Hogan promises to cut non-essential spending if he becomes mayor

[stjr]

I believe Hogan is a member of FBC so you can see where that might go given Yarborough and Redman's examples.  Add the Tea Party, and you have the complete "right" package.

What I am concerned with is that the far right unifies behind Hogan and the others split the moderate vote.  Since you don't need 51% of the vote to win the mayoral race, just the largest number of votes, this is a problem when multiple candidates split a constituency while another doesn't.

Carlucci would have been our mayor had Glover not siphoned off his vote base leading Peyton to election as the sole "most conservative" candidate.

I think at some point, we have to hope that many of the "weaker" candidates drop out and line up together behind a strong moderate player or history may repeat itself.

[tufsu1]

as Stephen has said, sadly that is what is likely to happen....what needs to happen is for 2 of the moderate candidates (say Bailey and Hyde) to get out of the race...then let Moran, Mullaney, and Hogan fight to make it to the runoff.

[urbanlibertarian]

I don't think it's fair or accurate to make assumptions about Mr. Hogan's views based on his FBC membership.  I'm not ready to slap any labels on him yet that he has not chosen for himself.

[Dog Walker]

I want to hear him define what he means by "non-essential".

[urbanlibertarian]

I would define "non-essential" as services that could be more efficiently provided by a private business (out-sourcing) or by a private charity with voluntary contributions.

[tufsu1]

agreed...Hogan's main claim is lower taxes and less government.

but here's the hidden truth about tax cuts that conservatives fail to mention (note the source)...

Greg Mankiw, who was the chairman of George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisors from 2003 to 2005, estimated in 2005 that a broad-based income tax cut would recoup "only about a quarter of the lost revenue through supply-side growth effects."

Mankiw, who teaches macroeconomics at Harvard, referred to people who believe that broad-based income tax cuts could actually raise tax revenue "charlatans and cranks" in the first edition of his textbook, Principles of Economics.

so how will cutting taxes help our long-term budget problems here?

[Dog Walker]

I would define "non-essential" as services that could be more efficiently provided by a private business (out-sourcing) or by a private charity with voluntary contributions.

Yes, but which ones are those?  It could be argued that libraries, which were once a private business then a charity, could be so again.  Private security companies could be contracted for police services in many cases.  That's how it's done in many countries where the public police aren't sufficient or trusted.

Point is that "non-essential" is in the eye of the beholder and I am interested in what he thinks is "non-essential."  Until he talks about that he's just making noise.

[vicupstate]

What I am concerned with is that the far right unifies behind Hogan and the others split the moderate vote.  Since you don't need 51% of the vote to win the mayoral race, just the largest number of votes, this is a problem when multiple candidates split a constituency while another doesn't.

There is a runoff, so it is not possible for anyone to win without 50% plus 1.  I think you are correct that Hogan is going to get the lion share of the far-right vote.  That could easily be enough to secure a spot in the runoff.   Therefore who ever gets the other spot is going to be critical.

I can't claim to have studied Hogan in-depth but nothing I have been exposed too impresses me.  He is the typical 'read my lips, no new taxes' conservative.  He might want to ask Peyton how that worked for him, since he did PROMISED the same thing.  

I don't know of any city that achieved greatness without paying for it.  I'm all for being efficient and economical, but if you want a first class quality of life, you are going to have to pay for it.  Being the cheap alternative in economic development doesn't work anymore, because you can't be cheaper than China, Mexico, India, etc.  You have to compete on QUALITY.        

[brainstormer]

I actually do not want to see taxes cut.  Instead I would like to see the money moved around so that more money is going into quality of life investments that will help spur private growth and make the city a better place to live.  I would like to see streetcar, commuter rail, historic preservation, increased park maintenance, extended library hours, urban core investments, more festivals, etc.  All of the things that are being cut now when taxes are going up.  Cutting taxes is not the answer.

[Timkin]

The Mayor's Salary could be cut.