It might be recalled that when the consideration began over who would lead the tourism task force, Munden was not the enthusiastic choice of many commissioners. This was, without a doubt because the Web site Munden runs, East Texas Towns Online, regularly hammers city officials with criticism.

When opposition was revealed a number of people rose up to defend the choice of Munden to lead the task force. His resume was sent around to commissioners and to area media, including The Marshall News Messenger. A full-court press was installed to see that he was appointed to lead the task force.

For the record, this newspaper wrote an editorial that Munden himself should refuse the appointment and he would be the better for it. We argued then that, as he had established himself as a commentator on the city and tourism, he had a personal conflict of interest, though not an ethical one.