To the editor:

The mayor has the pleasure of appointing individuals to volunteer commissions. Commissioner McElhaney begins making light of financial contributions to campaigns because he disagrees with Mayor Rundle and his appointment of Marguerite Ermeling to the city-county planning commission (J-W, Tuesday, Wednesday).

McElhaney may be opening a can of worms that will come back to haunt him. Many people assume many of his larger contributors were or have been connected to the growth industry. County commissioners make important decisions that can and do affect members of the growth industry and their profit margins. Is it time to examine such activity?

Should anyone who has the slightest involvement with the growth industry that constitutes a conflict of interest appearance be allowed on the city/planning commission? There are some now who probably could have been challenged based on the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Marguerite Ermeling may be far more qualified than some would like to believe.

Richard Heckler,

Lawrence