Nerditorial: The County Council Election and Time Management

Time is the school in which we learn,
Time is the fire in which we burn.
- from "Calmly We Walk Through This April's Day" by Delmore Schwartz

I got my Basic Training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. And like most people who served in the military, I learned some of the most important lessons in everyday life in Basic Training.

There was some task that I didn't complete in the allotted time and a Drill Sergeant asked me why I didn't complete it.

I said, "Drill Sergeant, I didn't have enough time."

I don't remember the task, and I don't remember the Drill Sergeant's name, but I will never forget the response.

"Private," the Drill Sergeant said, "you make enough time."

Decades later, the wisdom of this advice has born out for me more times than can be easily counted.

There is never enough time to do what needs to be done. Time must be managed carefully.

Which brings me to Tony Larson...

Here is a link to a statement made by Mr Larson that was recently posted on The Fourth Corner.

An exerpt from that statement...

...
Campaigning while continuing to run a business and spending time with my family requires a lot of juggling. I knew that when I decided to run. It sometimes means schedules conflict and I'm not able to say yes to every invitation. ...

Wrong answer.

Jean Melious, Tony Larson's opponent, has a full time job, is raising a family, and serves as the Chair of the Planning Commission.

These commitments make an extraordinary demand on Ms. Melious' time.

Yet, somehow, she has found a way to make time to meet with, speak with, and listen to the public at large. This includes segments of the public that are unlikely to be voting for her.

Jean Melious has demonstrated that she can manage her time in a way that places a high priority on the public at large without compromising her private commitments.

So far, Tony Larson has not demonstrated an ability to achieve this balance. The public at large has come in dead last on his list of commitments.

I see no reason to believe that his time management skills will improve after the election.

I need someone on County Council who can make time for me.

Jean Melious has demonstrated that she can make time for me. Tony Larson has demonstrated that he can't.

I'm voting for Jean Melious.