TRAVERSE CITY — City Commissioner Jim Carruthers blamed politics for a utility board appointment flap that may have violated state law.
A committee comprised of Carruthers and fellow commissioners Barbara Budros and Jeanine Easterday initially recommended appointing Tim Pulliam to the Traverse City Light & Power board. But the committee pulled the recommendation before this week's commission meeting and plans to re-interview Pulliam and another candidate, Bob Spence.
Carruthers contends the reason for the backtrack is because Spence has support from business interests and Bryan Crough, Downtown Development Authority director.
"When Bob Spence interviewed he really said, 'I know little about Light & Power,'" Carruthers said. "He said Bryan Crough pushed him to do this."
"It's not up to Crough to be directing this process," Carruthers said.
Crough and Budros dismissed the contention.
"I'm not pushing anybody, and I've spoken to no one about it," Crough said.
Crough said he encouraged Spence to seek the Light & Power post and often suggests people apply for city and county positions. Crough knows Spence through his service on the board that oversees the City Opera House and through his construction company.
Spence is a vice president and director of northern Michigan operations for family-owned Spence Brothers Construction. Pulliam is president of Keen Technical Solutions, LLC, an energy efficiency consultant to private industry.
Budros said no one talked to her about changing her recommendation before Monday's meeting.
"I had second thoughts," she said. "I just decided I liked one of the candidates better."
Spence said he grew more enthusiastic about the utility position after his interview with the committee. He researched and talked to people who served on the Light & Power board, including mayor and former utility board member Michael Estes and current board member Patrick McGuire. He left messages for Easterday and Budros before Monday's commission meeting and spoke briefly with Carruthers to assure them of his interest.
"I didn't ask anybody to make calls on my behalf; this is a position where you serve the city, not where there's any potential gain for me," Spence said.
Pulliam could not be reached for comment.
Region
Carruthers: Politics to blame for flap
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