First-ever Citizen-generated Initiative Gets On November Ballot

I had the privilege today of being a part of Middletown history: I was present at the press conference where Ed McKeon announced that the Town Clerk certified the required amount of signatures were obtained to get the following Initiative Referendum question on the November ballot.

"Shall Resolution 7-1, as proposed at the January 3, 2011 meeting of the Common Council approving and confirming the appointment of Patrick McMahon as Chief of Police for the City of Middletown, BE APPROVED AND ADOPTED?"

This is the first time a citizen-led initiative question has ever made it to the ballot, a feat which requires at least 10% of the total registered voter enrollment of the City of Middletown as of July 1, 2011 to sign a petition. Ed McKeon and a group of dedicated volunteers spent 8 weeks this summer collecting signatures outside Stop'n'Shop and various public gatherings in Middletown. Of the 2, 437 total signatures submitted, 2,170 were accepted as valid - just 4 more than the 2,166 needed to satisfy Chapter 3, Section 7 of the City of Middletown Charter.

In his statement, McKeon explained why he pursued the initiative in the first place:

I was angry and frustrated (a frustration, with partisan politics, I might add, that is shared by nearly everyone I spoke with who signed this petition). I was angry and frustrated that a qualified candidate for Police Chief, who had performed his duties admirably as Acting Chief, was rejected for the job of permanent chief for, what I perceived to be, purely partisan political reasons. Despite a show of support from dozens of residents and community leaders at the hearings, and little public opposition, the Council rejected Pat McMahon’s appointment twice.Council members said he was qualified, but not a “Middletown guy”, that he worshipped at the wrong church, and was only supported by residents of a single neighborhood, the North End. They said they didn’t like the process by which he was selected. They said that hundreds of anonymous residents, none of whom showed up at the hearing, had told Council members he shouldn’t be confirmed, but without any evidence as to why.

Town Clerk Sandra Russo-Driska was present at the press conference, and publicly stated that she had no dispute with the Initiative: "I determined that this question was in the public's best interest and I confirmed the signatures...this is going to the ballot in November."

McKeon also commented that the Common Council has suggested that "the initiative question, when passed, will only be a symbolic affirmation of the Acting Chief....Members of the Common Council have suggested that the initiative is not binding." McKeon was quick to disagree: "My response is that an initiative, as framed by the city charter, is designed for exactly situations like this, where the public is dissatisfied with the actions, or inactions of the Common Council. The Council is designed to be a representative government, but when the government does not represent what the people want, an initiative or a referendum is the relief that the charter provides."

Mayor Giuliano was also present, and he had this to say:

"I personally think the Common Council hasn't confirmed Pat McMahon because they wanted to have enough influence on the process to have influence on him. They [the eight Democrats on the Common Council] come from a culture where they always want you to owe them." Giuliano also promised that if he's re-elected Mayor and the Initiative is approved by the voters, "I will swear him [Acting Chief McMahon] in....By this being on the ballot it is out of the Council's hands and in the hands of the voters. I won't have to go back and ask permission to swear in the new Chief of Police."

Acting Chief McMahon commented that he didn't ask to be a lightning rod, but that he was humbled by all the volunteers who collected signatures as well as those who signed, and he promised to continue to do his best to serve the people of Middletown: "I'm not from here, but I've made a commitment to this community...I've bought a home and I'm here to stay." McMahon also shared that he believes successful chiefs have to be politically saavy, but quipped "I didn't think I had to run for the position, but now I guess I am!"

Watch the press conference on YouTube here.

Watch Acting Chief McMahon's comments on YouTube here.