One Cloquet employee who also served on the City Council wasn't cause for much concern about a separation of power in the city, but two employees? That has raised some eyebrows.
So tonight, the council will discuss adopting an ordinance that prohibits city employees from also holding elected positions in the city, City Administrator Brian Fritsinger said.
Cloquet police officer Erik Blesener has two years remaining on his four-year term on the council. When Barb Wyman, a city engineering technician, was elected in November, that brought city employees to one-third of the council.
The proposed ordinance would allow Blesener and Wyman to finish their terms, but if they decided to run for re-election, they would need to take a leave of absence or quit their jobs, Fritsinger said.
Some city councilors were concerned that more city employees serving on the council could make for some difficult decisions, Fritsinger said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Where do you have that separation?" Fritsinger asked.
The Carlton County Central Labor Body said today that it opposes the ordinance.
"I don't see why they City Council would preclude any qualified city resident from running for and holding public office or want to lose a qualified, dedicated city employee who decides to serve on the City Council or in the mayor's office," labor body President Bob Oswold said in a prepared statement.
Chad McKenna, field coordinator for the Northeast Area Labor Council, said that Cloquet voters knew they were electing city employees.
"Oftentimes, it's tough to find people to run" for public office in smaller communities, McKenna said.
Fritsinger said he wasn't aware of any other local community that restricted city employees from holding city office.
The council meets tonight at 7 p.m.
