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Food for Thought: Kren HAS voted in favor of contracts with Bujak

Submitted by MeAndG on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 3:59am.

Crossposted on Daily Kos


‎"I was the only council member that did not go along with the proposal for the Bujak contract with the county," - Stephen Kren in the Oct. 12, 2011 Idaho Press Tribune.

"In Nampa the Gang of 4, (Mayor Tom Dale), (Councilwoman Pam)White, (Councilman Martin) Thorne and (Councilman Curtis) Homer have voted for every tax increase they could legally get away with including Urban Renewal which caused the 5% increase to 2012 taxes," writes Ronald M. Harriman on the Idaho Statesman website. "(Councilman) Stephen Kren is the only one who stood against these efforts and singly tried to stop the now infamous Bujak contract."

Really?

Here is some background.

According to the Idaho Press Tribune:

(Former Canyon County Prosecutor John) Bujak won over the hearts of voters and his fellow county officers with his sharp campaign to reorganize and improve county prosecutions followed by a first year in office where he appeared to do everything right and nothing wrong.

The idea of saving taxpayer dollars using economy of scale to prosecute Nampa misdemeanor and traffic cases seemed too good to pass up. Although the Idaho Press-Tribune and critics raised concerns about his plan to put proceeds into a private account, the law stood on his side.

In that context, county commissioners and the majority of the Nampa City Council agreed to the Bujak-controlled trust fund — the one that’s almost broke now even though he owes the county six figures.

But what is Kren's real and complete voting history on Bujak?

June 1, 2009 - All council members voted Yes. Page 7. Read the Nampa City Council Minutes.

Sept. 8, 2009 - No dissenting votes on Bujak contract. Page 8. Read the Nampa City Council Minutes.

Aug. 16, 2010 - Kren finally votes Nay, twice. Page 10. Read the Nampa City Council Minutes.

Oct. 18, 2010 - Kren makes the motion to approve the contract with Bujak, just two months after voting No. Page 4. Read the Nampa City Council Minutes.

Food for thought: What changed from Aug. 16 to Oct. 18 that changed Kren's mind and led him to vote in favor of the Bujak contract?

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Flip Flop

Submitted by MeAndG on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 7:40am.

From the Dec. 11, 2010 Idaho Press Tribune:

In August Kren voted against renewing the Bujak contract with Nampa. Friday he said the commissioners are “in some ways” responsible for the situation. He said the agreement that allowed Bujak to keep the Nampa payments privately should never have been approved.

“It should have been handled differently,” Kren said. “By allowing it they (commissioners) gave their blessing and now look where it’s gotten us.

___

Oct. 18, 2010 - Kren makes the motion to approve the contract with Bujak, just two months after voting No. Page 4. Read the City Council Minutes.

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