Civic Reform in Blaine

Under the six-year reign of Mayor Steward, the system of governance in Blaine was altered in order to concentrate power in the city manager, the city hearing examiner, and the city attorney working as a cabal to change the Blaine Municipal Code to undermine public participation and oversight of public officials and to facilitate backroom deals with developers. The systemic failure that now describes our dysfunctional local government--leading our community into bankruptcy, and soon the judicial nemesis due to violating the civil rights of Blaine citizens--was manufactured by Mayor Steward, Blaine City Manager Mike Harmon, Blaine Community Development Services director Alex Wenger, and Blaine City Attorney Peter Ruffatto. When we form a civic reform group in Blaine, independent of the city government, and reach out to state and federal agencies for assistance in restoring the rule of law to Blaine, we can start a new beginning for Blaine where citizens are welcome and valued at city hall.

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