Sells concerned about conflict?

Time and busyness being what they are in our lives, I’m finally writing to express my indignation at the substance of Jerry Cornfield’s March 4 article, “Everett legislator says grant to aerospace group could be seen as a payoff.”

I literally laughed out loud at the idea that Rep. Mike Sells would get himself quoted in the newspaper as being “…concerned about the perception of corruption.” Really?

Here’s a guy whose day job (employment underlying his legislative duties) is to work as the Secretary Treasurer of the Snohomish County Labor Council while as a state lawmaker he serves as chair of the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee. The latter of these positions gives him the ability to kill any bill his union gang members object to by simply not allowing it a hearing.

When I questioned him directly about this in a recent email, he barely responded with some nonsense about knowing what it means to represent the people.

While I don’t begrudge Rep. Sells the right to hold either of these positions, it certainly seems to me that holding them both at the same time is at a minimum a conflict of interest and ought not to be, especially if one is as concerned about the “perception of corruption” as he says he is.

In my humble opinion, the sooner a law is enacted (or enforced?) that prevents people like Rep. Sells from simultaneously being a stakeholder in two competing public interests, the better. Meanwhile the Sells pot shouldn’t call the Aerospace Futures Alliance kettle black.

Brad Boardman

Everett