Is “Who You Know” Hurting Our Town? The Impact of Special Interests and Incumbency

 Is “Who You Know” Hurting Our Town? The Impact of Special Interests and Incumbency?

In a town like ours, we take pride in being a community. We see our neighbors at the grocery store, cheer for the same high school team on Friday nights, and attend the annual summer festival. But when it comes to the decisions made in our town hall, do you ever get the feeling that not everyone’s voice is being heard?

It often seems like the same familiar faces are making all the important calls. A troubling aspect of local politics, even here, is the emergence of a kind of “stealth cronyism.” It’s a quiet understanding where only those who align with established leadership or conform to the prevailing groupthink truly have a seat at the table.

This isn’t just about bruised egos; this environment has damaging and corrosive effects on our community. It can stifle small businesses, raise our taxes, and change the very character of our town for the worse. Let’s examine how these dynamics play out right here at home and what we can do to build a healthier political future for our community

                         The Big Fish in Our Small Pond: Local Interests and Incumbency

          On the national stage, we hear about massive corporations and powerful lobbyists. Here, the scale is different, but the dynamic is strikingly similar.

1. The Power of Local “Special Interests:

In a town of 20,000, “special interests” aren’t faceless corporations. They are often well-known figures: the most prominent real estate developer, the owner of the most significant local business, or a long-standing family with deep roots and substantial financial resources. Their influence isn’t always in big campaign checks. It’s in sponsoring the Little League team, sitting on the hospital board, and having a personal history with everyone on the planning commission.

When a significant zoning change is proposed or a new development is up for a vote, their voice inevitably carries more weight than that of the average homeowner who might be concerned about traffic or property values.

2. The Decades-Long Incumbency:
We see it on our own town council or school board. The same individuals are elected term after term. This isn’t always a bad thing—experience can be valuable. However, the “incumbency advantage” remains powerful, even in this case.

A. Name Recognition:** They are a known quantity. Everyone knows their name, making it difficult for newcomers to gain traction.
B. The Network:** After years in office, they’ve built a network of relationships. They know who to call to get things done, and many people feel they “owe them one.”
C.Apathy:** Often, local elections have low turnout. Many voters simply check the familiar name, assuming they’ve done a decent job, without scrutinizing their record.

This creates a cycle. The influential players in town support the incumbents who have always looked out for their interests, ensuring those same officials have the resources and support to win reelection.

Stealth Cronyism: How Groupthink Hurts Main Street

This is where the problem becomes personal. In a small town, going against the grain is hard. A council member who wants to ask tough questions about a new commercial development might be labeled “anti-business” or “difficult.” A new candidate who suggests a different approach to the town budget might be dismissed as naive for not understanding “how things are done around here.”

This is **stealth cronyism** in action: a system that quietly rewards conformity and punishes dissent. The result is a culture of groupthink where fresh ideas are smothered before they can even be debated.

The consequences hit us right where we live:

A.Undermining Our Local Economy: Does our town’s leadership actively seek out new, innovative small businesses, or do they craft policies that benefit the established players? When the same group makes all the decisions, they tend to protect the status quo, making it harder for new entrepreneurs to compete and thrive on Main Street.
B.Harming Our Community’s Character: That new subdivision that was pushed through without adequate planning for schools or traffic? The zoning variance that allowed a big-box store to build on the edge of town, hurting local shops? These decisions often occur when council members prioritize pleasing a well-connected developer over listening to the legitimate concerns of their neighbors.
C. Poor Solutions to Real Problems: When genuine debate is discouraged, we end up with lazy solutions. Instead of finding creative ways to revitalize downtown, the answer is always “more parking.” Instead of addressing the root causes of rising property taxes, we receive across-the-board cuts that harm essential services, such as our libraries or parks.

What Can We Do? Taking Back Our Town Hall

Breaking this cycle starts with us. It doesn’t require a national movement; it requires engaged citizens who care about the future of their hometown.

1. Show Up:** The most powerful tool we have is our presence. Attend town council and planning commission meetings. It’s harder for officials to make a bad decision when they have to look a roomful of their neighbors in the eye.

2. Ask Questions:** Read the meeting agendas posted on the town website. If a proposal seems off, ask questions. Ask who benefits. Ask about the long-term costs. Email your council members or speak up during the public comment period.

3. Support Independent Candidates:** The next time a local election comes around, look past the familiar names. Learn about the challengers. Are they running to serve the community or to join the club? A new voice, free from old allegiances, can break the cycle of groupthink.

4. Get Informed and Inform Others:** Talk to your neighbors. Share articles from the local paper or post on community Facebook groups. The more people who understand the issues, the harder it is for decisions to be made behind closed doors.

The “who you know” system thrives on our silence and apathy. By being active, informed, and courageous participants in our own local governance, we can ensure that our town’s future is shaped by the many, not just a connected few. Our community is worth the effort.

Join Milford’s only Taxpayer Alliance Facebook Group and be a part of the change we need to flurish. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/milfordactnow

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