This letter is in response to an online press report from The Citizen newspaper, in which the paper reported council member Annie McMenamin had filed an ethics violation against me. I was not interviewed or afforded the opportunity to make any remarks prior to publication of the news story.

On the evening of Tuesday, March 14, I learned that one of my fellow council members, Annie McMenamin, had chosen to file an ethics violation complaint against me over an e-mail I had sent to the mayor, council members, city manager Jim Basinger, assistant city manager Joe Morton, and city clerk Nancy Faulkner on March 10. The complaint alleges that this was a violation of the Sunshine Law, presumably as it pertains to open meetings.

Although there was never any meeting of any kind (in person, electronic, or otherwise) on this subject, but simply a written request for feedback, evidently Mrs. McMenamin is upset with the manner in which I asked for council members' input on a proposed ordinance I authored which would enhance citizens' rights to be heard by their elected representatives.

Since I was the council member that introduced and got passed an enhanced ethics ordinance in January, I am very interested in maintaining high moral and ethical standards from publicly elected officials, and I am delighted to cooperate with the newly created ethics board.

Having said that, I also understand the current political climate on city council. It is quite clear to me that a number of my recent actions, which include being the only member of council to vote against the lifting of the annexation moratorium, being the only member of council to vote to allow free speech to be granted to a citizen, as well as having written a letter to the editor in support of that citizen and against what I perceive to be injustices, has drawn the wrath of more than a few well placed individuals.

I cannot help but wonder whether my criticism of city attorney Webb, Stuckey and Lindsey (Mrs. McMenamin's daughter's employer) in my letter to the editor played any part in Mrs. McMenamin's decision to file an ethics complaint against me. In addition, I am quite curious whether the fact that I told Mrs. McMenamin and the rest of council in a separate e-mail on March 4 that I might run for mayor next year (a position Mrs. McMenamin may well seek) had something to do with her decision to file an ethics complaint against me.

Frankly, this accusation comes as no surprise at all. In my opinion, this is very clearly baseless political retaliation designed to silence me because I have been a critic of injustices and irresponsible policy decisions, and I pose a real threat to the way things are traditionally done in Peachtree City government.

Nonetheless, I have faith in our form of government, and faith in the process, and I certainly have no doubt the Ethics Board will concur with my belief that no ethics violation has occurred.

Dan Tennant

City Councilman

Peachtree City

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