Re: forum should not be partisan

["Dan Carscallen" <predator75@moscow.com>]

Gary Schroeder is a local business owner as well . . .

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill London <london@moscow.com>
To: Barbara Richardson <edc@moscow.com>; Paul Kimmell <pjk@moscowchamber.com>; Vision2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
Cc: gina <ginagormley@hotmail.com>
Date: Monday, October 21, 2002 9:38 AM
Subject: forum should not be partisan

    The Palouse Economic Forum, an 
economic development coalition
comprised of local governmental and private 
agencies, is sponsoring a
public meeting on Wednesday featuring the 
presidents of both Palouse
universities.
    I have no 
problem with that kind of public discussion, but what I
find both surprising 
and improper is that a local politician, Gary
Schroeder, will be sharing that 
podium as a featured speaker.
    Schroeder is involved now in 
a tough re-election campaign, and this
forum provides him with an unfair 
advantage in that race.  He will have
a chance to advance his own 
political perspective and rhetoric without
having to share the stage with his 
political opponent, Duncan
Palmatier.  The forum provides an unwarranted 
and unethical boost to
Schroeder's campaign.
    All this 
in a well-publicized event taking place two weeks before
the 
election.
    The sponsoring groups are supposed to be 
non-partisan.  By law and
convention, they are not supposed to choose 
sides in political
campaigns.  Their decision to showcase a political 
candidate during the
campaign season at this forum is an example of either 
extreme naivete or
real impropriety.
    My suggestion: 
move the forum until after the election, or replace
Schroeder on stage with 
another local legislator who is not involved in
a political campaign, like 
Tom Trail.
    BL