On the three-month anniversary of his historic resignation from the City Council, to protect full and continuing lifetime healthcare benefits for him and his family, Scott Malsin ironically will be in Council Chambers tonight at 7 to see his old teammates on the City Council debate ending medical benefits upon leaving office.
Only Mr. Malsin, a candidate in the April 10 election for returning to the Council, believes he sniffs a motivation that differs from the announced one.
“This is obviously a political issue that is brought up for political reasons,” he told the newspaper this afternoon.
“I discussed this issue very openly, as it related to employees and to myself through last summer.
“The rest of the Council remained mute. And now here it is in mid-election season.
“When it was pointed out the remainder of the Council actually was entitled to these benefits, all of a sudden it has become an issue. All of a sudden they found their voice.
“As far as the financial aspects of it go, this is a very, very small issue. It has nothing to do with the city’s finances.
“I am not exactly sure why this seems to be an important thing to deal with now.
“I can’t help but think it is politics, and not in the good sense of the word.”
For a moment, Mr. Malsin reflected back to last year.
“When the negotiations were going on, it would have been very easy for Council members to… I recused myself from those discussions because I recognized that since I was vested in the system I had to. I could not take part in those discussions.
“The Council at that time could have dealt with this issue. They didn’t.
“As I have said, I have been as open as possible. It is a mat”ter of integrity to me.
