Getting the Facts Right About Cheney’s Votes of No Confidence
Hi folks!
Election Day is almost here! Be sure to return your ballot to the secure drop box at the Cheney Library (or your nearest drop box) by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. At this point, mailing your ballot is risky due to ongoing USPS delays, and it may not be postmarked in time to count.
I want to take a moment to address some misconceptions that have been circulating—particularly those shared in a recent Cheney Free Press Letter to the Editor by sitting Councilmember Paul Schmidt, published in the October 23rd issue.
Councilmember Schmidt has every right to his opinion about who he believes is best suited to serve as mayor. However, his letter contained a few factual inaccuracies regarding the votes of no confidence he mentioned, and I’d like to clarify those.
It’s true that there have been two votes of no confidence this year. Neither, however, was directed at the current Mayor.
- The first vote of no confidence was issued by all six unions representing city workers—against former City Administrator Mark Schuller. (You can read the full letter of no confidence at the bottom of this post.)
- The second vote of no confidence came solely from the Cheney Police Guild, directed at the Finance Department.
The Police Guild’s concerns are serious and stem from ongoing payroll issues. Guild members have faced repeated problems receiving correct pay throughout the year. Calling this a “minor matter,” as Councilmember Schmidt did, is dismissive and disrespectful to employees who depend on accurate paychecks to support their families.
Imagine the frustration of having to double-check every paycheck, worry about being overpaid or underpaid, and then fight for timely corrections just to ensure your bills can be paid on time. That kind of ongoing uncertainty is exhausting for employees and unacceptable for any organization – especially a city government.
As for the Police Guild’s endorsement of Elsa Martin, who is running for mayor against the incumbent: union endorsements are a common and appropriate practice. Many local unions, including those representing police, fire, light, and teachers, have endorsed candidates in this and past elections.
Such endorsements don’t “compromise” candidates; they signal that the people who work most closely with city leadership believe in a candidate’s ability to lead effectively. Personally, I would be more inclined to support a mayoral candidate with endorsements from local city unions than without. A successful mayor must have the trust and support of city employees—the people who keep our city running. When those employees and their unions decline to endorse the sitting mayor, that speaks volumes.
The Cheney Police Guild has issued a direct response to Councilmember Schmidt’s letter, which you can read below. It’s important that we all stay informed and understand the facts. This is exactly why transparency and accountability in government, especially within our local Cheney government, are so essential.
Official Vote of No Confidence in City Administrator Mark Schuller
