Ever since Göran Eriksson’s election to the City Council last week, a bitterly worded ideological debate has been playing out here:

Is the businessman-environmentalist more a man of commerce or of the environment?

Although some voters before and after the election regarded his twin philosophical towers as a startling clash of cultures, Mr. Eriksson strongly but quietly – his trademark — resists the either/or argument.

His parallel beliefs are neither mysterious nor unique to Mr. Eriksson, who emigrated to America 33 years ago.

“I see myself as both,” he said.

Only in America are they seen as contrary commitments, says the Swedish-born entrepreneur who regularly travels Europe and across America.

“My experience from other places around the world is that there is not the divide that exists here. In the U.S., it seems as if it is all based on politics.

“I don’t believe in that,” Mr. Eriksson said.

“I have a lot of friends in my home country who are pro-business but they also are environmentalists.”

Mr. Eriksson said that Sweden’s former Minister of the Environment is one of his closest friends.

Since leaving office last year, she has been operating her own business.

“There is no contradiction there,” says the new Councilman.

“We all have a concern for making this world better and sustainable.”

Applying irrefutable economical logic, “no one wants to run an unsustainable business,” he said, employing the favorite adjective of environmentalists. “That doesn’t make sense,”

(To be continued)