Council may modify endorsement resolution

With political campaigns getting under way for spring primaries, the McKinney City Council may take another look at a resolution approved in November 2010 that states that council members may not endorse or campaign for other political candidates in local elections.

District 4 Councilman Ray Ricchi told the council during a work session Tuesday that he is in favor of abolishing the resolution "because it is not being followed to the letter of the law."

The resolution, passed Nov. 16, 2010, states, "The city council of the city of McKinney, Texas hereby adopts a governance initiative creating a policy whereby seated city council members may not endorse or campaign for other political candidates in local elections (city, county, school, district, judges and local representatives to the state legislature) through oral statements in a public forum or written materials intended for public dissemination."

"I think it should be my privilege to stand up and endorse who I want to," Ricchi told the council. "The Constitution gave us the right to do what we want to do."

Several council members expressed that any one council member's endorsement should not imply that it has the support of the entire council. They are also concerned with the possibility of council members being divided over which candidate should be supported.

"I think there is some merit in not creating a fractured council," District 2 Councilmember Geralyn Kever said.

Mayor Brian Loughmiller said, "I think the resolution was passed with good intentions, but I don't think it is being followed to the letter of the law."

Loughmiller added that while a council member may have the right to endorse a candidate as an individual, it would be improper for the mayor or a council member to write a candidate-endorsement letter to a newspaper or to individuals on city stationary.

At-large Councilman Roger Harris said he had received a phone call from U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson earlier in the day asking for his endorsement.

Harris' response was, "I'm going to have to read the law."

The resolution does not exclude council members from endorsing statewide or national candidates, although the ethics of using a city council title as a part of the endorsement may be in question.

District 1 Councilman Don Day said, "I am not going to endorse anyone on a local level, but I see no problem in endorsing Sam Johnson or someone on a national level. Local elections are more sensitive than national elections."

The council has not yet determined what the consequences should be if a council member violates the rules in the resolution, or exactly how to police the council members to make certain they are abiding by the rules.

The council has also asked members of city boards not to use their titles in endorsing local candidates.

City Manager Jason Gray said he will draw up a proposed modification to the resolution to be presented to the council Feb. 7.

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...