Alex Tyler, Former Speaker And Ex-Senate Pro Tempore, Gbehzohngar Findley Topping List Of Possible Returnees
But What Lies In The Pudding?
PHOTO: Some of the ex-Lawmakers who are trying to re-enter the Capitol Building
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
Top political posts in the Legislative and Executive branches of government, which consume the lion’s share of this country’s national fiscal budget, continue to whet the appetite of a growing number of citizens, with at least 17 percent of former Representatives and Senators in the 103-member Legislature now frantically trying to become Lawmakers again.
A popular adage says, “the sweetness of the pudding lies in its eating.” In recent times, some of the returning legislative contestants have been on record for saying: The Capitol Building is “sweet” and they want to continue “service to our people”; while others claim that those who replaced them in the Legislature have performed worse than they.
It can be recalled that during the 2017 legislative debates jointly organized by the Liberia Media for Democratic Initiative (LMDI) and Public Trust Media Group (PTMG) and held across this country, some 95 percent of those contesting s indicated that the fabulous pay and benefits at the Capitol was one of the key drivers for entering the political race.
In the upcoming October 10 Legislative election, all 73 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs, while half of the 30-member Senate are being contested.
A review of NEC’s official listing of senatorial and representative candidates done by www.newspublictrust.com shows that there are a total of 17 former Senators and Representatives who want to give the Capitol Building another shot at the polls in less than two months’ time.
The bulk of those trying to make a comeback were defeated in previous elections, with the October 10 election becoming their second attempt after being booted out of the Capitol, notably former House Speaker Alex Tyler of Bomi County and a former President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Gbehzohngar Findley.
The list shows that 14 of the 17 candidates now again running to occupy legislative seats in both Houses are in this category–defeated at the ballot box over the past years.
Meanwhile, further review of the final list of candidates shows an additional two former Lawmakers will be running again, increasing the earlier figure to 19. In River Gee County, two former lawmakers, Charles K. Bardy and Toe Chea are trying to reenter the Legislature again. Bardy, a former representative from 2006 to 2017 is now vying for the Senate. And Johnson Toe Chea, former representative is contesting again, having been defeated in the 2017 election.
Former Liberian Lawmakers who are running again (SENATE)
- Alex Tyler- Bomi County
- Gbehzohngar M. Findley- Grand Bassa County
- Gayah Fahnbulleh- Grand Cape Mt. County (Transitional Legislature)
- Victor Watson- Grand Cape Mt. County
- Moses Kollie- Lofa County
- Clarice Alpha Jah- Margibi County
- Ballah Zayzay- Margibi County
- Dan Morais- Maryland County
- Gabriel Smith- Rivercess
- Jonathan Banney- Rivercess
- Charles K. Bardy- River Gee County
Former Liberian Lawmakers who are running again (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)
- Corpu Barclay- Bong County
- Richmond Anderson- Montserrado County
- Edward Forh- Montserrado County
- Kuku Dorbor- Montserrado County
- Rufus Neufville- Montserrado County
- Richard Matineky Tingban
- Sekou Kannah- Montserrado County
- Johnson Toe Chea- River Gee County
Where do they stand on slicing huge salaries, benefits & other policies?
Many political analysts are watching to see how many of the current legislative candidates as well as presidential and vice presidential candidates will sign on to the Social Contract agreement with the Liberian people being promoted by a pressure group led by former Finance Minister, Boima Kamara.
So far, one of them, former Montserrado County District #8 Representative, Rufus Neufville, who is on the ballot for October 10, has publically declared his commitment to sign the Social Contract agreement before polls open.
A Factsheet of the Liberian budget from 2006-2023 released by the group recently shows that the bulk of the country’s resources are spent on the top government officials, with key sectors such as health, agriculture and education literally getting peanut.
According to reports, as Liberian Lawmakers make up to US$12K a month, their counterparts in countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone make US$2,600 and US$1,000 respectively.
See Factsheet below:
