Who could be against an "elected mayor"? That would be like opposing the "penny tax", right? Well, would it? NO, they are far different. Neither, however, was/is what they would seem to be!

Actually, the "penny" was really a percent, far, far different than a "penny", and the "elected mayor" is not just a mayor but also a seven member commission, if you read the fine print, costing the city a reported $250,000 per year - just to begin with. Why we have to be lied to to get our support always amazes me!

While the commission is expanded, should the amendment pass, the "super majority" is weakened, 5 out of 7 votes (71%) instead of 4 out of 5 (80%) so the developers have a 9% increase in their power to railroad things through. Cute.

The amendment itself is short on details. The duties of the new elected mayor are sketchily described but what is there gives this new officer vast power. If the new "elected" mayor is on your side you are going to win! Guess who's side the new mayor will be on?

And who is behind "Elected Mayor Now"? "Concerned Citizens"? You will look long and hard to find out who the "Concerned Citizens" are on their website! However, Creative Loafing has published their names. Well, I guess if real estate developers are "Concerned Citizens", yes. Why these real estate developers are always so interested in what can only be called "welfare for the rich . . ."

Michael Shelton is one of the organizers, an attorney who regularly funds revolutionary causes, Drayton Saunders, a real estate broker and his mother Michael Saunders - these three have funded 81 percent of the effort to pass this life-changing initiative. The problem with the revolutionary causes these folks are always behind is that generally each project they support is balanced on the backs of ordinary folks, who always have to be lied to to get their confused acquiescence.

The tactics have been reprehensible. To begin with, when the signature effort timed out with not enough signatures being gathered, the time period was just extended - more than once.

The proponents who are out shilling this thing are world class arm-twisters who run their mouths at you until you agree with them just to get your composure back. The intellectual sleight-of-hand also shows in the deliberately confusing media, out of context quoting and juxtaposition of images from the past such as "No Boss Mayor - Vote Yes".

"No Boss Mayor" was the slogan of the group who opposed the last elected mayor effort. Using that slogan with "Vote Yes" more than implies that a "Yes" vote is against the current proposal, it's not.

Well, is it "yes" or "no" that opposes it? A 'No" vote will oppose the measure. Although I supported the measure being on the ballot, I will vote "No".