Nothing new, but now it goes viral

Excerpts from the UT:

In 2000, Muir helped form and became president of a political action committee, Encinitas Coalition of Home Owners, which donated money in the 2004 election to Bond, Councilman Jerome Stocks and a failed candidate, Alice Jacobson. Muir's participation in the group has waned, he said. His wife is still treasurer.  

Who runs ECHO if not Mark? Does ECHO have members?

Muir bristles at the suggestion that his career path was aided by political favors.  

Bristles? The whole thing looks bad. It looks no different than if Muir got his millionaire job simply because he is friends and did political favors for the council majority. He shouldn't bristle. He should prove that his rise and his wealth is in no way a response to him being a political operative for the council majority, and then after that he can go big on the bristling. 

  “That is ridiculous,” he said. “I donate to nonprofit organizations and hold fund-raisers for schools. The fact that I am engaged in the community should not keep me from becoming chief.”

The concerns are not about the charity work but that was a nice deflection response that Muir tossed out. The concerns are about his political ties. Donating to nonprofits should not get the taxpayer funded millionaire job either. Worse, being bros with the council majority should not get you the job. Even more, doing campaign work for the council should not result in favors paid on the taxpayer's dime. 

  Councilman Dan Dalager dismisses the rumors as just that.

Just like Randy Duke dismissed the charges, when the facts needed to be explained. The facts need to be explained in Muir's case because the simplest explanation is cronyism.

“We had three division chiefs in the running,” Dalager said. “I see in them competence and decency. I would be very disappointed if (Miller) didn't hire one of them.” Bond said he supports Muir because of his abilities. “He has exceptional interpersonal skills,” Bond said. “He is a cost-effective, conservative-thinking guy. He is knowledgeable of any fire situation and great organizer who moves people in the same direction.  

Bond often talks about how hands off he is with the city's adminstration and probably knows even less about the fire department than other departments. As long a Bond's memory holds out, he knows how well Muir is at organizing campaigns. Muir has been directly asked about the scope of his political operations in city council campaigns. He has not cleared the air. More on that later.