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An attempt to gather Atherton City Council members together for a refresher course on the council’s Code of Conduct appears heading for a debate — civil, it is hoped — on free-speech rights and spending priorities.
In a July 29 memo to council colleagues and town management, Councilwoman Elizabeth Lewis called for a workshop in the near future to review the town’s Code of Conduct, asserting that the code had been violated in spirit and intent on several recent occasions.
“My hope is to raise the level of civility in our council meetings,” Ms. Lewis said in an interview. Demeaning comments and accusations made during recent meetings — by both council members to each other and by members of the public who are not asked to remain civil — “really undermines our ability to work together,” she said.
On more than one occasion at council meetings, members of the public have criticized council members for bickering and incivility toward each other. Planning Commissioner William Grindley, speaking on the issue of hiring a city attorney at the Aug. 2 special council meeting, prefaced his public comments by saying that he has “come to these meetings and watched the pissing match that goes on and am befuddled.”
Mr. Grindley ultimately walked out of the meeting, shaking his head, during a subsequent heated exchange between Ms. Lewis and Mayor Kathy McKeithen.
The recent discussions of the city attorney’s contract, during which Mayor McKeithen was particularly critical of current contract attorney Wynne Furth, were a major impetus for Ms. Lewis’ push to review the code, she said. Code of Conduct policy statement 100.11 states that council members “should not publicly criticize the city manager or staff, but shall discuss any concerns about (them) in a closed session…”
Legitimate comment?
Mayor McKeithen said in an interview that her remarks about Ms. Furth were appropriate considering the context in which they were made: a discussion in which some council members questioned her push to consider hiring an attorney other than Ms. Furth, whose law firm is closing and who is seeking to retain her position through her new law firm.
Noting that other council members were praising Ms. Furth’s work and stating why they wanted to retain her, Ms. McKeithen said, “When they raised that question, I had an obligation to explain why, but within the confines of not crossing a line” set by the Code of Conduct or rules of general civility. She asserted that she did not cross that line.
Ms. Lewis acknowledged that the council must distinguish between free speech and inappropriate, malicious comments in trying to maintain decorum, but Mayor McKeithen said the distinction is often murky. “Am I to be the judge of what is free speech and what is not?” she asked. “I think that is a very fine line to walk, and … at some point you start (limiting) other people’s rights.”
City Manager Jerry Gruber said he will place Ms. Lewis’ request to discuss the workshop question on the Aug. 18 agenda if she submits the required letter, and noted that the council might also consider including town commissioners and committee members in a Code of Conduct training workshop.
Ms. McKeithen said she will participate in such a workshop if a majority of her colleagues want it. But, she noted in an e-mail to Mr. Gruber that she copied to The Almanac, the town’s meager budget for council and commission member training might be needed for other matters such as reviewing the Brown Act — the state’s open meeting law — and that the council should review other needs to determine its priorities in spending the funds.
But Councilwoman Lewis said the pervasive divisiveness and rancor at council meetings “is really damaging to the town.” In her July 29 memo, she expressed hope “that we can agree to have differences of opinions on issues and focus on compromise to move our town forward in a positive way, rather than continue the backbiting, malicious innuendo and personal attacks that have been occurring” at recent meetings.
I really hope the Council takes up Ms Lewis’ call for some civility and an adherence to the Code of Conduct. Mayor McKeithen’s hedge about it being subjective her typical lack of responsibility for fostering much of the rancor on the Council.
(That should raise a howl amongst her posse here on the TS Forum!)
In the first place it is a long shot to refer to Ms. Furth as “Staff”. Ms. Furth is employed by her Law Firm. NOT the Town of Atherton. According to Ms. Lewis the Town Council cannot discuss any discontent with a contract employee. So if the Town has the roads paved and the contractor does a rotten job, the Town Council can’t express its negative views in a public meeting. WHAT ROT
But more importantly, it is entirely disingenuous of Ms. Lewis and her crew to extol Ms. Furth’s virtues at a public meeting knowing the Mayor’s opinion on the matter and then expect the Mayor not to respond….
The meetings will become more civil when those who abuse their positions of power and those who are hired or promoted for their willingness to look the other way rather than their qualifications are all fired or voted out of office. Atherton will be amazed at how civil the dialogue will become in the bat of an eye once this urgent housecleaning is over. Methinks Ms. Lewis doth protest too much.
