Yes, former City Councilman Scott Malsin found himself in the fortunate position to make a decision that was best for himself and his family. But what about his responsibility to his extended family, the community who elected him to be a city leader and trusted him to fulfill and complete his sworn duties as our City Council member?
Once Bitten…
Mr. Malsin chose to turn and walk away from those responsibilities, or at least, some supporters say, step aside for awhile — for a lifetime monetary advantage. Do they really think the community would ever trust him again?
Taking the High Road
Some will say he took the high road for choosing to protect his family. Others see it as the low road because he decided to turn his back on his community, shattering their trust in not fulfilling his sworn responsibilities. To me, it just looks as if he took a short cut to the bank, smiling all the way.
The American Way
After all was said, I am surprised Scott even kept a straight face all this time as the drama played out. As if he would have done anything else but to take the money and run. Isn’t that the American way?
Mr. Malsin has made his decision. Now he must live with it.
Voters May Have Their Say
I hope he does decide to run for the Council next spring. Then local voters will have a chance to express their disappointment about the choice he made by either re-electing him or not. Some say he will run again and that we should re-elect him. Re-elected or not, he will be receiving the benefits anyways. Heck, while in office, we would see him working for it. At least, he would be earning his keep.
Valuing Councilman’s Worth
But the final cost of his decision to us, the local taxpayers, still is yet to be determined. It could be $200,000, $300,000, or even more than $400,000 if he lives to a ripe old age. This begs the question, “How much is a City Council member’s service worth to the community?
Time for an RFQ
Instead of having candidates run for office, maybe voters should have the city put out a local RFQ for the position and have voters select from the top five offers.
We Earned It
Sitting on the Council can be demanding at times, but it is not exactly indentured servitude. Candidates choose to run. They glad-hand the public for the two or three months of campaigning to get elected. Now we know one of the local long-term benefits behind why they actually go through it.
Healthcare for Life
This is a lavish, leftover perk from the Good Old Boys Club from way back when what now has been publicly aired is being changed locally in these times of austere state budgeting—hopefully, for us taxpayers, it will never raise its ugly head here again.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
