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Friday, February 10, 2012
Top Johnson Advisor Resigns To Work For Nestle
by LARRY MEADE, published on November 2, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Storyline: Sacramento Politics
Community Tags
business
kevin johnson
mayor
michelle smira
nestle
politics
sacramento
strong mayor initiative
Michelle Smira, a Republican strategist and consultant to mayor Kevin Johnson, resigned from her position on October 22. Below is her letter of resignation:
Dear Mayor Johnson,
It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as a volunteer in your office, the Office of the
Mayor. The opportunity to serve as your liaison to various organizations and to meet with constituents on your behalf has been very rewarding. Thank you for this opportunity.
I believe strongly that the people of Sacramento voted overwhelmingly for you to represent us as Mayor because we wanted change. What has become apparent is that we desperately need change. I will be stepping away as a volunteer in your official office to further help promote these goals in the community. I believe that the only way to ensure that Sacramento is truly “a City that Works for Everyone” is if you are in fact leading our City. We need to change our antiquated structure and I will be there to help educate our community on the issue.
It has been a wonderful experience working with you at City Hall and I look forward to again helping in this capacity at a later date.
Thank you,
Michelle Smira
In a recent interview to the Sacramento News & Review, Smira said that she was leaving her post as a volunteer advisor to focus her energy and attention to supporting Johnson's Strong Mayor Initiative. However, Smira's political affairs firm, MMS Strategies, was hired by Nestle Waters to assist in obtaining city support for it's planned water bottling plant in Sacramento less than 2 days after submitting her letter of resignation.
Had Smira been a paid city employee, she likely would have been prevented to accept a position such as the one with Nestle due to conflict of interest and revolving door policies that attempt to create clear divisions between government, business, and personal gain.
When asked by the Sacramento News & Review about this situation, Jessica Levinson, from the Center for Governmental Studies, said, "“There are all kinds of red flags. When volunteers are used in high level positions, it’s important to make sure they pass conflict of interest provisions."
Although Smira refers to herself as a volunteer, according to a city ordnance, she would be classified as a consultant. In March 2009, Sacramento City Council approved legislation that states, "An individual may be a consultant whether he or she is compensated or is an unpaid volunteer." A consultant is defined as someone who "serves in a staff capacity" and "participates in making a governmental decision."
Attempts to reach Smira and Johnson, as well as representatives from groups opposing the Nestle Water Bottling plant, were unsuccessful. This article will be updated as new information is made available.
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Great Comment - very insightful.
Besides the 25K loan that was converted to a contribution by the mayor, about $35K additionally came in from 07.01-09.30. To SAG's coffers.
08/20/2009-$10,000 from Marvin Oates...aka "Buzz" Oates
Who owns the Nestle's Bottling plant site at 8670 Younger Creek?
It seems like the events of the past year has been an outright endorsement of conflict of interest, revolving door policies, and an utter lack of clarity of divisions between government, business, and personal gain. Run into an ethical dilemna? Writing a check makes it go away. One of the Mayor's team gets hired by Nestle shortly after their new facility is approved? No problem, she was a "volunteer." Massive corruption in the development department? Hey everyone, let's build an arena! Don't worry about how we're going to pay for it--KJ will just write another check!
"Run into an ethical dilemna? Writing a check makes it go away. One of the Mayor's team gets hired by Nestle shortly after their new facility is approved? No problem, she was a "volunteer." Massive corruption in the development department? Hey everyone, let's build an arena! Don't worry about how we're going to pay for it--KJ will just write another check!"
It sounds like the revolving door policy can be applied -- if there is the will to do so, from.......
"Although Smira refers to herself as a volunteer, according to a city ordnance, she would be classified as a consultant. In March 2009, Sacramento City Council approved legislation that states, "An individual may be a consultant whether he or she is compensated or is an unpaid volunteer." A consultant is defined as someone who "serves in a staff capacity" and "participates in making a governmental decision."
Maybe KJ should change the term from "volunteer" to "intern."
http://sacramento.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=8&clip_id=2076
You are correct Susie
Rhonda Smira, sister to Michelle, was put up for confirmation to the Sacramento Sports Commission by the Mayor. ..outside of the normal nomination process... the PP&E Committee's recommendation was disregarded...and her name was placed on the agenda for confirmation. Watch the consent calendar testimony of the 09.08.2009 council meeting to see what happened.
Now what front burner issue could that commission be involved in?
Also an interesting side note by Councilmember Pannell--apparently a council of ministers named her in connection with a meeting that would include the promotion of the Strong Mayor Initiative, and she was very upset about having her name used in connection with SMI. She encouraged the ministers to read it, and come to their own conclusions, before supporting something that could cause such harm to the city of Sacramento.
On the issue of appointments, maybe the P&PE Committee should not only interview the applicants but read the applications. Do your job.
The Mayor's office and the people of Sacramento benefited from such dedication and selflessness. I congradulate here and wish here the best.