That's how it is. Period.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Cooling-off period advisable


     It’s all in the family—the Democratic Party, that is, which enjoys a stranglehold on Boulder County government. First, let it be said that if the three Boulder County commissioners were Republicans engaging in the same sort of behavior, I would criticize them as well. What’s going on here may be perfectly legal, but to some of us it’s objectionable.

    Case in point: The position of County Attorney is up for grabs as of Dec. 21 and term-limited Boulder County Commissioner Ben Pearlman, chairman of the board, says he wants the job, which would amount to a hefty salary increase. (Commissioner $87,500; County Attorney $110,000/$160,000, present CA who is retiring draws $159,220.)

     The fact that Pearlman worked in the county attorney’s office before running for commissioner gives him an advantage that cannot be ignored by his fellow commissioners, no matter their pledge to consider every applicant. However, it will be difficult for commissioners Cindy Domenico and Will Toor to escape the appearance of insider favoritism if they do appoint him. Yet they could look equally bad if they don’t. People might wonder why.

     Future remedy? The City of Louisville at the prodding of resident John Leary adopted a strict Ethics Code in 1992 that, among other things, prohibits Louisville’s elected officials from becoming employees of the city until two years after leaving office. It’s working nicely.

     Maybe it’s time to outsource the county’s legal services. There are plenty of law firms around that should be interested in bidding for a stake in this gold mine. Since the county has to hire special counsel whenever a sticky case arises anyway (e.g., the county’s failed crusade against the Rocky Mountain Christian Church), then why not seek bids and contract out the whole caboodle? Surely, county law is not all that complicated.

About Me

My photo
Retired in 1998 after a 50-year career of editing and publishing Colorado small-town weekly newspapers. He served as president of the Colorado Press Association in 1981 and was awarded an honorary lifetime membership.