OPINION

State Reps. Courser and Gamrat should step down

Livingston editorial board

Just when you think our state legislators can’t get bogged down anymore, they find themselves faced with how to deal with their own members involved in a sex scandal and coverup.

It’s become a distraction, and we hope the Republican-controlled legislature deals with this swiftly and appropriately. Most Michigan residents are still waiting for our legislators to come up with a plan to fix the roads – something that has been discussed for years.

Let’s be clear about a few things regarding Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat. We’re not shocked or outraged that the two married officials admitted to “indiscretions.” We’re not naïve to think they’re the only elected officials who have had an extra-marital affair. It’s really none of our business.

However, it becomes our business when there is a coverup and it’s revealed how the two abused their position of power. It’s been reported that Courser and Gamrat had to cancel over 50 percent of the meetings set up for them, apparently because they were spending so much time together. This shows a complete disregard for elected office and trying to improve Michigan, which is what voters sending people to Lansing to accomplish.

This situation became bizarre when Courser decided­ – as the Lansing State Journal reported­ -- to send out an anonymous false e-mail about paying for gay sex because he was being blackmailed. In an audio-recording, Courser blamed his former staffers for colluding with the Lansing "mafia" establishment to bring him down. And it didn't work, Courser said, because he has decided to stay in office to expose the "political shenanigans" that are happening in Lansing.

Well, it’s good to know the King of Shenanigans, Courser, is on the job.

We expect to see some harebrained scheme like that in a comedy, but not at the offices of our state legislature.

Equally offensive is how Courser and Gamrat treated their staff. The Lansing State Journal reported the following comments after a news conference with former aide Joshua Cline.

"Reps. Courser and Gamrat would routinely disappear for hours at a time -- especially on Thursdays after session -- and then they would come back and ask us to get them dinner," Cline said. "I began to suspect that Rep. Courser and Gamrat were having an inappropriate physical relationship. In January, I mentioned my concerns to Courser and Gamrat at a late-night staff meeting. I suggested they should adopt and enforce professional and personal boundaries. They quickly dismissed my concerns and impressed upon me that as a mere staffer, such a suggestion was not my place."

The comments Courser allegedly told his staff reveal someone who has no interest in serving the public.

"We had a staff meeting in early January and he said, 'Let's get it straight boys. We're not here to pass legislation. We're here for the messaging moments and media,'" Cline said.

The legislature is investigating whether Courser or Gamrat violated any rules to determine what steps it must take to address this strange debacle and move on.

The best solution is if Courser and Gamrat were to admit they abused their office and resign. It would be the right and honorable thing to do, but it doesn’t look likely that will happen.

Voters elected Courser and Gamrat to work on ways to improve Michigan, but they apparently decided working on their night moves, as Bob Seger sang, was more important. An elected official who cancels more than half of his or her meetings should immediately step down because it shows a complete lack of dedication and respect for the office. Michigan voters deserve better.

--Livingston editorial board