Everyone else deferred to him. Kersteen called these allegations baseless, adding that it is his responsibility to choose the best deal for taxpayers using his knowledge of telecommunications. There's no conflict because I don't work for GTE anymore. They are stooping pretty low to bring up charges that aren't true. She called the state Ethics Commission, which did not give an official opinion but talked through the issue with her.
All council members bring their own life experiences and work experiences to the debate.
I feel comfortable there is no conflict. Several times while he still worked for GTE, Kersteen faced similar questions about whether his jobs representing taxpayers and developing cell phone towers were in conflict. One of those times came in 1997, when the Times reported that Kersteen was one of the biggest supporters of a proposal to preserve the old Gandy Bridge, a plan that included leasing space for cell towers. GTE officials could not be reached Friday. Before Thursday's vote, council members thanked Kersteen for sharing his expertise and helping to frame the debate around the most important issues.