In Defense of Robbie Waters

Full Disclosure: Councilman Waters appointed me to my post on the Sacramento Youth Commission.

City Council member Robbie Waters (pictured here with District Director Pat Clark, another youth commissioner, and myself) has been accused in recent days of illegally spending campaign funds to embellish his business, Pocket Custom Framing. Waters claims he is running a district office inside the store.

Now, I am not a campaign finance expert. But I can say that this story is being blown way out of context.

As involved constituents know, ever since he was elected in 1994 Councilman Waters has had an open door policy at his business, at that time a full-fledged hardware store. Citizens were welcome to stop on by and discuss city business at any time, even if they did not buy anything. As a small child, I remember my parents going into the store on numerous occasions for this very reason.

This open door policy has continued with the Councilman’s new framing business. Constituents are still welcome to come by and talk with their representative in city government. Anyone is welcome. It is the closest you can get to a district office without the city physically owning the property.

While I’ve never seen the backroom that apparently is the actual district office, it does not matter. Councilman Water’s hospitality at his business should allow him to claim it as a legitimate office that serves the needs of the people he serves.