We have lost two legendary figures
Let me say at the outset that I do not like to give advice, especially to elected officials and candidates who are running for office. In fact, I have gotten to the point where I don’t like to give advice to anyone. The reason: No one ever seems to take it.
But here I go again. This is blanket advice, which I believe is needed and should be heeded. As a political journalist, I often need to talk with elected officials and candidates. But here is the deal. Often times, it is almost impossible to get in touch with them. On their websites, you have to jump through hoops to send them a message – or they list the number for the governmental entity on which they serve where they are never there. An office or home phone number is seldom given.
I’m not the only one frustrated by this lack of access. I receive many calls from readers who have problems, but can’t get in touch with their elected officials to lodge a complaint or obtain information. Perhaps it’s the age of websites, email and cell phones we live in today. If you are fortunate, you have met one of these officials and have the cell phone number to make contact – if they were willing to give it to you and answer the phone when you call.
The other side of that coin is this. If they do make a phone number available to you, the problem is you usually get an answering machine and, therefore, have to leave a message. But I have heard from many people who say they never get a call back. For 29 years of my life, I have worked for elected officials, and returning phone calls is the bread and butter of the job – if the elected official wants to stay in office. Today, answering emails also fall into that category.
Not all elected officials and candidates are guilty, of course. Some are very accessible. And I, probably more than most, understand that being in elected office – or running for one – is difficult and challenging these days. But no one forces a person to run for office, so if you do and get elected, the responsibility is there to deal with your constituents.
On another subject, I get many calls and emails from people who want to know how an elected official, when term-limited with one government entity, can run for office for a different one. Well, that’s the way it is, but I don’t like it, either.
Perhaps the most notable of this practice is with state legislators. A member of the Senate and House can serve three consecutive terms before being term-limited. That’s 12 years. But once term-limited in one of those governmental bodies, he or she can run for office for the other one. In other words, a term-limited senator can run for the House, and a term-limited House member can run for the Senate – without having to sit out any time. Some say it is a loophole in the term-limits legislation, but perhaps it was purposely written that way.
The same occurs at the local level. For example, a term-limited city councilman – who can serve two consecutive terms, which is eight years – can run for the Caddo Commission, where the term-limit is three terms, which is 12 years. And, as you would expect, term-limited commissioners can run for the city council. The school board has no term limits, but should have.
There are different schools of thought on this. Some say these elected officials should have to sit out the equivalent of one term before running for another office. Others contend the final decision lies with the voters – that they can elect whomever they want to office. But what you will find is that newcomers to the political arena who want to serve are reluctant to run against someone who has been in office, has name recognition, and has garnered the support of other elected officials and has the ability to raise money.
It reminds me of the situation with Congress. Polls show that approval for what Congress has done and is doing is barely in double-digits. Yet, voters seem to believe their own member of Congress is doing a good job. Consequently, 95 percent are re-elected, and we have the same group back that had the low approval rating. But no one ever said that politics and good sense good together.
Finally, I must end this column on a sad note. We lost two good friends recently with the passing of former Bossier City Mayor George Dement and noted journalist Wiley Hilburn.
Dement was one of the most decent human beings I have ever met, and he sure did put Bossier City on the map during the 16 years he served as its mayor and leader.
Hilburn and I were in journalism grad school together at LSU. He was unique and one-of-a-kind. And a brilliant writer and motivator of aspiring journalists as head of the journalism department at Louisiana Tech University. His columns are legendary for their originality and insight. My thoughts and prayers are with both families during this sad and trying time.
Lou Gehrig Burnett, an award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be reached at 861-0552 or [email protected].
