By Parker Leavitt
The Arizona Republic
A new Gilbert councilman was “outside his bounds” in attempting to quiz town officials about their political beliefs in a litmus-style questionnaire, sparking concerns over a possible collision of ideology and public administration, experts say.
Conservative Town Councilman Jared Taylor, who on Tuesday was sworn in to a four-year term, says he was only trying to build a “catalog of resources” and reduce the learning curve as a newly elected leader.
Taylor’s questionnaire asked town employees to list their name, department, education and professional background before delving into their philosophies on government, citizen rights and the U.S. Constitution.
“What do you believe is the role of government?” the document asked. “When was the last time you had a meaningful study of the U.S. Constitution?”
One question asked employees to describe what they do each day to protect the rights of Gilbert residents.
