As Richard Benjamin scurries around town waiving a letter from the Public Disclosure Commission and seeking absolution for his role in the theft of the 2001 Des Moines City Council election, let us remember that the PDC simply dismissed the charges because it could not find specific evidence that Benjamin knew what was going on.

Lack of evidence is not exoneration.

The incident did indeed take place, as finally admitted by the conveyor belt investors and ex-mayor Don Wasson (who, incidentally, vehemently denied the charges right up until that moment, two days before Christmas 2002, when the PDC investigators slid the check with his signature on it across the table to him).

There is no question that $50,000 in illegal campaign contributions were utilized in Wasson's effort to elect Maggie Steenrod, Gary Petersen and Richard Benjamin.

What should concern Des Moines voters the most this November, as Maggie Steenrod and Gary Petersen seek re-election, is that not once in the three years since this dastardly plot was exposed have they or Richard Benjamin ever disavowed the scheme.

That speaks to character - or lack thereof.

Gene Achziger

Des Moine