Thursday’s Coeur d’Alene Press online carried an online article headlined
Nepotism rule enforced. The story stated that three part-time City workers had been fired from their City jobs because they are related to incumbent Council member Ron Edinger. Edinger is running for re-election against challenger Adam Graves. The article included this statement, “[City Attorney Mike] Gridley said he began researching the statues [sic] after Adam Graves, Edinger’s lone challenger for Seat 1, asked about the familial rules.” Comments to the online Press article indicate that statement led some people to believe that Graves had made his inquiry to gain some political advantage over Edinger. (Note to Press editor and publisher: It’s not a rule, it’s a state law. There’s a difference.)
A subsequent online Press article headlined Graves fires back at Edinger offers challenger Adam Graves’ explanation for his inquiry to the City.
The one fact that seems indisputable from both Press articles is that City Administrator Wendy Gabriel (shown above left), City Attorney Mike Gridley (shown above right), and City Human Resources Director Pam MacDonald have for many years been unaware of the state statutes regarding nepotism. Or so they claim. City Administrator Gabriel is an attorney. City Attorney Gridley is an attorney.
Oh, please! The state’s nepotism law isn’t some arcane, incidental law that has only occasional application in public employment. It is impossible to believe that these three highly-paid and well-educated City employees were unaware of this law until Adam Graves asked about it. Their specific jobs required them to be aware of this law. If they were not aware of this law, then the public must also be concerned that they were unaware of other relevant laws governing municipal business. Those laws would include contracting laws, land use (e.g. zoning) laws, equal employment opportunity laws, and the various laws of public corruption.
These three City employees (Gabriel, Gridley, and MacDonald) deserve to join Edinger’s three grandchildren in the unemployment line.
No,Gabriel, Gridley, and MacDonald held back for an occasion such as this. “Ron, either keep in line or we will just have to pull out the stops.”
I talked to Ron a few years back about the way the city was heading and there is no doubt in my mind that he wanted to speak up sooner but he feared this type of behavior from the rest of the city council. I understand that it is not an excuse BUT the guy did have good intentions. Just an excuse? I personally do not believe so. I feel he is a victim of circumstance just as Mary conveniently lost her place on planning.
Comment by concerned citizen — October 13, 2011 @ 4:34 pm
Sorry, I have to add,
Either you play, or you pay, in CdA.
Nice little rhyme don’tcha think?
Comment by concerned citizen — October 13, 2011 @ 4:36 pm
I think City Attorney Gridley has accumulated sufficient OJT (on the job training) to assume the position of Attorney General Eric Holder. He’s got enough experience to run the next “fast and Furious”.
Comment by Ancientemplar — October 14, 2011 @ 9:37 am
Ron has been uncomfortable with many council decisions but has always given his approval as part of the team. However, finally, his passion for McEuen Field tested that team relationship. This is a huge “wakeup call” for Ron. Will he return to serve his community as elected? Will he help clean house? I think he will!
Comment by LTR — October 14, 2011 @ 7:16 pm
LTR,
Good observation. The “team” in “team relationship” you mentioned may not be the Council members. The “team” may be a very dishonest mayor and council member and some local developers intent on screwing over the city for their own benefit as they’re heading for the exit. It is entirely possible that Edinger simply could not tolerate seeing his city plundered in that way. I’d say that to the credit of many of the other non-incumbent candidates, neither could they. There are quite a few people in Coeur d’Alene who are capable and committed to serving their neighbors honestly, diligently, and competently, and it’s time to give them an opportunity. There are some unelected city staff members, including some department heads, who need to be replaced as well.
Comment by Bill — October 14, 2011 @ 7:34 pm
Bill I agree with you but I do believe that adam graves may have been a hand pick by the mayor, council members, LCDC and/or developers that you speak of because they fear their web quickly unravelling. It may be best for Ron to stay and complete his task and restore his name. Even a drug agent has to be a drug dealer to infiltrate the gang before the take down. Hopefully Ron can win along with Dan and others that can make the difference.
Comment by concerned citizen — October 14, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
Bill,
Ron has been facing many storms within his personal life lately. Storms do cause us to think about the past, present and future. I believe that Ron has this wonderful chance to right any wrongs, as he lives out his final chapter serving the community.
I totally agree with Concerned Citizen regarding Adam Graves. He is young enough to be brainwashed by city hall regime.
Comment by LTR — October 14, 2011 @ 8:29 pm
concerned citizen and LTR,
Almost seven years ago I wrote a Whitecaps post titled Corrupted or Co-opted?. It explained that there is little difference between the methods used by intelligence services and those who want “own” public officials when they spot, assess, recruit, develop, coordinate, and control people.
There is little difference between handling human intelligence sources or agents of influence and corrupting public officials. My OpenCdA post on August 20, 2011, titled Of M.I.C.E. and Men clarifies the way people can be controlled, regardless of whether the people are human intelligence sources, agents of influence, or corrupt public officials. The processes are usually subtle, beginning first with innocuous acts. That seemingly accidental or spontaneous first contact develops from a casual association to a binding relationship over time; it is evolutionary, not revolutionary. At some point the person being developed finds himself or herself ensnared. Escape from the snare will come with a very high price.
Comment by Bill — October 15, 2011 @ 6:54 am
“Escape from the snare will come with a very high price.”
After conversations with him in past years, I DO believe that Ron has been trying to “escape from the snare” the past 6 – 7 years. I personally feel he could not see a clear way out and McEuen was the icing on the cake. Shouldn’t we give him the chance along with Dan and Steve to clearing his name, set things right and bring some common sense back to local government?
Comment by concerned citizen — October 15, 2011 @ 7:47 am
concerned citizen,
To your last question, yes, and he can do that equally well as a former elected official should he be defeated in the election.
I do disagree with your feeling that he could not see a clear way out earlier, though. All he had to do was speak up and vote his conscience. If he felt something was not in the best interest of the City and all its people, he had not only a right but an obligation to express his reasoning and then vote accordingly. Expressing a different view and reasoning and then voting accordingly is respected by the people who elect our officials — or at least it ought to be. We elect a mayor and six council members, not one rubber stamp.
Comment by Bill — October 15, 2011 @ 8:01 am
Bill,
Does that mean you are willing to take a chance on adam graves that is obviously a plant by the head nodding group that currently occupy city hall?
Comment by concerned citizen — October 15, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
concerned citizen,
It means that if I don’t believe either candidate is qualified for the position, or if both are disqualified by virtue of their deficiencies, I won’t vote for either.
Comment by Bill — October 16, 2011 @ 6:52 am