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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

My Eyes Are Peeled on This One, Brainstem

My friend, Sean Braisted, beat me to this City Paper news that new at-Large Council Member Jerry Maynard is having a fundraiser with some very influential Nashvillians to help him pay off his campaign debt. Sean is much less cynical and much more charitable than I am and he suggests that we give Mr. Maynard a chance since this is not a big deal as Sean sees it. But he also calls upon us watchdogs to keep tabs on the situation.

I feel more like a hangdog right now: after seeing the news earlier on Karl Dean's post-election Joslin-connection, I'm plain disappointed that a second leader for whom I cast a vote in the run-off is getting all tied up with big-money company, which has a very keen interest in Metro Council decisions.

The company Mr. Maynard keeps may not lend to balance when decisions get made. Here is a list of the contributors that the City Paper names:
  • Adam Dread--lawyer who helped Davidson Co. Republicans prop up Kay Brooks on the School Board
  • Other lawyers: Keith Simmons, Bob Tuke, James Weaver
  • Multiple lobbyists: Jane Alvis, Peter Heidenreich, Joe Hall, Abby Trotter
  • Roy Dale--Dale and Associates Engineering and Architecture firm who designed the controversial water holding system for a Salemtown development
  • Other developers and contractors: Bill Hostettler, Bill Knestrick
  • Nashville Chamber of Commerce Chair Darrell Freeman
  • Convention Center proponent Bert Mathews
We will have to keep an eye on Council proceedings and watch to see whether at-Large Member Maynard sponsors bills or votes in ways that could be a conflict of interest based on his pocketbook needs rather than the broader community's welfare. It's just a shame that the post-election honeymoon ended so quickly for me.
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3 comments:

  1. Sean BraistedThu Sep 27, 08:42:00 AM CDT

    Ideally, I'd prefer it if all the candidates took only internet contributions from individuals (or have publicly funded campaigns)...but, realistically, being such a low profile race you have to go to the people who are willing to shell out the money.

    With most of the newly elected Council-people, I have no idea how they are going to vote on an issue, I just have to trust that I made the right decision in whom I supported, and voice my concerns if they turn out not to be the leaders I thought they were.

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  2. SageishThu Sep 27, 08:59:00 AM CDT

    What concerns me is that Sean needed to go in to debt in order to be elected. Does anyone really want government leaders who can't work within a set budget? I sure don't!

    Let's hope this isn't a sign of what we can expect from Sean.

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  3. SageishThu Sep 27, 11:41:00 AM CDT

    btw - I meant Jerry, not Sean - the poster above.

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