Of politics and obsession
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olitics can produce passion, and that's a good thing.
But politics also breeds obsession, and that's not good. Obsession clouds reason, which leads to foolish actions.
In Ogden, this obsession has led to risible lawsuits to force Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey off the November ballot. The latest suit, spearheaded by political activist Dorothy Littrell, claims the mayor should not be on the ballot because he failed to register his personal campaign committee with the city.
The lawsuit is ridiculous and a waste of time. Like a similar, meritless complaint filed by Littrell against the mayor in September, it will be dismissed. Godfrey's opponent, Susan Van Hooser, and candidates for Ogden City Council have not registered their personal campaign committees with the city. But we never saw frivolous lawsuits against them. Hmmm?
Some of the 61 plaintiffs in the lawsuit say they had no idea they were taking Godfrey to court. They told Standard-Examiner reporter Scott Schwebke they thought they were signing a petition. At least one plaintiff, Robert Cato, of Ogden, wants his name removed from the lawsuit.
In any event, these Godfrey opponents are not trying to win the November election on the merits. Their win-at-any-cost obsession against the Ogden city administration is an embarrassment. We are pleased that mayoral candidate Van Hooser has urged the petitioners to drop the lawsuit. We hope they do. There are far more important issues to debate.
But there is another reason we condemn these political obsessions. This lawsuit feeds into an assumption that many of Godfrey's opponents are motivated by a dislike, even hatred, for the mayor. That assumption is untrue, of course, but small-minded, petty actions by a few, such as the lawsuit, provide oxygen for the stereotype of the "angry, obsessive anti-Godfrey" activist.
And that's not good for Ogden. What the city needs, in this final month of the campaign, is a full discussion of the issues and differences between the mayor and his challenger. There are many points to discuss: economic development, bringing more businesses to Ogden, protecting the environment, the future of Historic 25th Street, the future of the gondola, construction around The Junction, how to most effectively fight gangs and crime, the higher rate of poverty in Ogden, effective community policing ...
Both candidates have distinct ideas on these and other issues. We believe they are passionate about Ogden. We will be listening.
To the obsessives, who chirp foolishly at the edges, we have only contempt.
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