Legislative mulligan
It’s not uncommon for Mike Field, an assistant county attorney, to appear before the County Council to testify on bills that correct technical errors in county law.
His Nov. 25 appearance was a little different because the error he sought to correct was an oversight in a bill he wrote earlier this year.
“I’ve come back for a mulligan,” Field, an assistant county attorney, told the council during its Nov. 25 work session. “Is that the right word, a mulligan? I’m not a golfer.”
Field was the author of a bill in July that increased the penalties for a plethora of parking violations including doubling the fine from $75 to $150 for parking illegally in a space designated for handicapped drivers. The fine appears in two places in the law but the bill only changed it in one section, Field said.
“So you admit you made a mistake,” said Council Chairman Kevin Kamenetz, playfully ribbing Field. “First time this year?
“First mistake this year?” Field asked. “No.”
Kamenetz continued, mock interrogation-style.
“This decade? First time you’ve admitted to making a mistake?”
“No, ask Fred (Homan) and John (Beverungen), I admit to making mistakes all the time,” Field replied.
Councilman John Olszewski Sr., who is also a golfer, was quick to pile on.
“Mr. Chairman, usually you get three mulligans for $20 so he’s got two left,” Olszewski said.
It was all in good fun and not completely unexpected by Field.
“I knew when I was coming here I was going to get nailed,” he said with a smile as he finished his testimony.