Readers have ideas for leaders for 2010

Raleigh's acorn dropped with the expected flourish Thursday night, and 2010 is here - with all its promise of new beginnings and unwasted days.

Triangle Politics has assembled a list of resolutions for local politicians, courtesy of readers:

"The money they decide to spend is ours; it doesn't belong to them. They need to not spend that money frivolously on projects protecting their power, but on community concerns affecting our concerns," Scott G. Hall suggests.

In Durham, Jeff Hamilton wants city and county leaders to "stand firm against developers. Don't listen to the threats; do what is right for the people who live here and for the long-term future."

And John Schelp, also of Durham, wants local officials to keep Durham's billboard ban and not allow electronic billboards' blinking, rotating ads to hover above city streets.

Start public meetings with a preamble or oath to remind elected officials that "they are held to a higher standard, and one that will be witnessed, recorded and evaluated by their friends, family, community and future generations," offers Howard Udell of Cary.

We'll see what's easier; adopting some of the resolutions or joining a gym.

Game for a rematch?

Phil Jeffreys, a Raleigh Republican who served one term as a Wake commissioner from 2002 to 2006, wants another shot at office. Jeffreys, 72, announced this week that he plans to challenge Democrat Lindy Brown for her seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners in the November election. Brown unseated Jeffreys in 2006.

Jeffreys, a conservative who was known for frequent votes against spending for projects, wants to see the county's departments examined from top to bottom to evaluate how well public dollars are being spent to help county residents.

"I'm just old, and I'm set in my ways and like to see things work for people," he said.

What to call a what?

If you've never had to deal with an LME, you probably don't know what one is.

A "local management entity" is a local government agency that manages services for people with mental-health, disability or substance-abuse issues. People in the field talk about LMEs constantly because they do vital things - not providing direct care, but making sure that people who need help get the services and support for which they're eligible. A network of public and private providers deliver the services.

But the name LME is so uninformative that Wake County is holding a contest to pick a new label for its, you know, LMEs.

This is no small matter, so there's a $50 lunch gift certificate at stake.

Get involved, and maybe fed, by entering via e-mail to lmecontest@wakegov.com or calling Jonica Hinton at 212-7351. The county also will publicize the contest with posters, entry forms and drop boxes in libraries and buildings that offer services from the, umm, deal that needs a new name. Deadline for entries is Feb. 28, and the winner will be announced March 31. Learn more about how the agency works at www .wakegov .com/lme/ .

Political trail

The Harnett County Democratic Men's Club will gather at 7 p.m. Tuesday to attend an election board hearing about changes in precincts. For information, contact Peter Strickland at 639-8541. The club usually meets the first Tuesday of every month at Howard's Barbecue.

Compiled by staff writers Sarah Ovaska and Thomas Goldsmith.