I’m with Fresh Air in a sense. I think having the refresher courses/workshops, and adhering to codes of conduct is a fine idea, and wish I had thought of it myself. Hats off to Ms. Lewis for coming up with a creative way to bridge some gaps.
While we’re at it, I’ve thought of a few more chapters in the refresher course that could add some value as well. I may think of more, and will add them here as they come to mind:
1. Refresher Course in Falsifying Police Reports. A Town Council has some choices available to it when a police officer admits on a witness stand, under oath, that a police report has been falsified. Permitting the city attorney to issue a press release supporting the cops is one way to deal with it. Another would be to take some decisive corrective action. This course will explore the tradeoffs involved, with a particular emphasis on the proper way to accept donations from the police unions and appear as if you’re holding their feet to the fire at the same time.
2. Refresher Course in Soliciting Loans from Residents. I don’t want to belabor this point. You get the idea.
3. Refresher Course in the Brown Act. Jerry Carlson recently admitted that he violated the Brown Act. This course will explore when it’s okay to violate the Brown Act, and when it’s not. A lot depends on who is on the council at the time, and who does the violation. When in doubt, ask Wynne Furth.
4. Refresher Course in Conflicts of Interest. Many of the traditional notions of conflicts of interest are primitive and can be rationalized in an enlightened community such as Atherton. Accepting donations from groups you are supposed to negotiate with and manage is perfectly okay. Deciding whether Atherton spends taxpayer money filing lawsuits over rail issues that affect your house in a very particular way can be left up to the city attorney. Make sure you don’t criticize her in public (or, for that matter, in private) if you want to take advantage of that particular form of enlightenment.
5. Refresher Course in the Building Department/Code. This course will explore which building codes apply to which Atherton residents, which can be excused for special people, and what to do if the building inspector costs a resident millions of dollars by not doing a proper inspection of her house (hint: stonewalling is always the best way to go about it). Remember, residents in Atherton are extremely privileged to have real estate developers make millions of dollars in profit for each home they construct. If we don’t give them additional incentives, they may pack up and take their services elsewhere.
The problem is not the lack of a Code of Ethics or not having a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order. And the problem will not be solved by any amount of training. The problem is that our Town Council has become an uncivil group of individuals.
They were elected to lead our Town but they have allowed personal differences and animosities to significantly interfere with that obligation. I make no judgment as to who is ‘right’ and who is ‘wrong’. All that is needed is for the five of them to come to each meeting and each interaction with one another with a new commitment to, first and foremost, serve the citizens who elected them even if that means biting their tongue and extending an olive branch to those with whom they disagree. They can and should have policy disagreements but it is their responsibility to resolve those differences and to do so in a civil manner.
Elizabeth Lewis calling for decorum is disingenuous.
At one City Council meeting Ms. Lewis laughed derisively at Council McKeithen when Ms. McKeithen attempted to defend her environmental record.
After the same Council meeting, Ms. Lewis was verbally if not physically abusive to a member of the community attempting to have papers distributed that she wanted to suppress.
In response to a question posed by a constituent at to what or whom she was laughing at, she replied “I’m laughing at you”.
This act has been tried before in Atherton. It is quite simple and quite clever. Accuse one’s adversary of the very kind of bad behavior one his or herself is engaging in.
I think I would have more confidence in Ms. Lewis call had she not used it as an opportunity to criticize the Mayor.
Peter I would not hold my breath waiting for an improvement anytime soon.
The Mayor did not violate the code since Ms. Furth is not a member of staff.
Maybe I am jaded, but why do I have the feeling this is just another attempt to silence the one person that wants to see an end to the disgusting way this council has acted…
Oh and while I am at at……Did anybody bother to read that code before they derided John Johns….The answer is NO.
Suggested reading for the Town Council:
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
Where’s Rodney King when you really need him?
My observation over the last many years is exactly the same as Mr. Johns has described above; That Marsala over the long term and Ms Lewis as of late, have both employed the theory that the best defense is a preemptive offense.
In dogs this is referred to as “fear aggression”– or a kind of bluster that spins well.
