Correction

Director Kit Jones pointed out last night that the contract referred to in the posting "Costly Decisions" was a five year contact, not a four year contract.  I appreciate her diligence to research that and bring it to my attention.

 I do not apologize for suggesting that there was an appearance of a conflict of interest because they were voting to directly benefit a group that had endorsed them and assisted in their election.  At a minimum those potential conflicts should be acknowledged and ruled on in due process.

For illustration sake take one of my contributors- Dave Cruz of Cruz Construction.  If something came up at a meeting that directly affected Dave Cruz (such as a construction contract) I would be obligated to disclose that he had contributed to my campaign and the chair should rule if there was a conflict that rose to the level of requesting me to recuse myself on that vote.  Those issues are rarely brought to the light of day on the MEA board and I believe that is an area in which we should improve and a problem we should try to protect with our bylaws to the maximum degree practicable.

The driver behind every Director and every decision  every Director makes should be the broadest spectrum of the Member/Owners.