Rep Candidate Juggling Conflict Problems
by Bill Gouveia for the Sun Chronicle
This column first appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Friday, March 16, 2018
Attleboro City Councilor Julie Hall is arguably the front-runner for the state representative seat formerly held by Mayor Paul Heroux. With that unofficial designation comes increased scrutiny, and some criticism for inconsistencies surrounding “conflicts”.
Council President Mark Cooper suggested Hall abstain from voting on approving the special election on April 3 for both the debt exclusion and the vacant legislative seat. His reasoning was it could be seen as an attempt to increase turnout and help her chances.
Hall complied with his “request” and abstained from what was a routine vote that ended up being otherwise unanimous. It did provide Hall with political cover, which may or may not have been the intent. But since councilors routinely vote on funding for elections in which they are involved, the claims of conflict were hollow at best.
Then came controversy over campaign contributions Hall received from individuals connected to entities with business before the council, past and present. Hall claims there is nothing wrong with them legally or ethically, and she may well be right.
However, the idea that voting to fund a special election is a conflict, but accepting money from people seeking your vote to aid their business is not, makes little sense. A case can easily be made that either each is a conflict, or neither is. But having it both ways seems awfully convenient.
Now the issue of whether or not Hall would keep her council seat if she wins the rep race has arisen. Voters are sensitive to that, as they were when Heroux briefly considered holding both posts before wisely deciding against it.
Hall has indicated she would keep both seats initially, particularly because the special election winner only holds office until November. Then that person must run again and win to stay in office.
When asked, Hall acknowledged she currently plans to hold both seats should she win, at least until the November election. She notes that former representatives and councilors Bill Bowles and George Ross held both positions simultaneously, thus creating a precedent. She said that did not seem to cause any problems.
Hall said she suspects that if she won both elections, in November she may find herself not being able to vote on certain issues due to possible conflicts between the two positions. She also pointed out that if she won in April, resigned from the council and then lost in November, she would be completely out of public office.
Which is a reasonable explanation of why holding both would be better for her, but not for why it would be better for the city.
If something is probably going to be a conflict in November, why would it not also be a conflict in April?
Being a councilor is not a full-time job, so this is a bit different from the mayor’s situation a few months back. No one is saying Hall would not have the time, or would be “double-dipping” for two salaries.
Hall is an excellent, well-qualified candidate for state representative. But she is already worried about conflicts. That should worry the voters.
Hall can end that worry by simply promising to resign from the council should she win the legislative seat.
No conflict there.
Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.
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