March 15, 2010 - PPM - Political Musical Chairs

This week's PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the revolving door on the Cincinnati City Council.

Another day, another story about how Cincinnati City Council has current members running for other offices or taking other jobs.

Councilman Chris Bortz introduced a motion Monday that would require any council member who files to run in a non-council election to resign within 10 days of filing.

I love the idea, but unfortunately it will never pass because the majority of current council is job searching or job jumping.

My question is this: If you didn’t want to be in that office – WHY DID YOU RUN?

The local politicians are playing a game of Political Musical Chairs. It's the same people, just reorganizing their chairs. When the music stops, every one has a spot: some in elected positions, some in appointed government jobs that weren't available to anyone else (Cole), and some in private industry in jobs that look like a payoff for past deeds (Bedinghaus).

Personally, I think most of the politicians in today’s headlines (local, state and federal), should be limited to two terms.

One in office and one in jail.