Mayor Ron Harding

Keven R. Graves, editor and publisher for the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) and I agree on points he raised in his July 1st Editorial Naming street for corporate giant is a bad idea:

“Yelm City Council decided this week [June 28] to name the Yelm bypass ‘connector’ road Walmart Boulevard, just for now.

Temporary or not, however, this is a silly move on the councils part.

Councilman Mike McGowan was the lone opponent of the idea. He cited a number of concerns, each of which make sense.

‘I think it establishes a precedent,’ said McGowan.

Excellent point. There are many roads in Yelm, and there are businesses that would love to have a street named after them. Many of those businesses have been in Yelm for years, some of them decades. Why shouldnt they have equal opportunities for free advertising?

McGowan also questioned whether it might appear that the city is endorsing a specific business, in this instance, mega-retailer Walmart…

Yelm Mayor Ron Harding, who also serves as president of the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce, sits in on the citys Transportation Committee. It was that committee that recommended ‘Walmart Boulevard.’

Ed. Note:
This is a perfect opportunity to remind readers that NVN Publisher/Editor Graves and I also agreed last year when Graves vigorously examined an appearance of conflict of interest on Mayor Harding’s part in his Op-Ed titled: “Should the mayor be serving two masters?
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Graves said on June 18, 2010 that Mayor Harding, who at the time was the Treasurer & President-elect of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce “brought a proposal to the chamber board to purchase an electronic sign.” That sign has been approved to be placed on a city-owned easement at the corner of Killion Rd. & Yelm Ave.

“Graves pointed out ‘As mayor, Harding has the potential to knowingly or unknowingly ‘grease the skids’ for the chamber in this process.’

Graves continues, ‘…I believe the ‘perception’ of a conflict of interest can be every bit as damaging as a genuine conflict of interest.

The people of Yelm and the city’s interest must be Harding’s sole overriding, unequivocal focus as mayor, for as long as he is mayor.

As an elected public servant, Harding should not be serving two masters: The City of Yelm and the chamber [Yelm Chamber of Commerce].”

Now, Graves is bringing up the issue once again, pointing-out that Harding as Yelm’s Mayor also serves as president of the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce AND sits in on the citys Transportation Committee.
Should Mayor Harding Serve Three Masters?
In the case of the Wal-Mart Blvd. naming, do Harding’s 3 positions appear as conflicts of interest?

To quote Graves, and I wholeheartedly agree:
The people of Yelm and the city’s interest must be Harding’s sole overriding, unequivocal focus as mayor, for as long as he is mayor.

What ever happened to naming a local street for our own people? Or locally owned businesses, as Graves suggests?
Or, do Harding & the Yelm City Council just take the easy path and sell-out to multi-national corporations and other influencers on issues of local importance?

IS THERE AN APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST FROM MAYOR HARDING?
LET’S HEAR FROM YOU – WHAT DO YOU SAY?