Politics & Government

Roseville Ethics Commission To Consider Former Mayor's Complaint

John Kysylyczyn contends the City Council wrongfully engaged in prohibited political activity when it took a stand on the proposed state Marriage Amendment. City attorney disagrees.

The Roseville Ethics Commission is expected tonight (Wednesday) to review a citizen's complaint that the City Council wrongfully engaged in political activity when it passed a resolution opposing the proposed Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

In a letter filed last month with the commission, former Roseville mayor John M. Kysylyczyn contended the city Human Rights Commission and later the City Council engaged in prohibited political activity when the two groups passed resolutions opposing the Marriage Amendment. That amendment, which Mnnesota voters rejected last week, would have defined marriage as only being between one man and one woman.

Kysylyczyn contended the Human Rights Commission and City Coucil violated the city's ethics policies in taking a stand on the issue. 

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"The discussion on the issue instructing people how to vote on a state constitutional amendment is clearly an act of being engaged in political campaign activity," Kysylyczyn stated. "While it may be acceptable to use public funds to educate the public in a fair and balanced manner on an issue that is related to an operation of city government, that was clearly not the case in this situation."

But Roseville City Attorney Mark Gaughan is urging the Ethics Commission to dismss Kysylyczyn's complaint, contending the law allows the Council to collectively voice its stand on ballot iniatitives.

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Gaughan added the League of Minnesota Cities issued an opinion advising that it was OK for a city council to take a stand on an constitutioal amendment.

To view the commission's agenda and see Gaughan's opinion, click on to this link. The commission's meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. today at Roseville City Hall, 2660 Civic Center Drive.


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