Joan Bloom, my opponent this year, has released the following statement at MyEdmondsNews.com. I appreciate her taking what I think is an honorable, reasonable, and common sense approach. The Council’s approach, on the other hand, was political, illegal, and reprehensible.
Letter to the editor: A commitment to transparency — period
Editor:
I am for transparency in government — period.
On October 18, 2011, the Edmonds City Council decided to take no action to move forward with an investigation of the Haines Wharf cost overruns. On November 1, 2011, the Edmonds City Council declined to grant DJ Wilson’s request for a public hearing to air the circumstances that led to his censuring minutes later.
I believe that the citizens of Edmonds were shortchanged in both decisions. Whether or not an investigation of the Haines Wharf cost overruns would lead to ultimate legal action against former officials, and whether or not Council Member Wilson’s actions regarding the subsequently withdrawn settlement with a City employee would be deemed profoundly inappropriate, Edmonds citizens have a right to know the thinking that went into these Council decisions. Once again, I believe that responsible governing starts with TRANSPARENCY and, within legal limits, our City government should be moving toward an Open Government process.
In the interest of transparency, I would have supported an investigation into the Haines Wharf cost overruns, and I would have supported a public hearing as requested by DJ Wilson prior to a decision on censuring. I am for transparency in government — period.
Joan Bloom
Edmonds
