The sad times continue with news of the Ethics Complaint

As we are still mourning the passing of the legend that was Rep. Lois DeBerry, it was rather sad to see that the long-rumored House Ethics Committee complaint against Randy Wade had to be filed by our Congressman, Steve Cohen.

If you read the complaint at this link, you will see that what Randy did was in fact a violation of House Ethics rules, a violation that the Congressman himself warned Randy about.  Randy, who retired in February as a staffer, can face no penalties, as he is no longer a staffer.

He used his title as a Congressional staffer to endorse a candidate (G A Hardaway in House District 93), which is against House rules.  Period.  If Randy had endorsed Mike Kernell, it would have been just as much of a violation of House rules.  Period.

I like Randy and Steve is a friend of mine going back over 30 years, I am proud to say.  They were a terrific team together, and I know Steve did all he could within the law to help Randy in his Sheriff's race in 2010, but it just was not to be.  That's why this is a sad situation, reminiscent of a divorce more than anything else.

Supposedly Randy is going to work against Steve Cohen next year if someone is silly enough to try to do what no one since Harold Ford Jr. in 1996 has been able to do, which is to beat Steve in a primary.  That, too, is sad, because it just looks petty, and Randy is a better person than that, or so I have always believed.  Besides, if the 18-year Mayor of Memphis, Dr. W.W. Herenton, couldn't beat Steve, how will anyone else?

This has not been the best of years for Steve Cohen, and I know all of this has taken its toll on him. I would urge him to continue to fight for our city, as he has done since 1982 (24 years in Nashville, 6 in Washington.  We will have your back, Congressman, as you have had ours.