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Distasteful self-aggrandizement© St. Petersburg Times published May 2, 2002 Tampa City Council member Gwen Miller has a tacky request on today's council agenda: She wants to name a playground after herself. No subtleties here. The idea comes from the city's parks, recreation and culture committee -- which Miller happens to chair. Naming parks and public buildings after living people is problematic enough. Plenty of honorees have embarrassed themselves and dishonored government service. That's why most public boards reserve the honor for the deceased. That way, the distinction reflects a lifetime of service, not a person at the pinnacle of her power. What makes this self-aggrandizement even more distasteful is that it comes as Miller seeks a citywide council seat. She should have had enough discretion to realize the timing would understandably call her motives into question, putting her fellow council members in the awkward position of tacitly boosting her election campaign. Miller should withdraw the proposal, if not because it's the right thing to do, then because it would deny her opponents a legitimate campaign issue.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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From the Times Opinion page |
