Renee Mitchell Reveals Randy Leonard's Flaw 6/2/03
Oregonian columnist, Renee Mitchell, has written a stinging and insightful behavioral critique* of the novice member of Portland's City Council, Randy Leonard. It reminds me of a similar story.
* Leonard learns he needs to be less free in speech
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/renee_mitchell/index.ssf?/base/news/1054555049207900.xml
When Randy Leonard left my home a few weeks before the election for city council he opposed the Villa remodel project. He got my public endorsement. The minute he arrived at city hall the so-called "mountain" Leonard said that HAP would have to climb to change his mind became something closer to a "bumpy" in the road.
Having politely declined an invitation by Leonard's office to meet with HAP officials on the grounds that it was entirely too late for productive talks, Randy personally invited me. Not wanting to offend what was now a personal invitation I reluctantly accepted but with conditions. I invoked my right as a citizen invitee to determine the conditions under which I would participate. Randy freaked. He accused me of being a "megalomanic" because I had the audaciousness to stand up for my rights not to be locked up alone in a room full of hostile HAP officials. The inevitable failure of the meeting, it could not be otherwise, would have allowed the gang at HAP and Leonard to say they tried but Ellmyer wouldn't come around. I was not about to fall into this trap. Randy Leonard's presumption that he had more rights than I had just because he was now a member of the city council was, at the time, shocking to me. In retrospect it does seem to be in keeping with his character as Mitchell describes it in her column.
Randy wrote that I was jeopardizing my case by not meeting with him. I told him that my choice to exercise my rights should have nothing to do with his decision making regarding a major pubic issue. His arguments must be made on the evidence his research uncovers and his judgments must be made on what he perceives to be in the best interests of the community. Elected officials are not supposed to make policy and budgetary decisions based on personal pique. Obviously, Randy Leonard subscribes to a different code of conduct.
Not only has Leonard backtracked on his word but he has not even asked for minimal accountability from HAP by asking them the five questions listed in my Oregonian op-ed piece last week, Like Enron, HAP flunks public duty.** His five alarm ego has let his personal anger at me prevent him from dealing with HAP as a responsible elected official. When I challenged the city's $20 million contribution to HAP's Villa remodel project at a budget hearing last week Leonard didn't blink an eye or make a peep. Hiding while under fire behind the dais at City Hall does not display the kind of courage we're told to expect from professional firefighters.
Mitchell writes, "Leonard needs to keep the promise he made during last year's campaign: "The leadership we've been waiting for." Persuade us, Leonard. Practice what you preach."*
I hope it happens but I'm not holding my breath waiting for a metamorphosis.
** http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1054123777167470.xml