June 16, 2008

Ken Johnson lends support to chief operating officer drive

Former -- and future? -- Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson just send this along about the chief operating officer vote tonight:

Ken Johnson announced that he is joining forces with City Councilmen Ken Cockayne and Craig Minor to launch a bipartisan petition drive to put the City Manager/Chief Operating Officer issue on the November ballot.

The Bristol City Council voted 5 – 2 on Monday against a proposal to put the question of hiring a City Manager before the people. A Charter Revision Commission, formed in 2007, recommended the City change the form of Bristol’s City government to include a professional city manager with the title of Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee the day to day operations of the City.

Said Johnson, “For the mayor and four city councilmen to refuse to allow the people who put them in office the opportunity to choose their form of government is the height of hypocrisy. I congratulate Mr. Minor and Mr. Cockayne for having the courage to stick to their convictions and I am proud to join them in a bi-partisan effort to right this wrong.”

Johnson had proposed a package of government reforms, including the hiring of a city manager, as a key cornerstone of his bid for the Mayor’s chair in 2007. He continued to champion the issue even after he fell short in his election bid.

“People are fed up with the way things are run in Bristol and deserve to have their voices heard.” Johnson said. “Our ballot initiative will give people that chance.”

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

? - johnson hasn't felt the same passion on delivering the services that he promised when he screwed the taxpayers out of the $10,000.00 that he bilked the city out of - maybe he'll have an explanation at election time - how convenient - what an abuser.

Anonymous said...

Ken is an opportunist, who clearly has no clue as to how municipalities operate.

Ken is looking to benefit Ken, as he has in the past, sometimes in a questionable manner.

Anonymous said...

Said Johnson, “For the mayor and four city councilmen to refuse to allow the people who put them in office the opportunity to choose their form of government is the height of hypocrisy. I congratulate Mr. Minor and Mr. Cockayne for having the courage to stick to their convictions and I am proud to join them in a bi-partisan effort to right this wrong.”

RESIDENTS SAID "For the Mayor, six City Counselors and past candidates including Ken Johnson to refuse to allow the people who put them supported them or put them in office the opportunity to chose what environment their children will be educated in, but waste efforts in gaining signatures for a vote on having a COO is the height of self serving idiotcy. The residents begged and you refused them. The residents don't care about this mission, yet you choose to pursue it."

Anonymous said...

~ Johnson is accusing the city council of hipocrisy??? What a joke! Perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.

Anonymous said...

? - what shell has johnson finally crawled out from underneath, where has he been since november? Didn't hear from him other than his few political tirades at city council meetings - on second thought, not hearing his self-serving political crap is good - continue to do us a favor and stay hidden ken.

Anonymous said...

June 17, 2008 7:39 AM:

That's his right.

And don't forget, he lost by less than what Ward defeated his Dumb-o-crat opponent by in their primary.

Ken Johnson is relevant.

Anonymous said...

The point 9:02 is ~ HE LOST!!! Now that's what I call relevant!

Anonymous said...

Ken, PLEASE spend your time fulfilling the terms of your contract with the city, which is now way over a year old!!!

Anonymous said...

June 17, 2008 9:55 AM:
(aka) Comrade:

Is the 1st Ammendment relevant?


Go Johnson, Go Johnson, Go Johnson GOOO!

Anonymous said...

Ken is amazing!
With his 2-3-4 businesses (who knows how many?), his acting (on and off the stage) he still finds time to work on a petition.

He couldn't find the time to attend meetings and he doesn't have the time to fill the terms of his contract with the city.

Amazing man, isn't he?

Anonymous said...

Johnson '09

Anonymous said...

He lost, and against a weak opponent.

So far he is 0 for 2.

Three strikes and you are out!

Anonymous said...

Go Johnson Go Johnson Go Johnson Go!

Johnson in 2009?

Jaha!!

ha mycket framåtanda i sig!

försöka få ett visst arbete!!

Anonymous said...

All the world is a stage as far as Johnson is concerned.

Anonymous said...

?- love the heading for this topic "ken johnson lends support..." - ken johnson isn't about to lend anything to anybody - actual fact is that ken johnson is a TAKER, not a lender!

Anonymous said...

8:14

Lenders "lend" because they expect something in return. Johnson is no different. He wants to give a little, very little, to get something much more in return.

Thank the Republican Party for that.

Anonymous said...

11:27am - similar to the snow job that ken johnson gave the taxpayers about getting us rebates from CL&P - he lent us a promise to deliver and got $10,000.oo dollars of taxpayers money for doing NOTHING!

Anonymous said...

Geladino for COO.

Or as T. Doyle put it, COO COO.

Anonymous said...

June 18, 2008 8:14 AM:

No the "takers" are you union leaches

Anonymous said...

"Union leaches"???

It's LEECHES not LEACHES.

... once again, one must consider the intelligence factor.

Anonymous said...

Ken Johnson for COO.After all, he claims he was high level manger at CL&P.

What more do we need?

Oh, he isn't there any more, is he?

Anonymous said...

Is he charging to help in this drive?

Anonymous said...

Can't the Republicans do better than that?

Anonymous said...

He'll "help", but did he sign the petition?

Anonymous said...

Ken is thinking that he will be elected Mayor, and with a COO, he won't have any work to do and yet still collect his $110,000.00/YR.

Good thinking Ken.