Letter: Compromise is Fleeting if NK's Political Well is Poisoned

To the editor:

In the immortal words of former President Ronald Reagan, "there you go again." I would normally chalk it up to election year politicking; however, it seems like there is no issue, nor no boundary, that Mr. Richard Welch or current Town Councilors Kevin Maloney and Ellen Waxman will go to in these pages and during Town Council meetings that is off limits. For a town that rates quality of life at or near the top of what makes North Kingstown special, I have not read, nor have I heard, one positive comment about our town from these individuals. Let's be clear, the town that they - and we - reside is one in which is desirable to live. Contrary to their belief, we do not have a category five fiscal hurricane on the horizon like other cities in the state. We do not have crime stories that dominate newscasts on the evening news. We do not have the education department putting the town on notice that our schools are failing.

North Kingstown's situation is quite the contrary. We have excellent financial ratings and Councils past and present have positioned us to carry minimal tax increases over the years. We have police and fire departments that are second to none. We have a school department that is consistently rated in the top five statewide each year. All of these, along with quality water, a top-notch public works department, and a beloved recreation program, have made North Kingstown a desirable community in which to live.

Currently, these three individuals are at it again about the hiring of Police Chief Thomas Mulligan as the Town Manager. I have no idea of Mr. Mulligan's political affiliation nor does it matter. I am proud that we have an individual of high moral character, who is competent and well respected, and has the aptitude to run the day to day operations of our town. He is exactly the type of person that we should looking for. His steadfast service to the town over the years in the police department and his work during his interim appointment as manager, showed me that he was up to the job and immanently qualified. Is it his fault that the Council's first choice declined the town's offer because of a current Council member's postings on social media? Absolutely not. In fact, that a Council member would try to undermine the process should be a red flag to anyone watching how certain council members conduct themselves.

I served as Council President during the time of the last town manager search. The process to appoint an interim manager, as well as a permanent manager, was civil and always with the best interests of the town in mind - not the interest of a councilor, applicant, or party. In fact, one will recall that the process spanned the time of two councils - the search and interview process taking place prior to the 2006 election when the Republicans held the majority and the final appointment of the manager taking place after the new Council was elected and seated with the Democrats holding the new majority. The candidate who was identified as the top choice throughout the process maintained that position even through this transition of political majorities. Why? Because of the people and the process. There wasn't a "gotcha" or "one upsmanship" underbelly that seems to permeate among these three individuals. It was an honor to serve with icons on the other side of the aisle such as my late colleagues Suzanne Henseler, Edward Cooney, and Ted Whittaker. We disagreed on issues from time to time but it was never personal. We all worked with the best interest of the town in mind – something Mr. Welch, Councilor Maloney, and Councilor Waxman should try to emulate. Statesmanship is more highly regarded than playing petty political politics.

So whether it is their misguided and irresponsible fight over vacating town hall and endangering the safety of our town employees or the comments and politically driven actions during the town manager search process, this facade of making us think that they have the best interests of the town in mind that Mr. Welch, Councilor Maloney, and Councilor Waxman have created needs to be seen for what it is - a sham. Is there work to be done? Of course there is. However, poisoning the political well and making inflammatory statements and accusations is not the way to foster compromise, create change, or promote economic development. Let's get to the real policy business we elected our leaders to focus on and for which they took an oath of office to carry out. It is time to lead.

Sincerely,
Anthony F. Miccolis, Jr.
North Kingstown
Former Town Council President and Member (2002-2008)