Gielow does not have a conflict of interest

Public Forum:

There goes Phil Koepke again. Responding to my Letter to the Editor he alleges that Mequon Mayor Gielow has an "obvious conflict of interest" regarding Concordia University issues. Phil is misinformed what a "conflict of interest" is. Let me educate him! A conflict of interest is officially defined as: "a situation in which an individual is in a position to exploit an official capacity in some way for personal benefit."

How, in heaven's name, could Mayor Gielow come anywhere near that definition? He recused himself from all city actions regarding CUW and there is zero evidence he tried to influence either the Planning Commission or Common Council in their deliberations and decisions.

And where or when did the decisions rendered by those bodies result in any personal benefit to Mayor Gielow? None, nada, nix, zip, zilch, zero! But Koepke continues with the "Big Lie" to try and convince Mequon voters that the highly moral and experienced Mayor Gielow should be replaced.

Mequon voters are too smart to fall for that kind of smear.

Space does not permit me to respond to Mr. Koepke's other misstatements because I want to make one final point. A crucial raison d'être to oppose the triumvirate - candidate (Abendroth), campaign chairman (Ashmore) and campaign financier (Koepke) - is their raid on the city of Mequon's email list to use for political purposes.

Using the Freedom of Information Act to force the release of what subscribers believed was for private use only in receiving the Mequon eNews, might be legal but certainly doesn't meet the moral standards Mequon residents demand from their election campaigns and candidates.

If that's the team voters want leading Mequon the next three years - we'd better fasten our seats belts because we'll be in for a very bumpy ride.

Warren R. Stumpe

Mequon