Local Officials Officiating at Restricted Sources' Weddings
According to <a href="https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2014/12/08/inside-city-hall-whats-behind-…; target="”_blank”">an
article yesterday on the Baltimore <i>Brew</i> website</a>, a
year ago Baltimore's mayor officiated at a wedding between two
individuals who lobby the city government. In Las Vegas, no less.<br>
<br>
Mayors, judges and, sometimes, other local government officials
often officiate at weddings. Some ethics codes have a special
exception from the gift ban that allows for this, but most make no
mention of it.<br>
<br>
The question is, should there be limits on officiating at weddings,
or should government officials be allowed to use their public office
to officiate at anyone's wedding, including those of lobbyists,
contractors, developer, and grantees ("restricted sources")?<br>
<br>
The common concern is that government officials will use their
office to financially benefit themselves or those with whom they
have special relationships. Officiating at a wedding does not
financially benefit anyone, except to the extent a couple may
otherwise have to pay a clergy member or someone else to officiate.<br>
<br>
But this common concern fails to acknowledge what everyone
knows: that it isn't only particular financial benefits that
are problematic. What is problematic is the ongoing reciprocal
relationship between a government official and someone seeking
special benefits from the government, and the reasonable perception
that this relationship will lead the official to give preferential
treatment to, in this case, lobbyists (and their clients).<br>
<br>
Looked at in terms of reciprocal relationships, officiating at a
wedding (especially far out of town) makes a big statement that the
official is in a strong reciprocal relationship with the individuals
she is marrying. Officiating makes the public (at whose weddings the
official is not officiating) see government as in the service of
lobbyists and other restricted sources, rather than in the service
of the public. If the official is not willing to officiate at the
weddings of everyone who asks, then the decision to officiate should
exclude anyone who is seeking special benefits from the government.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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