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The 7-day pre-general campaign finance report submitted to Coeur d’Alene City Clerk Susan Weathers by the Washington State Council of County and City Employees was informative as much for Weathers’ “Note to File” attached to it as for the information it contained about who is contributing to Sayler’s, Bruning’s, and Edinger’s campaigns.
Weathers blames Secretary of State Ysursa for once again providing “misinformation” to people trying to follow Idaho’s election and campaign finance laws. Shades of the 2009 City election.
Didn’t Kathy Sims make the same mistake when she filed with the SoS office a few years back? And wasn’t she hounded by the City and liberal bloggers for months because of it? So much for a level playing field.
Comment by Dan — October 30, 2011 @ 11:29 am
Unions supporting Democrats? No, not credible.
Comment by justinian — October 30, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
I don’t have an issue with the unions supporting Democrats. That’s predictable. But out-of-state unions for a local race?
Comment by Dan — October 30, 2011 @ 1:07 pm
Birds of a feather. Out of state money is unseemly in a city council race. Legal but unseemly.
Comment by justinian — October 30, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
a liberal is a liberal is a liberal is a liberal above all else. No matter what the boundaries or positions.
Comment by Ancientemplar — October 30, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
Out of state money from individuals is one thing. But out of state PUBLIC UNIONs sending money to influence our local elections?…there’s something very wrong about that!
Comment by mary — October 30, 2011 @ 4:23 pm
There’s another add-on for our Presentation this Tuesday evening! Remember: 6pm, American Legion Hall on 4th street, right across from Capone’s.
Comment by mary — October 30, 2011 @ 4:25 pm
The Washington State Council of County and City Employees is affiliated with AFSCME International, which represents 1.4 million workers. I don’t know if it is still the case, but in the past the Lake City Employees Association was also affiliated with AFSCME, so at least there is a connection there. LCEA is the largest of the city’s three associations, representing everyone who is not a firefighter, policeman or who is exempt (department heads.)
Comment by JohnA — October 30, 2011 @ 5:11 pm
What do you mean, “exempt”, John? Are department heads part of the city employees’ union? Are they covered by the contract? And why, if one of the three unions (city employees, fire, police) get a raise, they all end up getting a raise…why is that?
Also John, was Dan Dixon, as a police lieutenant, covered by the union contract?
Comment by mary — October 30, 2011 @ 5:52 pm
Department heads are ‘at-will’ employees who worked under contracts with the Council when I was there. In those days, their employement was subject to approval by the Mayor and Council. The statutory officers (Treasurer, Clerk and Attorney) have additional protection under the Idaho Code that other department heads do not. Since we were exempt, we could bargain with the associations on behalf of the Council, which I did when I was at the city.
Generally, the bargaining agreements are fairly similar, and most employees receive the same COLA increase each year.
I’m not sure about Dan Dixon. Unless he was exempt, he would have been a member of the Police Assoiciation.
In any event, I believe in the employees’ rights to bargain, and I support the effort as it gives the Council a chance to sit down and hear from their workers about issues important to them. I don’t think Coeur d’Alene’s employees are overpaid as a result of the associations; rather, I think the trust between the employees and their elected officials is enhanced because of the process in place at the city.
Comment by JohnA — October 30, 2011 @ 9:23 pm
According to the Washington State Council of County and City Employees website, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is in its District 9 and is represented by Robin Ricks of Local 433.
Comment by Bill — October 31, 2011 @ 7:48 am
Please John A. correct me if I am wrong…..
The departments leaders who are exempt still receive the same wage increases that each employee association receives including any changes to benefits.
Comment by LTR — October 31, 2011 @ 10:45 am
Mary,
The employees would seek financial help to keep in the same council members who have generously given good pay increases and who do not support down-sizing the workforce.
Comment by LTR — October 31, 2011 @ 10:49 am
John A:
City of Cda. employee benefits cost the City a certain percentage to keep them employed such as medical, dental, holiday and birthday pay for days off work, City’s portion paid into PERSI, ID employee insurance, and other incentives that are related to each persons employment. Do you recall that percentage? Is it about 30%?
Comment by LTR — October 31, 2011 @ 10:59 am
LTR, as I believe department heads are under contract, I’m not sure if they receive the same COLA increases. That used to be the case before the city went to contracts with its department heads (during the reign of terror known as Mayor Judy.)
I don’t recall the fringe benefit cost but the PERSI site may help you with that. I know employees contribute to PERSI from their pay as well. Overall, I don’t recall that the benefit cost was out of line with other entities.
Comment by JohnA — October 31, 2011 @ 11:08 am
Are the contracts with the ‘department heads’ public records?
Comment by Joe Six-Pack — October 31, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Compensation for senior executives is often shrouded in mists and often extra-legal methods and structures are used to avoid disclosure. Foundations, special entities and districts are sometimes used as the contracting party for goodies. One obvious example was the Tote -a-Vote contracts with Danny Boy. Deals with firms owned by family members are another cute trick.
Comment by justinian — November 2, 2011 @ 7:13 pm