Sorry about that last post - sent before I wrote a thing.
I did want to say.... that the SW Journal article provides some very useful information for the public to know about issues they should understand. It is my hope that as the mayor's Ethics Task Force completes its work on re-writing the Mpls. Ethics Code that work will continue on Campiagn Finance Reform at the City level. I know that our initial plan, as part of the transition team, was to form another group to focus on recommendations in that area. Plans to do so are already underway at City Hall. I hope to also be on that working group. Any and all comments from list members in that area are welcome. I also wanted to share my sense of pride that the two Park & Rec. commissioners who are/were Green Party endorsed, Annie Young and Dean Zimmermann, did the right thing (IMHO) when they did not take contributions from Mr. Rice. It takes some sensitivity and skill to see where a conflict of interest might be apparent or potentially apparent and to avoid that. Vivian Mason should also be commended, along with Annie and Dean, for declining to accept the contributions. My sense (and hope) is that the trend is turning towards erring on the side of higher ethics and that as time goes on both contributors and candidates will become more and more sensitive to how conflicts of interest, apparent or real, ought to be avoided. I suspect that in the next campaign even more of the commissioner candidates, will be inclined to refuse contributions from employees and those contracted to do work for the Park and Rec Bd. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Rice, and others in simlar roles, also rethink the wisdom of offering them. Having a media willing and able to shed light on these issues, and a public willing and able to learn about them, is a big help. Cam Gordon Seward Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Ward 2 SD 59 (612) 332-6210, 296-0579, 339-2452 _______________________________________ 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
