[council] Council wide Nominations are closed - Part 2 Each House determines a Candidate

[William Drake]

Hi Philip,

On Oct 16, 2009, at 9:55 AM, Philip Sheppard wrote:

> A right to a secret ballot is fundamental to any robust system of  
> democracy.
> That this body is even considering such a denial is of great concern.

I guess it depends on what your concept of the polity is.  Are we a  
group of individuals who only act for ourselves based on self-interest  
and convictions?  If so, then a secret ballot is indeed a matter of  
right.  Or are we the elected representatives of communities that send  
us to engage in a quasi-legislative or regulatory activity?  If so,  
then we are accountable to those communities and our actions should be  
transparent to them and to all others who are effected by our  
decisions.  Either way, we are not engaged in something akin to  
private lobbying.

I'm an elected representative, and I have an obligation, and indeed a  
right, to state in public where I stand on this and any other council  
issue.  And I believe I have a right to know where other legislators  
stand as well.

Do you occupy a different kind of position?

Cheers,

Bill