At the last regular council meeting, I particularly enjoyed watching Ms Lewis take credit for the idea of expanding the citizen membership of the finance committee, after she was assured that her candidate, Mr Wise had been included and that Mr. Buckheit (with actual credentials) had generously withdrawn his name after the pronounced intent by Lewis and Carlson to exclude him was made obvious, in order to let the committee be finalized and set their first scheduled meeting date. I was there, and it was in fact the mayor’s suggestion, NOT Ms Lewis’, to expand the membership. It is possible that this was meant to include all the available talent on offer. Mr. Buckheit does have 2 PHDs in math and statistics.
I did not attend the last special council meeting, but I did hear from 2 of the 4 that did attend that there was particular rancor and multiply interruptions on the part of Ms Lewis which made it painfully difficult for the mayor to lead the meeting.
My guess from the description of events is that Ms Lewis, in anticipation of critisism of her own behavior, has made a preemptive issue of the “code of conduct workshop, in order to deflect responsibilty for her own behavior.
Standard M.O. and becoming all too transparent.
Vote them all out!
Let’s start fresh, with residents eager to serve their community. But before we do that, let’s make sure that they are not in the real estate business, are not new to the community, regularly go to council meetings, and don’t live near the railroad tracks. Preferably from Lindenwood with ties to the ACIL.
Step up folks, it’s time to serve….
what, not takers?
Ms. Lewis chutzpa is astounding. Her of all people calling for more decorum. She, who assaulted a citizen in front of witnesses then denied it. She, who is repeatedly rude to constituents and others. What a joke and just more evidence of Ms. Lewis’ arrogance.
In addition to her many other faults/shortcomings (which are public knowledge), Ms. Lewis is yet another advocate for a prevailing value system in this misguided/lost community of people attempting to steer without a moral rudder: It’s okay to lie, cheat and steal, as long as one never shows emotion and never raises one’s voice. In other words, as long as one is “nice.”
It’s as though these people all watched Stepford Wives (the classic original, not the remake,), and thought it was a recommendation, not an admonition.
I have no problem with civility. It is, after all, quite civil. But it is not a virtue. And attempts to elevate its importance above the virtues of honesty, integrity and rationality (to name a few) serve only one purpose — to diminish the importance of actual virtue. Ms. Lewis has every reason to want to diminish the importance of actual virtues: the Mayor practices them and Ms. Lewis does not.
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater
Are you kidding me? We have a home grown (well almost) Athertonian who might end up being our State Governor!
Laws and Law Enforcement in Atherton, an island of independent thought and practice based on “He/She who ends up with the most toys wins!” , are meant to be defined depending on the circumstances and the depth of the participants pockets.
God Bless America!
Civil discourse and behavior in our Town’s governing bodies?
Sorry, that’s so ’70’s juvenile.
So, not US!
Dear Readers
The following is the text of a message I sent to Ms. Lewis.
I invite your comments.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Ms. Lewis
Thank you for reciting the following passage from Atherton’s code of conduct.
The recent discussions of the city attorney’s contract, during which Mayor McKeithen was particularly critical of current contract attorney Wynne Furth, were a major impetus for Ms. Lewis’ push to review the code, she said. Code of Conduct policy statement 100.11 states that council members “should not publicly criticize the city manager or staff, but shall discuss any concerns about (them) in a closed session…”
To the point above, I would like to call your attention to Councilman Marsala’s violation of the Code of Conduct policy statement you refer to.
As you can see from the link below, Mr. Marsala saw fit to publicly criticize me with an apparent attempt to prejudice the outcome of a personnel investigation that was initiated upon me at the end of August 2007.
http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=4849
If your words have any meaning, if your are sincere in your drive for civility I would ask that you, at the earliest opportunity call for Councilman Marsala to be sanctioned by a resolution of the City Council for having criticized me so publicly and so severely at such a sensitive time during my employment with the Town.
Thank you very much.
John P. Johns, CPA
Don’t hold your breath John…..
It seems so obvious to me that not only is Ms. Lewis attempting to prepare her preemptive offense, as suggested by Standard M.O., but clearly trying to suggest an action that would on the surface seem positive and good-intentioned to Atherton Voters. She and her candidates, she may hope, will be seen as forward-thinking and resolution-minded in time for the elections…
I hope that the ‘Stepford’ Athertonians can unplug and see this action for what it truly is.
