected official. Comments veering from the aforementioned topic and/or focused on a politician's personal life will be deleted. Name calling, masked profanity, threats and defamatory/obscene statements are prohibited. Read our Terms of Use for more information.
JB
8:35 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Rate the NK Town Council and School committee members individually on their performance? What a great idea for a running column! Can't wait to see the poll results and comments for some of these folks.
E
10:03 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
OOOOO Samantha! This is a great idea! What better report card to learn how these folks measure up in the public eye? Certainly essential for the voter who wants to educate themselves for the elections! :)
NKfamily100years
8:41 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Chuck did well. I wish he was a bit more vocal though. I can not wait to rate Charlie Stamm. Can you say big fat F
Matt Leonard
10:50 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Chuck should be thanked for his service to our community. He is not running for office and I would hope Patch would rate issues rather than individuals.
Midlife Momma
4:44 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Good Point, Matt Leonard.....I was thinking the same thing. Why rate a person who is not running for re-election? Thank those who have served but are not running again at the very least.
Patch should put those that are running again: Hueston, Dolan, Welch, Avanzato, etc....BEFORE those who are not running at the very least........
E
6:56 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Midlife Momma - yes, excellent point! However, public opinion about ALL who have served in recent TC and SC positions could be a valuable tool for Nov. candidates seeking a seat on one of these committees.
Matt Leonard - above the report card grades, Samantha included a disclosure stating that all TC or SC members need to be assessed on job performance, (arrived at by rating one's handling of issues crossing their desk), rather than personal entanglements or what have you. I am sure, as always, PATCH will carefully screen inappropriateness. I see no problem with this, as long as they follow the protocol they've outlined.
NKRI Transparency
4:55 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I'd rather rate Dolan and Hueston..
Stamm won't see this cause he is already back in Florida by now
NKGOP Watch
9:43 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
Oh yeah? HOW WOULD YOU rate those two "pickled beasts" of NK cabal politics?
JB
10:12 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Which town council or school committee member will be next for grading? Just curious
NKGOP Watch
11:28 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
That would be nice.
E
11:42 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
This initiative seems to be a bit slow getting off the ground. I was hoping this was going to be a weekly blog in order to read about how local politicians fare in the public eye before elections in Nov. Still plenty of time to pick up the pace......
JB
12:24 am on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Why hasn't another elected town official been subject to a "report card" yet? am I the only one wondering?I thought this was going to be a great way for everyone to rate the performance of the elected and it seems I wasn't alone. So far only Chuck Brennan has needed to "face the music". Doesn't seem fair, especially to Chuck who by all accounts including the report card did a good job and isnt even running again.
It just seem strange that nobody else has been subjected to being graded. hopefully the intersts of those that don't want to face the music haven't played a role in the vanishing of this article. I cant think of another reason to break it off. Maybe if enough people feel the same way we can call it "back by popular demand." Then again I just got back so you could say the same about me lol!