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Perez Vetoes FOI Board Appointee

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

March 19, 2009

The city council last week appointed three people to the city's new Freedom of Information Advisory Board -- two Democrats and one Republican.

But this week, Mayor Eddie A. Perez vetoed the appointment of Republican Patricia Conrad, saying in a letter to the council that it was a violation of the charter by appointing her without his prior review.

"I do need individuals to express their interest and present their qualifications directly to my office so they may receive proper consideration before being presented to council," Perez wrote.

For more of the legal and bureaucratic back story, read Cityline's posting on it from last week.

Councilman Matt Ritter says having the mayor be the fly in the FOI ointment is better than having the council do the same.

"I would rather have the mayor veto it ... than violate the Freedom of Information Act," Ritter said. He also suggested that Perez may be dragging his feet because he doesn't like the idea of the FOI board anyhow. "There's no question that it was not an administration-supported board. They were not endeared to the board, and they had some good arguments why it could cause problems."

Susan McMullen, filling in for Perez spokeswoman Sarah Barr, said that the mayor's office is working to get Conrad reconsidered for the spot Also, another non-Democrat expressed interest, too, she said.