Council squabbles

The dissonance surrounding accusations against county Mayor Nancy Workman, who is now on administrative leave, spread to the County Council Tuesday.

Council members spent an hour arguing — loudly and vociferously — over an ethics ordinance proposed in the wake of the county scandals.

"I believe what you're doing is partisan . . . ," Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch said to Republican Councilmen Steve Harmsen and Russell Skousen, who pitched the proposed ordinance. "I am skeptical that this issue is only coming up now the Republicans are running scared."

Councilman Mike Jensen said Hatch was being "disingenuous."

"You get Steve and Alan (Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton) who take some leadership, and you throw a tirade at them," he told Hatch.

"Conspiracy theories are alive and well," Skousen said. "If you can't get elected on the issues just say, 'Vote for me because I'm not one of them.' "

Dayton sat weary and bemused during the prolonged and heated exchange.

"I can't wait to get out of this place," he said afterward.