People who know me know that I am a private person who tries to respect other people’s privacy as well. But being a so-called political figure has frequently limited my privacy and certainly has made it difficult for me not to respond when it appears that I may not care enough about the town I chose to represent.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I wish to relate a true story. Many months ago I spoke with a number of residents about my concerns for the Town over the simple lack of civility during council meetings. I was advised by a close friend of the other councilmember involved in these less-than-cordial exchanges to meet with a certain religious advisor of this councilmember. I did and he was wonderful and receptive to a joint meeting; but nothing followed.
Weeks later someone who has previously worked as a counselor and was a friend of this councilmember offered his services. As a business leader and friend of this councilmember as well as someone who I respected, I readily consented to a meeting.
As the meeting seemed to be making progress, the counselor saw a friend and went to chat. The councilmember turned to me and uttered several of the meanest, ugliest words about me that I have ever heard spoken. I was left speechless.
It is not that I do not believe the rancor within the council is bad for the Town. It is not that I have not tried to end it.
But the issue has become one of trust to actually want to make a change for the well-being of the Town we each say we love — and for that I believe we each must look within. I have tried to do so since this incident. I have given up being on a Committee I desire in order to end the fray; I have at times limited my first amendment rights in an attempt to lessen the tension.
If you need further proof I would only ask that you listen to the tape of the August 2, 2010 meeting — I have a copy I can provide free of charge or you can acquire one for $.75 from the City Clerk.
“The councilmember turned to me and uttered several of the meanest, ugliest words about me that I have ever heard spoken.”
My money’s on Elizabeth Lewis as the utterer.
Hey Menlo Voter-
Don’t you have your own Council to be annoyed by? If Mayor McKeithen wanted to name names, I am sure she would have. She hid it so carefully- no gender pronouns, etc.
Atherton Taxpayer:
I sure do, but like Peter Carpenter I have an interest in the governance of my neighbors as what happens in neighboring towns has an effect on mine.
Mayor McKeithen did do a very good job of hiding it, but Ms. Lewis is the most likely culprit as she has repeatedly displayed her lack of civility and arrogance.
Oh my goodness, it is time for McKeithen and Johns to be civil. It is as though they are trying to rewrite the history of rancor they have created in Atherton. I don’t think we will get civility back until McKeithen is off the council and Johns moves out of state and leaves our poor city alone. Just because they write long diatribes does not make them truthful or accurate. I, for one, am so tired of their rantings!
“Oh my goodness, it is time for McKeithen and Johns to be civil.”
You have got to be joking……..I defy you to find any post by either the Mayor or John Johns that has been less than civil. I have no doubt that the City Manager and the Town Council may find Mr. Johns annoying, but certainly not rude or disrespectful….
As far as Ms McKeithen is concerned, there are few people that earn the right to be referred to as “The Honorable”, but she certainly has……..
Common Sense = Elizabeth Lewis
Let me get this straight…
the Council Member that was physically abusive to a private citizen and openly “makes fun” of citizens at the microphone is now asking for more civility among Council Members?
Ms. Lewis, with all due respect, it is difficult for even casual observers of Atherton not to laugh.
Mayor McKeithen’s post above is absolutely shocking…but definitely consistent.
Peter….or Mr. Johns…..
Lord knows I have no right to ask anything from either of you……But PLEASE will one of you, in writing, seek an opinion from the Town of Atherton as to whether or not Ms. Furth is considered as “Staff”…..
The issue of whether or not Council Members may comment on staff’s performance in public is a red herring.
Those same Council Members who are so shocked by Mayor McKeithen’s rebuttal to their singing praises for Ms. Furth, didn’t seem to have a problem weighing in on Mr. Johns performance – in public – a couple of years ago.
The Town’s Code of Conduct appears to answer the question “is the Town Attorney a staff member” in two ways.
1 – It states “Town staff members, except for the City Attorney, work for the City Manager”. In my opinion that infers that the Town Attorney is a staff member.
2 – The prohibition on criticizing staff states “Council members shall not publicly criticize the City Manager or staff, but shall discuss any concerns about the City Manager or staff in a closed session of the City Council”.
