Letter to the editor: Can’t risk voting for Lillie

As we inch closer to Election Day on Nov. 6, I continue to be deeply troubled by the ethical lapses of Ted Lillie, the current Lake Elmo senator who moved to Woodbury in May to run for an open Senate seat. Lillie has a disturbing pattern of using taxpayer funds for political purposes, and the thought of him serving four more years in the Senate is a chilling prospect for Woodbury taxpayers.

It is hard to ignore that in September a three-judge panel found Lillie guilty — and fined him — for inappropriately using taxpayer dollars to fund campaign activity during the February precinct caucuses.

It is hard to ignore that in September a Fox 9 investigative news team found that Lillie was using the taxpayer funded state Capitol as a staging ground for his campaign activity.

And it is very hard to ignore that Lillie — as assistant leader of the Senate Republican Caucus — has condoned payment of over $103,000 of our tax dollars for legal bills stemming from the Republican Sen. Amy Koch-Michael Brodkorb sex scandal, rather than calling for a private legal defense fund.

It’s hard to believe that Lillie has racked up such an unethical record in less than two years in the Minnesota Senate. We simply can’t risk voting “yes” to a four-year term for someone who has shown such disdain for Woodbury taxpayers. That is why I will be voting, and encouraging you all to vote for Susan Kent on Nov. 6.

Tim Franey - Woodbury

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, updates, elections