Editorial from the QC Times on the mess in Muscatine

[rurallib]

http://qctimes.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-in-muscatine-city-hall-not-even-the-constitution-is/article_380ba1ff-600d-5f3d-80ef-6d9a19c68b21.html

Editorial: In Muscatine City Hall, not even the Constitution is sacred

Mayor Diana Broderson was never the problem in Muscatine.

It was the City Council that torched the U.S. Constitution when it named itself judge and jury over Broderson's impeachment, even though its members had vested legal and political interests in the outcome. It was City Administrator Gregg Mandsager that lobbed half-baked allegations of wrong-doing at Broderson, including accusations that the very act of a mayor talking to staff was an impeachable offense. It was City Attorney Matt Brick who, along with Mandsager, schemed behind closed doors with the City Council and decided the impeachment proceeding's outcome months before a show trial convened last spring, according to records quoted by Muscatine County District Court Judge Mark Cleve. Collectively, they've burned through more than $100,000 of taxpayer money waging a shameful campaign against the voters.

No, Broderson, for all her faults, wasn't the problem at Muscatine City Hall. It was, and continues to be, the men who worked so hard to oust her who forfeited any claim to public trust.

More at link

The city manager is now talking of suing the mayor and the city (not sure who that is) for defamation. With this background I can't imagine another city ever hiring him. He obviously forgot he works for the council, he is not their overlord.

And the council collectively (IIRC the vote was unanimous from the all-male council) forgot who is in charge.

They spent a shitload of money for this farce. That's a city that could use the money to fix a lot of problems.