Last week the Yelm City Council faced a tie vote for regarding who should be appointed to fill the vacant seat after former councilor Mike McGowan resigned when he moved outside city limits.

A split vote for the most part is unusual on most city councils. At the least it shows a lack of consensus.

Council procedure calls for the mayor to break any tie votes. Mayor Ron Harding voted for Jennifer Littlefield over Tad Stillwell.

By all accounts Littlefield is a fine prospect to serve the citizens of Yelm. A read of today’s front page article on her requirements gives us every reason to believe she is up for the job. Likewise, Stillwell appears to have been a qualified candidate.

The problem in the appointment of Littlefield, however, is that Harding’s wife works for Littlefield’s husband.

Harding, in defending his vote, said the criticism comes from his nemesis Steve Klein, who ran against the mayor in 2005. Klein certainly does take on the mayor on many issues on his popular Yelm Community Blog.

This past week Klein wrote, “If Mr. Harding is to be trusted by the voters in his quest for higher political office, he is going to have to cease practices that are not in the public’s interest. While his actions may go unchallenged in his ‘Yelm Fiefdom,’ this kind of action will not play well for him in a county or state position.”

We don’t know about Harding’s aspirations for higher office. We do know that the higher up one goes in politics, the more scrutiny they get.

Harding is correct in his assessment that Klein has a long history opposing the mayor’s actions, but the criticism is also coming from many other quarters in Yelm. Several people contacted the Nisqually Valley News stating Harding should have recused himself. We join in that position.

If Littlefield is the right candidate, we trust the six members of the city council to make that determination without the mayor’s input.

Harding is also correct in stating he did nothing wrong legally. He characterized it as standard procedure. His vote is within his right. Sometimes, however, just because you can do something legally doesn’t make it the correct decision. This is one of those times.

Harding said the assertion he should have recused himself is “ridiculous.” He said he has an association with just about everyone in this community, and if he recused himself from such situations he wouldn’t be able to effectively lead Yelm.

Again, that statement by itself is true, but an association with a community member is markedly different from an association with someone you sleep with at night, get up with in the morning, and someone you balance the checkbook with.

Harding further deflected criticism, stating he doesn’t even know Littlefield’s husband. We counter that Harding’s wife certainly does.

We consider a husband and wife to be a package deal and Harding should ponder his statement “Now, if I worked for her, that would be maybe a conflict of interest …”

We do believe, as most public servants, Harding deeply cares for his community. He is also a gentleman in his everyday dealings.

The vote is done. We do have a qualified councilor in Littlefield. On this vote, however, we believe Harding tarnished himself and opens himself up for increased scrutiny.