City-County Council Member Ron Gibson is on cloud nine after disorderly conduct charges were dropped this week, however he may have just traded one controversy for another.

The day the charges were dropped Gibson had a news conference outside the City-County building. He read a statement that was issued to the press on government letterhead and distributed by a council staff member on government time.

I was always under the impression that council staff and materials were for council business only. When Gibson was charged last year, it was not in connection with any of his duties as a council member but in his actions as a private citizen. Therefore, I really don’t think it’s appropriate or proper for an elected official to use government resources for matters that are purely private and personal. Or if they do, they should reimburse the government for the time and resources they used.

I am willing to bet that there is some rule against this. But light of recent actions by this council, somehow I don’t think the rules really matter these days.

Posted: 10|12|07 at 6:38 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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