In the 1967 iconic movie Cool Hand Luke, the chain gang Captain’s famous quote is more apropos now in Kingman Government than ever before, “What we have got here is a failure to communicate.” As Kingman faces rapid growth, ironically, in the age of technology, this failure has never been more serious and troublesome.
The voice of Kingman's people is undoubtedly more muffled, restricted, and convoluted than ever before, as the list of the city’s problems and issues seems to grow exponentially. It was in the face of this realization that I began my humble campaign for a seat on the Kingman City Council in the last election cycle. As an outsider to the local in crowd and also as a “first run” candidate in Kingman, I was not successful, but my quest to have the voice of the Kingman people heard has only begun.
In listening to more than a few lifelong residents, I have been told in Mohave County the tradition has been to “shoot-the-messenger” rather than address the message. Mohave County has a rigid, subtle built-in edict “Hear no evil, see no evil, and Heaven Forbid” SPEAK NO EVIL”.
For many months, I earnestly initiated and advocated the idea of a true Kingman Townhall Meeting, navigating every roadblock and spike strip the city threw in my pathway, but to no avail. Again, I felt as if I was watching another MOVIE, this time the 1992 blockbuster “A Few Good Men”, where Colonel Jessup screamed, “You can’t handle the truth”. I’m a patient man, as are the people of Kingman, but I am sick and tired, saddened and disappointed in the Kingman City politics that caters to Business and Industry before the breathing heart and soul of our people.
For months, I pounded the sidewalks, door to door, in many Kingman communities, gathering the required Petition Signatures to become an eligible candidate on the ballot. During that process, I not only learned but also embraced the will of the Kingman people. I declined many invitations to speak at the local Republican forums because the election to the City Council is and should be kept a nonpartisan process. After much consideration, I acquiesced and made several appearances, only to be told I would not be included in any forum vote for a recommendation because I was only seeking a two-year council seat. My original instinct was correct, the in-crowd-Kingman-establishment fears nothing more than a candidate who listens to the people and will not cater to their rule. It appears they make the rules as they go to best serve their chosen special interests. The voice of the Kingman people should be heard loud and clear in all matters of City Government, yet at every junction, your voice is being stifled.
I need your support to stop that suffocation. We are living in the real world, not a film or a movie set. The Kingman City Government might as well be Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 movie Full Metal Jacket shouting, “I can’t hear you”. Sadly, I have come to learn the hard way, City Leaders would rather not hear you because that interferes with misusing the illegitimate General Plan (like a steamroller and your blank check) in their relentless, irresponsible, uncontrolled growth on a failing infrastructure. The results of their economic development hallucinations are intense urban density and urban sprawl, higher taxation, higher utility rates, and a higher cost in all ways to the people. Kingman is overdue in writing a new script and a new storyline in real life and in real-time.
If you think the city needs a new hearing aid because they don’t seem to hear you, please contact me at chalew@gmail.com. I have formed an ongoing and growing group named CAUSE (Citizens Against Uncontrolled Social Environment). WE are gearing up for the next election cycle. The man on the street in Kingman seems to feel that all currently serving incumbents must be replaced with new city leaders who will serve the people as their first interest, rather than the status quo special interest stakeholders who continue to control everything in our city. The city of Kingman and its good people are not like movies or actors, but we do have the most important role (voice) in how our city should be managed. We WILL change and rewrite the script, and new city leaders will hear your voice, will be forced to handle the truth, and the failure to communicate will end. Kingman can thrive as a city that is guided by its people. Balancing growth with infrastructure is an essential responsibility of city leaders and will bring us to the happy ending the Kingman real-life script deserves.
CAUSE (Citizens Against Uncontrolled Social Environment) chalew@gmail.com