We read in Saturday's StarTribune that the Mayor's campaign is returning a contribution to Linda Houden from Dor and Associates.
Does anyone else think the proper response would have been for the Mayor to keep the contribution, minus the $125, and disqualify DOR and Associates from acting as facilitator. The new Mayor spoke about "throwing open the doors" at City Hall and yet the first thing out of the box we hear that he has(had) given Linda Houden's name to the former city coordinator and disclosed to her that he knew Linda Houden and would she(the coordinator)hire Dor and Associates and Houden. In the article it was reported The Coordinator was familiar with the firm as they had performed work for the city in the past, apparently several years before, and that she AGREED to hire Houden. As an aside, I am curious to know if the city had made use of the services of other employee assistance firms in the intervening years. The Mayor knows as well as anyone how City Hall works. Early on in the campaign he used to say "I know where the bodies are buried and I'm not one of them." One of the keys to City Hall is purchasing. It's all about MONEY. The only way to know price is through competitive bid. Value is much more subjective. Linda Houden may be good at what she does and the mere fact that she is a friend of the Mayor ought not disqualify or recommend her for the job. Likewise the fact that DOR and Associates had served the city before as a consultant should not affect their hiring one way or the other. It may be a factor in favor or against depending on the judgement of an impartial person. If the Mayor is to hold fast to his promise(foolish in my mind)to "throw open the doors" this is just the sort of thing he needs to end at City Hall. Giving back the contribution just doesn't cut it. If the Mayor won't disqualify DOR and Associates, the City Council ought to do it. Dor and Linda Houden ought to be told in no uncertain terms that they are not at fault. They are just the innocent victim of a blundering administration that's finding it's sea legs. Tim Connolly Continental Hotel __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
