The fall 2021 issue of The Alabama Municipal Journal has been released and features an article entitled The Foundational Components of Human Resources, written by Davis Cooper and Katrina.
Alabama boom town Madison is over-controlling its image
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
By Michael Sheehy
“Men (representatives) of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages (votes), and then betray the interests, of the people” - James Madison
We purportedly live in a representative democracy, where citizens elect officials who represent citizen interests, ideas, and concerns in the exercise of political power. That sounds really great, empowering even. But how is that truly holding up in local municipalities like Madison?
Let’s start with the suffrages. In the fall, Madison citizens voted a district council representative (also council president) out of office in favor of a different type of leadership for the city. Yet promptly to follow, the mayor appointed that individual as city administrator. Wait, what!?! Is that honoring the citizens’ wishes, or is that flipping the prove