Post in City Council Vacancy: Selection Criteria

May 15 03:04 UTC

Roger makes some good points. I'd add to that the
point that, according to the April 22 artice in the
Roseville Review, Mayor Klausing and Councilmember
Pust (both lawyers) stipulate guidelines that are
clearly unconstitutional, excluding lawyers, and
persons who intend to run for a seat in November. Here
are their comments, excerpted from the article:

home : front page : front page
4/22/2008 2:52:00 PM 	Email this article  Print this
article
Council will seek applicants for vacancy

George Fairbanks
news editor

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Prior to his death, Kough sent his council colleagues
a letter outlining two suggested options for naming
his successor in the event he was unable to complete
his term. . . .

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The second idea Kough forwarded was to name the
highest vote-getter from the last City Council
election who was not elected. That person would be
Karen Schaffer, who finished behind Council Member Dan
Roe in the November 2006 election.

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Asked if there was a certain set of skills he's
looking for in an applicant, Klausing said with a
laugh, "They'd have to be a non-lawyer." Klausing,
Pust and Ihlan are attorneys. [My comment: a
candidate's occupation is constitutionally irrelevant!
But lawyers are expected to know the law. A different
occupation does not guarantee a different perspective]

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Additionally, he said he thinks a candidate should
know how to function well in a group and disagree
politely.

[My comment: I personally would appreciate an
atmosphere of civility during Council meetings, as
mentioned in the Lawyers' Code of Conduct of the State
of Minnesota . . .]

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Pust added she'd prefer to appoint someone who would
not run in the November election. That situation would
allow the council to avoid the appearance of
"king-making," she said.

[My comment: Interesting that the two stipulations
made by incumbent Councilmembers exclude only one
person under consideration: Karen Schaffer]