[Vision2020] Conflict of Interest

[Bruce and Jean Livingston]

I fail to see how this is a conflict of interest, and I trust Councilman 
Krauss to vote his conscience on water issues relating to the Hawkins 
development.  People may agree or disagree on the substance of his vote, but 
to sugget that if he votes on the issue that he would somehow be voting out 
of a personal financial interest is wrong under what constitutes a conflict 
of interest, I think, and more importantly, moving the discussion toward 
personal attacks and away from the substance of the vote in unhelpful ways.

To suggest that the potential of greater income in a part-time job based on 
the possibility of greater traffic provides a pecuniary interest that would 
buy Wayne's vote misses the mark on the direct, non-speculative, pecuniary 
interest needed to rise to the level of a conflict of interest.  More 
importantly, it is insulting to the extent that it overlooks the fact that 
he is a man that exemplifies the principle that "his word is his bond," and 
he votes out of honestly held principle, regardless of whether you agree 
with him or not on a particular vote.  Everyone on our Council is doing 
their utmost to serve the people of this City as they believe is best and 
voting accordingly.  It is important to remember that almost always our 
different viewpoints account for political differences in votes, and unless 
there is much more to suggest a real conflict of interest, raising such 
allegations too easily get misconstrued and operates to impugn people's 
principles, honor and reputation.

That is unhelpful civic disourse.

People may disagree about the way Wayne votes on  a particular issue, but I 
don't think we have a thing to fear about him -- or any of our other 
Councilmembers --  voting in a way to somehow line their pockets, which is 
what a conflict of interest allegation in this context means to me.  The 
Hills, who are good people and the owners of James Toyota, moved to the 
corridor primarily to own their own land and stop renting, but also to place 
themselves between their customers in Pullman and Moscow, clearly hoping to 
make themselves more convenient to more people and increase the number of 
customers who visit.  That they happen to be near the Hawkins development is 
irrelevant to me.  To suggest that the Council is trying to aid the Hawkins 
development in order to benefit financially either themselves or nearby 
landowners and businesses, like James Toyota, Champion Electric or Busch 
Distributors, seems misguided, without basis, and disrespectful of our 
elected representatives' principles and character.

If Wayne were voting on things to be done on the Hills' property, then your 
suggestion of a conflict might have more force, but in general, I would like 
to see us focus on ideas more and personalities and attacks less.

Colin  Powell said some important things today on Meet the Press about his 
discomfort with a faction of the Republican party that feels comfortable 
labeling  Barack Obama as a terrrorist and suggesting that there might be 
something wrong with being a muslim in this country or that being a muslim 
would somehow be disqualifying in seeking office as an American. 
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265490

Just as General Powell concluded that it was time for a change, from these 
sort of polarizing attacks on people instead of debating ideas, I do think 
that restraining ourselves from personal attacks will go a long way toward 
improving substantive discussions and our sense of community.

Bruce Livingston


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Cc: <dcarscallen at ci.moscow.id.us>; <jweber at moscow.com>; <tlamar at moscow.com>; 
<blambert at ci.moscow.id.us>; <wmsteed at aol.com>; <nchaney at ci.moscow.id.us>; 
<wkrauss at ci.moscow.id.us>
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 8:22 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Conflict of Interest


> Greetings Visionaires, Mayor Chaney, and Moscow's City Council -
>
> Today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that Councilman Wayne Krauss has
> been hired part-time by James Toyota.
>
> ------------
>
> New job
>
> It didn't take long for Wayne Krauss to find something else to do. Krauss,
> a Moscow city councilman and former owner of Martin's Auto Service Center,
> closed the business in May.
>
> At that time, he was ready for retirement, playing a little golf and
> completing some remodel projects at his home.
>
> "The summer's gone, the landscaping is done and the oak cabinets are built
> and installed," Krauss said. "And I've played all the golf I needed to
> play."
>
> What's a guy to do?
>
> For Krauss, it was trying his hand at selling cars.
>
> On Oct. 1, Krauss joined the sales team at James Toyota in Moscow.
>
> "I was in sales all my life," he said. "I sold tires, and I'm still
> selling them - just now the whole car comes with them."
>
> The job is considered full time but flexible enough to allow him to attend
> to council business.
>
> James Toyota is scheduled to move into its new facility on the Pullman-
> Moscow Highway in Washington, just across the state line in November.
>
> ------------
>
> Realizing that James Toyota stands to realize substantial revenue once the
> Hawkins Project becomes a reality across Pullman Highway from James
> Toyota, any vote cast by Councilman Krauss may be considered a major
> conflict of interest.
>
> I, therefor, strongly encourage Councilman Krauss to abstain from any vote
> related to the Hawkins Project, including the sale of water to Hawkins
> Companies.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow,
> Idaho
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> This message was sent by First Step Internet.
>           http://www.fsr.com/
>
>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>               http://www.fsr.net
>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>