Letter to the editor: Lillie only watching out for himself?

As a somewhat weary political observer, I can look away from a lot of political "shenanigans." When it comes to "Travelin' Ted" Lillie – the politician who just moved from Lake Elmo to Woodbury for the purposes of running in an open Senate seat – I can overlook his carpetbagger status.

I'm disappointed that in two years Lillie authored and worked to pass four controversial constitutional amendments, when his time would have been better spent creating jobs for our community. I can chalk that up to politics as usual.

But Lillie's disturbing pattern of reckless disregard for our tax dollars continues to reach new lows. As assistant Senate leader, Lillie has to date refused to call for a legal defense fund to pay for attorney bills associated with the Amy Koch-Michael Brodkorb sex scandal, which was an entirely internal GOP matter. Instead, Lillie and his Republican colleagues have signed off on paying a law firm $85,000 in public tax dollars as a first installment in what will undoubtedly grow into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Now I find from a Fox 9 investigative report that state employees were meeting in a Capitol office making preparations to campaign for Lillie. The e-mail obtained by Fox 9 News that rounded up these state employees says, "Senator Lillie and Senator Daley have both e-mailed me thanking you for volunteering." Is this what our tax dollars go for – providing a staging area in the people's Capitol building for Lillie's campaign activities?

As a Woodbury taxpayer I am appalled that Ted Lillie thinks our tax dollars are deposited in his own personal piggybank. His Jan. 24, 2012, press release states, "I am particularly proud of legislation that watches out for Minnesota taxpayers." How ironic, when the only taxpayer Lillie is watching out for is himself.

Tim Ward - Woodbury

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, elections