Des Moines Register
04-06-06
Constituents rally behind embattled council member
JASON CLAYWORTH
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Many residents of Archie Brooks' ward staunchly defended the Des Moines city
councilman this week, despite his central role in the brewing financial scandal at
a Des Moines job-training program that he oversaw.
"He helps everybody he knows," said Frank Valadez, a lifelong south-side
resident.
Valadez, who helps run an American Legion post that Brooks helped establish,
says he won't judge Brooks' actions until a federal investigations is complete.
"You could call him in the middle of the night, and he'd be there."
Brooks, who was first elected to the Des Moines City Council in 1975, has a long
history of political highs and lows. Over the years, he has been cast as a local
hero and a good ol' boy politician. His tenure as board chairman of the Central
Iowa Employment and Training Consortium also has seen problems.
An Ames political science expert said Wednesday that he thinks Brooks may be
more damaged politically than it would appear. A federal investigation and a
legislative inquiry could seriously tarnish his credibility and that of the other
elected officials on CIETC's board, he said.
"This is painful on so many levels," said Steffen Schmidt, an Iowa State
University political science professor. "I'm very concerned about (voters')
general cynicism of government and politics."
Schmidt said he would advise Brooks, the chairman of the consortium, to
consider stepping down from the City Council. Even if he is cleared of illegal
wrongdoing, people will not trust him.
"There are moments when people have to realize their credibility, which is the
only thing politicians have, is hurt," Schmidt said.
CIETC board member Ako Abdul-Samad, also a Des Moines school board
member, is running for the Iowa Legislature. Samad said he knows board
members have work to do to redeem themselves in the public's eye.
"I think we need to resolve the situation that we're involved in now, and then we
need to look at our role as a board and scrutinize a little more," he said.
A state auditor's report released last week showed that CIETC paid $1.8 million
to three top executives in the past 30 months.
In that time, Ramona Cunningham, CIETC's current chief executive officer,
received almost $800,000 in pay and bonuses. Chief Operating Officer John
Bargman was given almost $770,000. The agency's chief accountant, Karen
Tesdell, was given almost $300,000 in that time, according to a state audit.
Auditors said that the three executives' salaries were excessive and that the
bonuses they received were not a proper use of public money.
Brooks personally approved the salary agreements, which is a responsibility of
the board chairman. Other board members, including Vice Chairman Dave Reed,
have said they had little or no knowledge of the bonuses.
Brooks this week took partial responsibility for the payments.
"I admit it was probably not good judgment," he said. "I did not sit here and keep
a running total. I mean, paying somebody five times greater than what I get paid
didn't sit well with me, either, when I found out."
The councilman also blamed a stroke he had about eight months ago in part for
contributing to his inability to keep track of details.
Since the audit report was released, city, state and federal leaders have been
bombarded with angry phone calls and messages from taxpayers about the
bonuses.
Des Moines City Councilwoman Christine Hensley said the scandal has
overshadowed virtually all other city business.
"Anytime you have an elected official with allegations made, it paints us all with a
tarnished brush," Hensley said. "It's a problem for all elected officials."
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said that, for the city's good, the investigation
needs to move swiftly. He said he will not ask Brooks to step down.
When asked whether the crisis would affect Brooks' credibility, Cownie asked,
"How could this not?"
"When something like this comes out, whether you're guilty or not guilty, you're
there. It's hanging on," he said.
South-side resident Jenny Belieu said she won't know what to think about the
scandal until more information is released about the bonuses.
She noted, however, that she questions Brooks' accountability.
"The thing that didn't make sense is he didn't keep track of the checks and
things," Belieu said.