To the editor:

In the Nov.8 edition of The Messenger there is an article about the special election petition filed to fill the City Council seat vacated by Neven Conrad.

In the article Richard Higgins is quoted as saying, “I just feel that the city is telling us that we’re putting so and so in whether you like it or not,” and a few sentences later is quoted as saying “What the city should have done was pick me or Brooke to fill that seat,” Mr. Higgins seems to be talking out both sides of his mouth regarding the way the city filled the council vacancy. In one quote he doesn’t like the city determining who will be appointed to the council, but a few sentences later he wanted the city to appoint himself or Brooke Bickford to the role. I would ask Mr. Higgins this “Had the city appointed you (Richard) to the vacant seat would you have demanded a special election?” Is it me, or is this petition a little self-serving? You can’t claim the right to the appointment when it works in your favor in one breath, and in the next breath call for a special election because the appointment was not in your favor.

Let us not forget that this special election could cost $20,000, and that’s if there is no primary needed. If a primary race is needed the cost would double. To me, the casual observer, it looks as if Mr. Higgins is crying over some spilt milk, costing the city at least $20,000. Mr. Higgins, is this the way you would lead our city government, crying foul when you don’t get your way? If so, you don’t deserve a seat at the table. As a man that has campaigned, multiple times, in the past on the way the city spends money and preaches about people on fixed incomes you have just cost the taxpayers $20,000-$40,000.

Mr. Higgins, I hope you are able to address this hypocrisy when you actually campaign for the seat. I, for one, look forward to hearing your explanation as to whether you wanted an election because the people deserve an election, or did you want this election because you have lost multiple elections and you think you are entitled to the seat?

Mya Kersten

Fort Dodge