The vote belongs to the people!

It is pointedly clear that local, and even state, votes belong to the contributions elected officials receive toward their campaign, as well as personal influence and perks.

This is especially troublesome for city-level government since the localities should belong to all residents – not a few outside/inside persons or entities who have the funds to make decisions that are detrimental to the community as a whole.

Political reform is necessary since it is obvious the majority of representatives are not here to represent their constituents.

Campaign contribution cap – the amount expended on campaigns vastly exceeds the salary of the elected. If they are truly here to represent the people – they don’t need to purchase influence, since actions and integrity are free.

Conflicts of interest – current financial disclosures are insufficient to detect the true extent of self-dealing. They must be made readily accessible without request, and include detailed interests in shell companies and mutual funds.
Furthermore, campaign contributions in excess of a set amount must disqualify the elected from casting votes wherein an interested party, and/or that party’s agents, are involved.

Personal accountability – codified waiver of sovereign immunity when an elected official ignores the majority of residents in favor of a minority interest, and the residents suffer damages due to that official’s deliberate actions which resulted in negligence.

Majority vote – a system wherein the councilmembers are actually representative of their constituents as a whole, and not the few. Constituents must weigh in, and the councilmember is obligated to vote with that majority they represent.
Even appointments to boards are filled with money and influence – not the majority of citizens. Every single individual who is “appointed” or “elected” to a position wherein they are representing the residents of this city, as a whole, needs to be appointed by the majority of citizens they are making decisions for.

Transparency and open government – closed-door meetings need to be either eliminated, or recorded wherein the minutes are released after a specified amount of time.

Know who contributes to local and state candidates. Campaign contributions are part of a pay-to-play schematic that keeps politicians elected serving the interests of their contributors.