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Keith Powers questions Mark Landis and closes public hearing
0:06:44
ยท
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Council Member Keith Powers questions Mark Landis about potential conflicts of interest related to his nomination to the Board of Elections, given the ongoing election cycle. Landis explains how he would handle conflicts and mentions his intentional avoidance of certain activities to prevent issues. Powers then closes the public hearing on Landis' recommendation.
- Landis confirms he signed and witnessed petitions but would seek guidance and recuse himself if conflicts arise.
- Discussion of Landis' involvement in committees of vacancies and his decision to avoid petition-related activities.
- No public testimony was given during the hearing.
Keith Powers
0:06:44
Thank you.
0:06:45
Just a few questions.
0:06:46
We I noted a sort of unique circumstances by which the timing is, and I think we all feel the urgency to fill a empty seat, with, election cycle underway.
0:07:00
Were you did you you're a state committee member today.
0:07:02
Is that correct?
0:07:03
Yes.
0:07:04
Were you there will be challenges to petitions and other conversations in the coming weeks.
0:07:09
Are you a signer of any petitions that would be appear at the Board of Elections?
0:07:15
I'm sorry.
0:07:15
What did I sign or a witness or a signer of any petitions that would appear at the Board?
Mark Landis
0:07:19
I I did sign a petition, and I did witness a petition.
0:07:24
The only signatories on the petition that I witnessed were my wife and my daughter who's sitting behind me, so I hope those signatures will not be challenged by anybody.
Keith Powers
0:07:34
Got it.
0:07:34
I don't think they will be.
0:07:35
I think they're I think they meet the criteria of and just how would you handle a a potential conflict if they're one or one if you were a witness or a signer or other issue that might come before the board where there would be a perceived conflict?
0:07:51
Being that we are in the thick of the election cycle and, obviously, you couldn't have been predicted this was gonna happen, so potentially may have done any of those things.
Mark Landis
0:08:00
Sure.
0:08:00
Well, certainly, in any situation where there's either an actual and apparent conflict, I would seek guidance from the Board of Elections Council and, ultimately, recuse if there is an issue.
0:08:10
I do serve on some committees on vacancies of candidates, so I understand that issue, you know, may come up in that context.
0:08:19
However, with the possibility of this appointment pending, I intentionally did not get involved in any cleaning, binding, or submission of petitions this year just to make sure that would not become an issue.
Keith Powers
0:08:35
Got it.
0:08:36
And in the committee of vacancies issue, you would recruit yourself as well?
0:08:39
Yes.
0:08:40
Got
UKNOWN
0:08:40
it.
0:08:41
Okay.
0:08:41
Other questions?
Keith Powers
0:08:45
Okay.
0:08:45
We can take a vote.
0:08:52
Oh, sorry.
0:08:53
We'll, excuse you and allow for public testimony.
0:08:56
Thanks so much.
0:09:01
I'll now open the floor to public testimony.
0:09:03
Are there any members of the public who have signed up to test ify on the recommendation of Mark Landis to serve on the board of elections?
0:09:12
Seeing no one signed up to public hearing on the recommendation to serve on the board of elections is now closed.
0:09:17
Thank you, mister Landis.