Don’t poke the mayor

You can rule with integrity or you can rule with intimidation. You can be a leader or you can be a bully. Kasson’s mayor, Steve Johnson showed his true colors during last week’s council meeting as he went on a public rant after indicting himself. 
“I made a decision,” Johnson said and continued, “I guess I didn’t follow protocol, but I saved a thousand bucks.”
He then went on to justify himself by a back door apology without an apology. He intimated that though he was apologizing with his words, he was not sorry for doing what he did and would in fact, do it again. “I apologize for stepping out of bounds, but Ronnie Unger, we gotta do what we gotta do,” said Johnson.
The entire issue revolves around the removal of an old park shelter at Veterans Memorial Park. It has been debated by other council members that for this shelter to be removed, it should have been voted on and approved by the entire council. Instead, Mayor Johnson had the shelter removed without council approval and acted upon his own authority, giving a directive to another council member, Coy Borgstrom, to assist in the removal. 
The fact is, the Kasson mayor usurped the authority of the council and made a decision without authorization or council approval. That’s why we thought we had democratic councils set up here in America and right here in Kasson. One man can not and must not go rogue as to the law. There is no justification good enough. 
In Johnson’s decision, he turned the city of Kasson into an autocratic government without representation of the council. That in itself should be enough to call for his resignation or at least, an investigation, a probationary period or disciplinary action.
Instead, someone caught wind of the indiscretion and God for bid, spoke out against this bully. He ranted. He called people “meddlers.” And then questioned where the “meddlers” were in past questionable Kasson decisions. Do you realize what he is saying?
He in essence is saying, “there were other people who did bad things and nobody called them on it, so why am I the one getting caught and paying the price?”
Because, Mr. Mayor, what you did was wrong. Plain and simple. And the haughty attitude to do it again if the situation arises is both dangerous and narcissistic. 
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in a situation like that, in an immediate ‘something comes up’ If someone offers me $10,000 for a donation to the city should I take it or not? Should I pass on it because I’m not authorized to say? What do I do?
“Mayor Johnson saved us a thousand bucks, but he didn’t do it right. So I’m gonna get him in trouble, or try to. Are you kidding me? I was thinking of the best interest of the City of Kasson and that’s all I think about,” said Johnson at last week’s council meeting.
Do you realize the incredibly ignorant weight of those statements? You are saying that you are willing to break the rules for a few bucks. Spoken like a true autocrat. And this is the government we sit under in Kasson? You, Mayor Johnson have got to be the one “kidding.”
“What do I do?” A statement that came from the lips of the Kasson mayor. If a man doesn’t know the rules and regulations of his office, perhaps it’s time he educates himself. And why even ask someone what to to do when in fact counsel is not sought in even the small things? 
Now. It may be a small decision. An insignificant decision. But you took the rights away from an elected council to govern for the people of Kasson. When one man thinks he is above the law, even in insignificant matters, that is not government, that is anarchy.
The mayor got caught with his hands in the cookie jar, and while he was there, someone poked the mayor. The truth was publicized. He got angry and called out a young reporter for doing what she is paid to do. Perhaps it’s time that he start doing what he is paid to do. Or perhaps he needs to do the honorable thing and resign.
The DCI asked for a simple apology. From a supposed leader to a young woman who was belittled in public and not only doing her job, but doing her job very well. Her job was to inform the public. 
A journalist takes an oath to do the right thing. It’s not just a hobby or a part-time obligation. It involves a lifetime commitment with integrity and truth. A story must be reported accurately and timely and the role of a journalist can be that of a watchman. Our position and responsibility to our community as a guardian is to supply the citizens with information. 
There was no apology to our journalist, but in fact, further action as a vendetta was taken against this newspaper by pulling all of his business advertising. A true leader and mediator would have simply apologized and would have shared in humility the lessons learned. But pride captures the hearts of bullies and they not only get mad, but they try to get even – no matter who they have to step on to feel good about themselves. 
We differ. The DCI is not motivated by money in decisions to do the right thing. The right thing here is to expose the wrong – no matter how right the rationalization is. And to the citizens of Kasson, you deserve better.