Jim @ Bus-Plunge made a post where he openly wondered if Cindy Rushefsky’s walking out on Council Monday night before the vote on Larry Rice’s homeless shelter was pre-scripted with advice from city attorney Dan Wichmer.
Jim said in part: “NOW: somebody in all honesty tell me this wasn’t discussed prior to the meeting and a course of action was laid out and followed. Council knew what they were going to do before they did it. This was discussed and City Attorney Dan Wichmer gave them a strategy.”
So I decided I’d just go to someone on Council and ask them about it. This is the reply from Councilman Doug Burlison:
“I am not aware of any pre-meeting meeting that occurred. Knowing Cindy the way that I do, I saw too much confusion on her face to think that it was anything but spontaneous. Her departure was a successful legal effort for the vote on that resolution to be “unanimous” without her voting for the measure (due to some legal reservations she had with some language). To be honest, I think that this is so not a big deal.”
I see no reason for Doug to not be telling the truth. I believe him.
Now, I can see why Jim would be asking the question. It’s reasonable to be a little suspicious of something as dramatic as someone walking out. I hope Doug’s response puts Jim (and those wondering like him) at a little more ease.
I stand by my statement. It is my understanding that several options were discussed and leaving the chambers when the vote was taken was one of the options. Rushefsky’s decision to leave was made at the moment, but it had been discussed beforehand. Burlison may not have been part of the discussion.
Jim Lee