Council action on conflict of interest disappointing

My husband and I feel the need to voice our disappointment with the Bellevue City Council’s vote last week on the inquiry into Councilmember Kevin Wallace’s alleged conflict of interest situation.  Why should the city need to investigate potentially the entire council for $49,500, when only Wallace had the gall to engage in dealings with the GNP railway without seeking a ruling from the city attorney on potential conflicts? This is not a complicated issue.

The argument that Councilmember Claudia Balducci  has a conflict of interest because she serves on the board of Sound Transit is a red herring – many councilmembers, such as Richard Conlin, President of the Seattle City Council, serve on the board to be able to have their city’s voice heard.

The same is true of the claim that Council Nember Grant Degginger has a conflict of interest – he and his law firm did work for Sound Transit in 2002 and 2004.  We are now in 2011.

Both of these members’ potential conflicts were out in the open, vetted and cleared by the City Attorney.

They are in no way comparable to Mr. Wallace’s activities and most importantly non-disclosure.

This nondisclosure and need to create a smoke screen by implicating others, makes us wonder where his true interests lie.

Becky and John Lewis, Bellevue