Madison Ald. Paul Skidmore has proposed exempting assistant city attorneys from the need to file financial disclosure forms. These include property holdings and financial interests, and are kept on file with the city clerk.
Skidmore says assistant city attorneys have asked him to make the change because of concerns for their safety. He tells of one city attorney who was stalked by and got a restraining order against the subject of a city enforcement action.
"There's compelling interest here to protect key city workers," says Skidmore. "If a staff member is concerned for their safety, I take it very seriously."
City attorney Michael May does not support the change and will speak against it at the Ethics Board's June 2 meeting. "There's no basis to exclude attorneys," he says.
