Part 4 - A Closer Look At Republican Mayor Phil Young's Problems, or...

by: TwoPuttTommy

Thu Jun 03, 2010 at 10:29:58 AM CDT

Yesterday, the Strib did an update* on Republican Mayor Phil Young's problems.  Most notable was the news that while Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's office declined to prosecute for felony charges, Eden Prairie's Prosecutor sent the case to the Metropolitan Airports Commission's Prosecuting Attorney due to possible conflict of interest issues.  That Prosecutor is considering misdemeanor, or even gross misdemeanor, charges.

Should be a slam-dunker.

As noted in Part 1 and in Part 2 and in Part 3, Eden Prairie Mayor Phil Young is in a whole lotta trouble; trouble of his own making because he filled out meeting reimbursement claim forms - in his own handwriting - for meetings he didn't attend (26 at the last count, according to the Strib) and then signed them under penalty of perjury.  Additionally, "The Mayor Who Would Be Judge" (we'll get to that in a future post) turned in a mileage claim for attending meetings he never attended -- takin' the ol' unearned double-dip from the city's taxpayer-provided coffers.  Oh - and again, that double-dip was in his own handwriting, and - again - signed under penalty of perjury.

How's THAT for a neat little trick by a GOPer with a reputation for watchin' the Public's Purse like a hawk?

Phil Young is the perfect example of a GOPer running for office on the platform "You can't trust gov't!!!" - and, once in power, proving it.

All the above deals with just the 26 meetings of the Minnesota Regional Council of Mayors GOPer Young claimed he went to, under penalty of perjury, but didn't.  I've been taking a closer look at some of the other meetings Young claimed reimbursement for, and today we'll look at GOPer Young's claimed meeting with GOPer State Representative Jenifer Loon!

The questions I emailed to Rep. Loon, R = ChamberOfCommerce 42B, are below the fold:

From:  TwoPuttTommy (redacted)
Sent:  Tue 6/01/10 10:19 AM
To:   Rep. Loon (redacted)
Subj: 2nd Request: 22 February 2010 Meeting With Mayor Phil Young

Dear Rep. Loon,

As you know, I am a blogger at www.MnProgressiveProject.com  and an occasional Guest Host on AM950 KTNF radio.  I am writing about the current scandal involving Mayor Young.

According to Mayor Young's 15 March 2010 City Council Meeting Attendance Claim Form, Mayor Young attended a meeting with you - which he was reimbursed for.  Presumably, as the Mayor Young was reimbursed, the meeting had to deal with official governmental business.  Accordingly, can you tell me where the meeting was held, and how long the meeting lasted?

Where there any others in attendance during this meeting?  What official governmental issues were discussed?  Did you keep any notes of this meeting?

Did you claim any monetary reimbursement for attending this meeting?

Your prompt response is appreciated.

Tommy Johnson

I originally sent that email on May 24th; followed up with the above on June 1st, and left a voicemail for Rep. Loon on the same day.

Yesterday, I called her office to follow up; the friendly person answering the phone suggested I call Rep. Loon at home - and even provided the number!

So, I did.

I told Rep. Loon why I was calling; she told me she couldn't comment as the case was still under investigation.  I asked her if she had gotten my emails and voice mail; she said she had.  I asked her if her position was still "no comment" - she affirmed.

Two points:  1 - the case isn't "still under investigation" - the Plymouth Police completed the investigation and forwarded the results to the Hennepin County Attorney for possible felony - FELONY - prosecution (as noted above, the case is now under review for possible misdemeanor prosecution); and 2 - Rep. Loon would not - NOT - even confirm nor deny that a meeting between an elected Mayor and an elected State Representative took place??!?

WOW!!!

That "no comment" raises more questions - a LOT more questions - stay tuned!!!

* And For The Record - in yesterday's Strib story, it was reported:

The matter is expected to come up at the Eden Prairie City Council meeting June 15, Eden Prairie City Manager Scott Neal said. Two people have asked to speak at the open forum, to ask for Young's resignation.

One of those two, is me.