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