Indiana

Lest We Forget

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

My Democratic blogger are obviously and understandably quite ecstatic over the recent misfortunes surrounding City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman and they cite the recent ethics complaint filed by Democratic Councilor Angela Mansfield as partial motivation for Plowman’s expected resignation today.

I read the complaint.  Mansfield is says that since Plowman won’t talk about the pending investigation he should disclose the nature of the investigation and if not, take a leave of absence until the investigation is over.   She also says if the citizens of District 25  have a problem, they should call the At-Larges Council members for help.

Where do I begin?

First of  Mansfield is an attorney and even a  first year law student knows that when there is an investigation you shut up.  But that really isn’t the issue.  What I find almost laughable is my Democratic friends have suddenly discovered ethics.

I don’t recall them saying much when former Councilor Ron Gibson and current Councilor Doris Minton McNeil had their “issues”.  In fact, I recall of number of them showing up for a news conference Gibson had expressing their support.  Both were criminally charged for their offenses.  Charges were dropped against Gibson and Minton-McNeil beat the wrap.  I don’t remember any of them leading the charge in 2007 to get a handle on former Council President Monroe Gray and they all sat silently when Paul Bateman had his problems.

Now in all due fairness to Mansfield, she did propose an ordinance that would have prohibited then Council Attorney Aaron Haith (who had his own ethics issues a while back) from representing both the Council and the members as individuals.  The measure went nowhere and blame was pointed towards the Black Democrats for stopping it from going forward.

I’m not saying Mansfield shouldn’t have filed her ethics complaint and asked Plowman to take a leave of absence, but she’s had several opportunities in the past to file  ethics complaints, but apparently going after the guy who fought her tooth and nail on the smoking ban just seemed the right way to go.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 08, 2010 (boomark / email).