Gene Knutson is not knowingly part of any arrangement by Mark to succeed him as mayor. Below in yesterday's post I suggested just that but today I've been convinced that Gene is personally on the up and up and that he only learned yesterday for the first time that Mark was going for the new job. In all his years on the council, Gene has tried to be a straight up and honest representative. My apologies to Gene.

Now, that said, let us be careful to not apply that to all the process of replacing Mark. The process of his application by the new job leaves several questions. Did no one in the city know when he applied in July? Is Mark actively working the council members for his personal selection as his successor? And the big point - this quitting of an elective office a year before retirement is an old and corrupting procedure used to stifle the emergence of opposition candidates.