Impeachment is turning into a tool of impatient

Bare with me as I tell a story from my past.
While living in a community of about 400 in the early 2000s, I was asked by a group of citizens to run for the town’s board of alderman.
They hadn’t had a contested election in years, and wanted to see some new ideas and a different perspective brought to the City.
I consented, and knocked on a few doors to introduce myself to the few people who didn’t already know me and share a few ideas I had. In a town of 400, my campaigning lasted about three hours.
Regardless, I ousted the incumbent after receiving about 80 percent of the vote. I think he was the happiest guy in town, and I’m not sure he was kidding when he told me he voted for me.
Anyway, I followed through on my “campaign promises,” which included proposing the first sales tax in the community’s history. Voters approved it overwhelmingly, and to this day, it still provides more than half of the city’s funds for street repairs and replacement.
But, as surprising as this may be, I wasn’t exactly popular with the Council. I was argumentive (shocking), and demanded the Council follow the letter of the law regarding full public disclosure.
I voted against frivilous spending, and frequently found myself on 3-1 votes.
That was fine. I knew I was doing what the public wanted, and if I wasn’t, they’d vote me out quickly, as my term was just for two years.
But that wasn’t fast enough for my fellow Council members. One day, in violation of the state open meetings law I so ardently forced them to adhere to, they met with the City Attorney to discuss how I could be impeached.
The reason offered was I was too disagreeable.
The City Att-orney ess-entially told them too bad. Unless
I had done something criminal, or incredibly unethical, they had to live with me.
Fast forward to the present. Iowa’s incoming House Ma-jority Leader, Linda Upmeyer, has announced she’s considering seeking impeachment charges against four Iowa Supreme Court justices who approved the controversial case legalizing gay marriage.
Three members of the court were voted out last November, presumably because of the ruling, and the other four will have their turn before the voters as well.
But Upmeyer may not want to wait. The coals are hot, and with a Republican-controlled house, there may not be a better time to strike, unless of course the GOP takes control of the Senate in 2012.
Iowa’s constitution allows for impeachment of judges for any “misdemeanor or malfeasance in office.”
While the judge’s ruling clearly is an unpopular one, labeling it as malfeasance is a ridiculous stretch.
As much as I hate to see judges voted out on a political issue, impeaching them for the same would be even worse.
Incidentally, after the winds of impeachment cleared my political career, I was re-elected the next year with an 82 percent margin, and all three of my fellow councilmen, and the mayor, were voted out.
So be careful Ms. Upmeyer. That impeachment bug can turn around and bite you.
Gregory Orear is the General Manager/Editor of the Red Oak Express, and he can be contacted at publisher@redoakexpress.com.

The Red Oak Express

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Red Oak, IA 51566
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