Why Quincy City Hall needs ethics reform Part II

(click on image to enlarge)

It's been a while since Part I, but here's Part II of what could easily be a triple-digit part series. H/T to the QP reader who made Part II possible with the above copy of a "campaign letter".

Here's what the blacked out portions say: "are public safety and community security. John Spring is especially strong in these areas."


As one City Attorney transitions to retirement from his $60k/yr "part- time" job with a full benefit package, to his new "part-time, part-time" $30k/yr job while simultaneously drawing his pension and four years of taxpayer funded health insurance., it's is only fitting to evaluate the ethics of one of the most important departments of patronage jobs set up solely to protect the local Democrat machine using our money, the City of Quincy Legal Department.

That first sentence seems actionable. It suggests the City Attorney used a public database of people who had had business with the city and mailed them a campaign letter. Imagine if a congressman mailed a letter to a constituent, "I"m writing to you because I helped you get your social security check. If my opponent wins, I won't be there to help you again". The rest of the letter is just plain dishonest and seems to be geared towards the really stupid people. If you're a partisan hire, wouldn't it be reasonable to expect the same when it comes time to do the firing? After all, in addition to the author of the above letter, the current legal staff consists of the brother of the ex-mayor, a Gruessenmeyer-in-law and the son-in-law of the current mayor. I'm told others from the city's legal department, including the ex-mayor's brother and current candidate for judge, sent similar letters during that same election.

Going forward, voters have got to file complaints on this kind of crap. Even if the state doesn't do anything with it--which they probably won't--you can forever refer to them as "Joe Democrat, who is subject to an ethics complaint with the State Board of Election".

Keep those cards and letters coming.

To contact a member of the City Legal Department's PR team click here, or reach by email rhart@whig.com