Congratulations to Lavonta Williams, the newest member of the Wichita City Council — though the council’s sudden unanimous vote Tuesday in selecting her, after 20 consecutive tie votes last week, raised suspicions about whether all its meetings have been open. Williams should be a strong, knowledgeable District 1 representative and a valuable addition to the council. And as we’ve noted before, her selection appears to be historic on two fronts — the first time the council has had either three women members or two African-American members.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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11 Comments
Congratulations to Councilwoman LaVonta Williams. She was clearly the best choice. I hope that any doubts regarding Mayor Brewer’s leadership capacity have also been laid to rest. With a unanimous, first ballot victory for the candidate he supported last week, I dare say that his influence must have played a significant role. But he also didn’t engage in brow-beating of the other members of the Council, didn’t drag the losing candidates name through the mud, and exerted his influence in constructive ways – tactics that the previous mayor might have used.
C’mon Rhonda. It’s pretty naive to imply that council members can’t have one-on-one discussions outside the public eye and that in doing so, it’s somehow legally, ethically or morally wrong.
This is wonderful news. I still remember the bad old days of the City Commission when they were all white males and all but one of them from east Wichita.
Yes Kev, it’s nice to see affirmative action everywhere. Reverse discrimination and quotas are a good thing.
Making sure there is a token of each color, sex, race, age, etc..is the most important thing in making sure the best candidate gets the job.
Congratulations Ms. Lavonta Williams, may you have success in your new appointment. :)
Let me be one of the first to plug in one of my displeasures in district one.
Is it possible to move faster on the road construction? I mean watching five men stand while one man works is getting a little old. I think they can do better than that. There are too many sidewalk supervisors out there.
Sorry, didn’t mean to spoil the moment and congrats again. :)
“C’mon Rhonda. It’s pretty naive to imply that council members can’t have one-on-one discussions outside the public eye and that in doing so, it’s somehow legally, ethically or morally wrong.”
Ralph is wrong, just like usual.
Have you ever READ the Kansas Open Meetings laws?
If two people constitute a majority of a quarum, then NO, they CAN NOT have one on one conversations about city business outside the public meeting.
The WaKeeney City Council (you know, the one under investigation by the AG’s office) tried to opt out of that by passing some resolution. Fortunately, it has not yet been approved.
And what pray tell, do you think WaKeeney’s elected officials are being investigated for? I mean besides theft, illegal benefits, and nonfeasance?
Bingo. Violations of the Open Meetings Laws….
You cons never met a secret government you didnt LOVE!
I’m in District 1. Will be looking forward to meeting and working with Councilwoman Lavonta Williams.
Williams will be a credit to the district, just as she was before she got the seat.
And despite all the partisan blather, Foster will continue to be a credit to the district as well.
Once again the City Council proves that they cannot have a mind of their own. Brewer is now the official leader of the city council lackeys. All of these people are such a joke.
You had Longwell stating that he would never change his vote. What a joke. There are times that a person will have to be willing to be flexible but it appears that Longwell does not get it. We are stuck with a single minded city council member for four years. He was pretty quick to become one of Brewers lackeys.
“Yes Kev, it’s nice to see affirmative action everywhere. Reverse discrimination and quotas are a good thing.
Making sure there is a token of each color, sex, race, age, etc..is the most important thing in making sure the best candidate gets the job.”
I am a big supporter of affirmative action although not race based. I do think that institutuions should reflect the make up of the community they serve. For years Wichita had a population of blacks, Mexicans and working class whites that NO representation on the city commission or school board. And, as I pointed out, all but one of the commissioners was from east Wichita (one was from Midtown as I recall) which meant that vast areas of the city got no representation. If you lived on the west side and the pool at Aley Park was in poor condition, nobody in College Park is going to give a gay fly about your problems at Aley Park. That is why you need members elected from districts and a Mayor elected at large. That is true represenative democracy.
ksfarmgirl,
your credibility just goes downhill when you blow bull like it’s facts. two city council members DO NOT in fact make a majority of a quorom in the city of wichita. when you have your FACTS right, then we can talk. geez.