The cone of silence is being lifted! I have been returned to full citizenship in the City of Madison! I can speak!! 🙂
What am I talking about? Well . . . there this little ordinance that prevented me from speaking before the council or city commissions, committees and boards for the past year. Here’s what it says:
Madison General Ordinances: Ethics Code 3.47(5):
(i) Post-Employment/Appointment Restrictions.
2. No former alderperson, for 12 months following the date on which she or he leaves office may appear, with or without compensation, on behalf of any person or entity, before any board, committee or commission or before the Common Council or negotiate with any incumbent on any matter which may reasonably be expected to come before such board, committee or commission or the Common Council for official action.5. No former incumbent, for 12 months following the termination of her or his incumbency, may appear, with or without compensation, on behalf of any person or entity, with regard to any matter which was under the former incumbent’s responsibility within 12 months prior to the termination of her or his incumbency or in which the former incumbent participated personally and substantially within 12 months of the termination of her or his incumbency before any City entity or negotiate with any incumbent in connection with any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, application, contract, claim, charge or matter which may give rise to a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding.
6. Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit a former incumbent from representing herself or himself before any City entity in relation to a non-commercial personal undertaking at any time.
(j) Inquiries Permitted.
This subsection does not prohibit an elected official from making inquiries for information on behalf of a person or organization if she or he receives no compensation therefore beyond the City salary and other compensation or reimbursement to which the elected official is entitled by law.
So, I was relatively quiet for an entire year. And let me tell you, at times, it was incredibly painful sitting there, watching people making uninformed decisions knowing that I had information that would clear things up, and being able to say nothing. A few times, the pained look on my face and sheer exasperation prompted a committee member or two to ask me a question, which I believe they were allowed to do, but that was not clear. But now, my 12 months are over!!!
I know some people said I could just say I was acting on my own behalf, but to tell you the truth, given the number of organizations I’m involved with and the language about not impacting a “matter which was under the former incumbent’s responsibility within 12 months prior to the termination of her or his incumbency” it just didn’t seem worth it. I couldn’t really say that with a straight face. While many opinions are mine and mine alone, they are informed by the many organizations that I am involved with and while I don’t formally represent many of them, many people imply it.
But alas, I am, once a again, a full citizen of the City of Madison!!!!!!!!!!! I no longer have a second-class status. I can open my mouth whenever I damn well please and at this point, there are no laws standing in my way to prevent me from testifying or speaking before the council, committees, commissions or boards! Plus, I no longer have conflicts of interests to worry about, so, for the first time in NINE YEARS, I am free of all the chains that have kept me quiet on issues I care about. I can even represent the Tenant Resource Center!!
Uh, yeah, so, you’ll enjoy this . . . I’m going to register as a lobbyist today! That’s right, I’m now a lobbyist for the Tenant Resource Center and maybe the Social Justice Center, I’m not sure, so I’m going to register anyways. Wrap your head around that. 🙂
Meanwhile – stay tuned! I must have something to say! I’m sure people are placing bets on how long it takes before I register to speak on something . . . what will it be? housing? neighborhood stuff? a Progressive Dane issue? TRC funding?
