Letter to the Editor

Troubled by Brannum editorial

Thursday, April 26, 2012

To the Editor:

Re: Editorial entitled "Is Ordinance Aimed at Brannum?" dated Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I found your editorial of the 18th very troubling due to what I believe to be somewhat of an attack on Johnny Brannum's sense of duty, integrity and abilities.

Your assertions that Brian Becker supported Johnny I concede to be true and for obvious reasons (some of them mentioned in the article, "that support comes with a price," leave the mind wide open to speculate as to what kind of support (money, transportion, Quid pro Quo, etc). Let's rule out financial support as Johnny and Leeann financed the campaign on their own dime. Johnny ran for change and the voters in Ward 4 agreed and so voted. If Johnny believed Becker is right, he needs to vote his conscience without the DAR making an issue of it. Becker made it very clear that he wanted to clean house of city officials and Tracy Edington was the only candidate with an opponent.

I submit that the Sunshine Law and Brian Becker will have no effect on Johnny's decision making. He will vote his conscience in regard to the Becker matter. I do not think that our city officials are corrupt but do expect them to vote their collective consciences on this and other matters and not use herd mentality. Regarding the Sunshine law, we are talking about nine other city officials who have their own agenda and prejudices. Is it not possible that one or more could leak information to Becker's attorney? Remember "Loose Lips Sink Ships."

By the way, what is wrong with change? What is wrong with differences of opinion? When was the last time our City Council did not vote unanimously on an issue of some importance? A very wise judge once told me, "when everyone agrees on everything every time, someone isn't thinking."

Max Clodfelter

Poplar Bluff, Mo.