The Brown Act provides the following regarding any such closed session and who is an employee:
“The Brown Act authorizes a closed session “to consider the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, discipline, or dismissal of a public employee or to hear complaints or charges brought against the employee.” The purpose of this exception – commonly referred to as the “personnel exception” is to avoid undue publicity or embarrassment for an employee or applicant for
employment and to allow full and candid discussion by the legislative body; thus, it is restricted to discussing individuals, not general personnel policies. The body must possess the power to appoint, evaluate, or dismiss the employee to hold a closed session under this exception.
An employee must be given at least 24 hours notice of any closed session convened to hear specific complaints or charges against him or her. This occurs when the legislative body is reviewing evidence, which could include live testimony, and adjudicating conflicting testimony offered as evidence. The employee has the right to have the specific complaints and charges discussed in a public session rather than closed session. If the employee is not given notice, any disciplinary action is null and void.”
“For purposes of the personnel exception, “employee” specifically includes an officer or an independent contractor who functions as an officer or an employee. Examples of the former include a city manager,
district general manager or superintendent. An example of the latter is a legal counsel or engineer hired on contract to act as local agency attorney or chief engineer.”
I would add that under the Brown Act ALL closed sessions are permitted for a very few things but closed sessions are NEVER required. I believe that local agencies use the permitted excepts much too often and we would all be better served by most of the closed session items being done in open session. For example, why not have the evaluation of the Town Attorney’s performance be done in public including taking public comments?
It states
“Town staff members, except for the City Attorney, work for the City Manager”.
In my opinion that infers that the Town Attorney is a staff member.
Peter, please help me out with this..I am not trying to be smart a***. If Ms. Furth is a member of the Towns staff presumably there will be some record of payment directly to her…I doubt it……
I am listed in the phone book. It does not make me an employee of ATT…
Again I am not trying to be clever. I believe the accusation that Ms. McKeithen violated the Towns code is absolute rubbish……And while I may not have Mr. Buckheits resources, I am would certainly like to prove it…..
I am not sure why this particular allegation against the Mayor offends me, but it certainly does……..
When Ms. Furth cannot attend the Council, she sends another attorney from her law firm. Does that sound like a member of “Staff” to you……
No one in the “Real” world could do such a thing and have them considered to be member of “Staff”.
No, the fact is that the Town Attorney is not a member of staff, rather the employee of a company contracted to provide services to the town…..Just like many others, probably in the hundreds…And the Town Council cannot criticize their work in a public meeting….
What absolute RUBBISH………
Great Idea, Peter!
I now have the monthly City Council meetings on my calendar.
Should I make copies of all the disturbing letters I have received from Ms. Furth so that I can provide copies to my fellow citizens?
Should I ask my husband to build me a website so I can post the letters for easy public access?
Sunlight has been working so well for us thus far.
For purposes of the personnel exception, “employee” specifically includes an officer or an independent contractor who functions as an officer or an employee. I believe that most local jurisdiction contract with a law firm, i.e. independent contractor, to provide the local jurisdiction’s attorney. The contracts typically provide for one or more individuals to perform that function. Whomever they send to a particular meeting serves as the local jurisdiction’s attorney.
IF, repeat IF, a Council member criticized the Town Attorney in public that might well be a violation of the Town’s Code of Conduct however there is no penalty provision in the Code of Conduct. Frankly, I think that this prohibition is NOT in the best interest of the Town as it leads to sweeping any and all personnel shortcoming under the rug.
Ms. Sweidy…
Would you please do it…..and if possible also post the minutes of the meetings. You would be doing this Town a great service…Thank You
Note my first criteria (posted elsewhere on the Town Forum) for judging candidates for the Town Council:
1 – committed to open and transparent government and pledged not to use closed sessions except when absolutely necessary (as opposed to using closed sessions whenever permitted).
I would welcome lots of other citizens demanding the same from any candidate that they elect to support.
Why aren’t Atherton’s City Council Meetings televised? Wouldn’t Comcast do it for free?
For purposes of the personnel exception, “employee” specifically includes an officer or an independent contractor who functions as an officer or an employee. I believe that most local jurisdiction contract with a law firm, i.e. independent contractor, to provide the local jurisdiction’s attorney.
Thank you Peter…Of course Ms. Furth acts neither as an “Officer” or “Employee” of the Town……or am I incorrect?
Is she subject to election?……Then not a Officer
Is she required to follow the directives of the City Manager?….Then not an employee?
