This arrangement was approved by the City Law Department, the Cleveland City Council and most importantly, the people of Ward One.'
Within sixty days, Captain Terrell H. Pruitt, currently serving as the elected Ward One Councilman in Cleveland, will be returning to Afghanistan, where he will begin his second tour of duty.
Prior to embarking to Afghanistan, it is more than certain that Captain Pruitt will be promoted to Major. He will likely be assigned as a battle planner. This job entails devising combat strategies including troop deployments and engagements with enemy combatants. He will be involved in determining where and when battles occur, how they will be staged, and thus, will be involved in deciding how many of the enemy will be killed and wounded, and, unfortunately, how many casualties his team will suffer.
More than likely, Captain Pruitt will be involved in some of these battles himself. This is the reality and the ugly side of war that we do not see from the comforts of our homes.
We write this because we want our readers to understand that Captain Terrell H. Pruitt is going off to war to fight. His efforts will conclude a war that has been going on for ten years; a war where thousands of our best young men and women have lost their lives, or have been seriously maimed and injured.
In anticipation of Captain Pruitt leaving for war, the Cleveland City Council, operating within its rules, arranged for an appointment of a Ward One resident to handle the concerns and complaints of the citizens during the Councilman’s absence. Elaine Gohlstin would have no voting rights, but would receive a $50,000.00 stipend, for the constituent services she would be providing to her community.
This arrangement was approved by the City Law Department, the Cleveland City Council and most importantly, the people of Ward One.
In fact, all the evidence obtained from ward and community meetings indicated that the residents were proud of their Councilman and his devotion to serving his country. They were also satisfied that arrangements were made to make sure their voices would be heard on issues affecting the City and Ward One, in his absence.
All of this was well until the morning newspaper editorialized that this arrangement was not such a good idea and there could possibly be conflicts should a person be appointed to serve Ward One during Captain Pruitt’s absence, providing service to his country.
Instead of supporting the plan that has been agreed upon by the Councilman, the City Council and the community, the City Council immediately folded to the whims of some editorial writer who would not know a rifle from a pogo stick. This surrender was the result of weak Council leadership.
The City Council, the President of Council and the Mayor of the City should, for once, get a backbone and send this man off to war with the assurance that his Ward will be represented, and that his interim replacement will be paid.
