Karson and Coolican 2010 Census Count Committee

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Being the only one on the dais who was overtly playing politics, Commissioner Scott Maxwell wondered why everything had to be political…”let’s get rid of the politics here,” he said.

The Mayor, in true political form himself, decided to vote with the minority by staying true to his personal belief-- following city policy thus eliminating both bids for minor infractions. His objection was done in such a way that politics did not appear to enter into his decision. In his own way too, he threw the City under the bus for politics.

Early on in the meeting regarding the 2010 Census Proposals by Annabeth Karson/Shauna Coolican and the CRB Board, Maxwell wanted to eliminate both bids as they were “non-responsive.” In actuality, “non-responsive” involved minor infractions to the RFP. All the Dozen smiled back. He made a motion that died for lack of a second. He brought the same thing back later that fell on dead ears. All the Dozen frowned. He gave up the entire City of Lake Worth by playing the political card.

It didn’t matter that this census means a lot of money to the City of Lake Worth to get it right or $1,300 per resident. The reason why the City Manager hired Annabeth/Shauna to begin with a few weeks ago was to ensure success. The political Dozen got in the way just to have that hire sabotaged and hijacked. And they were in force last night, chatting the entire time from the back row. Even the Mayor had to remind them that their conversation could be heard from the dais.

The reason why they were unhappy with Annabeth was her access to a lot of information that she would be compiling on the City’s behalf. As she is a political activist (an actual requirement for this position), they did not want her to have that information at her finger tips for her future political candidates. Commissioner Jennings threw that argument off the radar when she pointed out that it was all public information and anyone would be able to obtain it.

It’s always a sad day in Lake Worth when you have citizen volunteers such as Annabeth, Shauna, Mark, Carla, and Herman who have to go through a public interrogation such as last night. You would have thought they were applying for a $100,000 a year job when in fact the bid was for $26,000. Both groups held their own but it was clear, Annabeth and Shauna were highly qualified and the most prepared. It was also made clear that the CRB would have Sunshine Law problems and would have to meet in a public meeting on any and every decision whereas Annabeth/Shauna could confer minute by minute in the decision process. As this position should have been filled last Summer, we need someone of Annabeth’s proven capabilities to move this forward. It will take someone of her organizational talents to complete this job for the benefit of all of Lake Worth.

There never was anyone else from inception. Last night never should have happened but because of politics that Commissioner Maxwell deems abhorrent, Karson and Coolican, as well as the public, had to endure the most public and humiliating grilling, (most coming from Commissioner Maxwell) that I have ever seen in Lake Worth. Both groups stood their own with dignity and class but in the end, the team of Karson and Coolican, on a 3 to 2 vote, got the job they should have had two weeks ago.