Bring in the brokers.

We stand behind City Council’s decision to seek proposals for city insurance and not wait until next year for city Mayor Gabriel J. Campana to do so himself.

Council is correct to push past the seemingly cozy relationship between Mayor Campana and Steven W. Cappelli, a former city mayor and state representative who has an executive-level position with one of the city’s two insurance providers.

Council also is correct to seek the best deal possible from all insurance companies out there that are available to provide coverage and protect the city’s interests.

Not only is City Council correct to not settle for less – which is what the mayor and his associates appear to be dishing out – but it is beholden to the city’s taxpayers.

They expect council to represent them properly, to step up and watch out for their bottom line.

It appears the only bottom line being served right about now is that of the insurance company that employs Cappelli.

While the existing carrier may ultimately represent the best deal possible for the city, that should be proven through a competitive process.

The fact that the mayor is so insistent on simply retaining the existing carrier without looking elsewhere creates understandable curiosity for everyone.

What, if any, is Cappelli’s role in all of this? Does he receive commissions related to the contract for the city’s liability insurance?

These questions exist because the mayor is being so protective of the insurer rather than doing the logical thing, which would be creating competition for the service on behalf of taxpayers. The premise of economic competition creating the best situation for the consumer – in this case, the city and its taxpayers – has about a 243-year record of success in this country.

Councilwoman Liz Miele got it correct when she said:

“Outside businesses trying to manipulate a fair and open process of picking brokers is not in the best interest of taxpayers.”

The fair question for Mayor Campana is this:

Who do you represent?