| For the record on returning the donation |
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| Written by Rob Bennett | |
| Sunday, 04 November 2007 | |
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The following is a copy of an e-mail that was sent to the City Council and members of the media, as well as the text of the letter that was sent to Peterson Development.
To the City Council and City Officers:
For your information,
To avoid the appearance of impropriety that has arisen from this issue with Peterson Development, please find attached the letter to them with the return of their $1,500 donation as of today, November 3rd. I don't imagine that this will make any practical difference considering the timing of this issue so close to election day, but I believe it the best thing to do so at least, win or lose, this charge will not be left to besmirch my integrity.
Thank you,
Rob Bennett
To Peterson Development, Letter sent November 3rd
Dear Barrett,
Thank you for your generous campaign contribution last month. As I’m sure you did, I had no idea of the controversy that this would generate. I apologize that the timing of my asking for your consideration of a campaign donation at a time that you had projects in process with the City was, to the outward appearance, ill-advised and may have had the appearance of suggesting that your contributing to me would have an impact on my support for or against your projects. This would be an absolute violation of the public trust I have as a public official and if you construed this in any way at all, I absolutely affirm there was no intent of my ever voting any differently in regards to your projects or any other's whether you donated to my campaign or not. There are many developers in the city who have not donated to me and they will also not get special consideration either for or against their projects, but solely based on the merits of their projects alone for the best interests of the City I represent, as I have always done.
To avoid the "appearance of evil" and to preserve the good name of your company as well as my own, I am returning your campaign donation of $1,500 and appreciate your graciousness in being willing to support a council member, as you said in your letter, who has "always been fair and balanced in how [I] treat each zoning request."
Thank you,
Robert M. Bennett West Jordan City Council
CC: Gary Luebbers, City Manager Roger Cutler, City Attorney Melanie Briggs, City Recorder West Jordan Mayor and City Council
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