Did I miss something?
Interested asks:”Is she subject to election?……Then not a Officer.
Is she required to follow the directives of the City Manager?….Then not an employee?
Did I miss something?”
Yes you did –
1)the Town Attorney reports directly to the Council.
2)Officers of a local jurisdiction can either be elected or appointed – for example, the Town Clerk is an Officer who is appointed.
2)Officers of a local jurisdiction can either be elected or appointed – for example, the Town Clerk is an Officer who is appointed.
Peter are you just messing with me for the fun of it…We both know the Town Clerk is paid by the Town..and directly appointed….Was Ms. Furth appointed as a Town Official by the Town?
We both know she was NOT…Her firm was contracted by the Town to provide services…..
Interested asks:”are you just messing with me /”
No, but I suggest that you start doing your own homework and address any further question to the Town.
Peter…..
Of course notwithstanding the fact that according to the Town website, there3 is no Town Clerk, only a deputy? Who thinks she works for a City
Thank you Peter. I had wrongfully assumed you might find this issue of importance.
Interested –
You’re bringing up a reasonable point but I think a lot of this has to do with the City or Town’s policies.
Many larger cities have “in-house” legal counsel – an attorney or group of attorneys who work directly for that city. Smaller towns, with less frequent legal demands, often contract with an attorney or law firm to provide those same services. In that case, a single attorney at the firm is designated “Town Attorney” and that person, in the case of Atherton (as I understand it), reports to the Town Council. When the designated Town Attorney is not available, another attorney in their firm may substitute for the absent Town Attorney in an “acting” capacity.
This is not an unusual arrangement for small towns and it is not confined to legal services. Often building and planning functions are outsourced to private contractors. Their determinations and decisions are just as binding as those of an employee of the town.
By the way, the fees that a town pays for outside legal services can do directly to the attorney OR the law firm. It all depends on the contract.
Interested states:”Thank you Peter. I had wrongfully assumed you might find this issue of importance.”
Cheap shots like this reflect very poorly on you – I tried very hard to answer your questions and all you did was to keep jerking me around.
Shame on you.
Dear Interested
I will as you have requested write a request for opinion to Wynn Furth.
The issue is somewhat nuanced as Peter Carpenter has indicated in his lengthy and well thought out post.
Elizabeth Lewis’ complaint over McKeithen’s criticism of Furth in public is, however a red herring.
Furth put forth a proposal to be discussed in open session to continue to work as City Attorney.
I dare say Ms. McKeithen was well within her rights. By having the chutzpa and “lack of situational awareness” to submit a proposal when the Council had not asked for one, Ms. Furth got the public lashing she so richly deserved.
Elizabeth Lewis was the one who had lunch with Kathy McKeithen.
Elkizabeth Lewis was the one who uttered words that would make male athletes in a locker room blush.
The luncheon was arranged by Collen Anderson.
The facilitator was the pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.
Has a pathological hatred twords McKeithen. Lord knows why.
Interesting that what inside scoop had to say remains on the board and what I said in response has been completley removed. The Almanac strikes again. Editor, why don’t you grow a pair when it comes to critisism or Elizabeth Lewis, REAL criticism? I called it the way a saw it and my opinion is based upon facts.
Slicker than snot on a glass door knob, Elizabeth Lewis rises to new heights of hypocrisy in calling for less combative meetings of Atherton’s presently dysfunctional Town Council—a hostility for which she herself is largely responsible. Lewis is the most negative and disruptive influence on Atherton’s governing bodies since high-end home builder Colin Whiteside 20 years ago continually badgered his fellow Planning Commissioners to loosen Atherton’s all-too-necessary restrictions on house size. So relentlessly did Whiteside press his self-serving agenda that finally he was removed from the Commission. The same axe needs to fall on Lewis, who is nothing but a dishonest shill for local real-estate developers. For the good of our town she needs to leave office; should Lewis resist, a recall campaign needs to be mounted to remove her from the Town Council.
There is a lesson here for all of us who want the best for our beleaguered little town in these tough economic times: get smart; cease appointing or electing real-estate professionals and their unprincipled stooges to public office. This will require persistence and widespread participation in the face of big real-estate money; remember, Elizabeth Lewis spent fifty thousand dollars to buy her uncompensated seat on Atherton’s Town Council.