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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, May 19, 2008 Page 13 ber Kough's choice. Councilmember Ihlan further opined that arguments ex- pressed by her fellow Councilmembers about incumbency impact of "king- maker/caretaker" candidates were irrelevant and without merit. Councilmember Ihlan opined that Ms. Schaffer and other applicants, had a right to run for elected office; and further opined that a "lame duck" appointee was not democratic and would make important Council votes, without accountability to the public. Coun- cilmember Ihlan opined that some members of the City Council seemed to think that they knew better who should best serve on the City Council; and that such an opinion was just plain wrong. Councilmember Ihlan advocated for the most de- mocratic process; opining that the "kingmaker" comments were a smokescreen, and would only serve to promote a political appointment of friends of Council- members on a 3/1 vote. Councilmember Pust noted her previous list of qualities that she'd be looking for in an interim appointee. Councilmember Pust specifically addressed the motion for appointment of Karen Schaffer to the position, acknowledging Ms. Schaffer's attendance at tonight's meeting. Councilmember Pust noted Ms. Schaffer's commitment to public service as being without reproach; her proven leadership abilities; and her obvious personal connection to and passion for Roseville. Councilmember Pust addressed comments of Councilmember Ihlan regarding what Tom Kough would do; but opined that Councilmember Ihlan was not the only Councilmember who had views on what former Councilmember Kough would do or his representation of the community. Without divulging the author, Councilmember Pust shared an e-mail she'd re- ceived earlier tonight regarding the appointment process and read it for the City Council and public's information, with the author noting interesting discussions, past City Council vacancies, and recognizing that no one choice was going to make everyone happy regardless of the process used; and noting that democracy at the local level was not always pretty. The author further opined that former Councilmember Tom Kough always championed the City and voted for what he thought was best and represented the best solution for the majority of the commu- nity; and that even while noting that some would disagree with his vote, he didn't hold that against them, but respected them. Councilmember Pust concluded her reading of the a-mail with the author's desire for the best person to fill the va- cancy, putting the City first; and expressing the author's faith in the City Council and opining that they'd do their best to evaluate all, and encouraged them to select the "cream of the crop" to fill the interim vacancy. Councilmember Pust expressed her agreement with the author of the a-mail, a Roseville citizen, and opined that citizens had elected her to do what she thought was best. Councilmember Pust, with respect for Ms. Schaffer's great qualities, opined that it would not be in the best interest of the City to appoint someone in- tending to run in the municipal election this fall, thus providing them with an in- cumbent advantage in that election, and thus interfering in the public process.