A Miscellany
<b>A Good Discussion of a Possible Conflict</b><br>
It's good to see ethics discussions where both sides have good
arguments to make. According to <a href="http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100513/PUB0…; target="”_blank">an
article yesterday on southcoasttoday.com</a>, the selectmen of <a href="http://www.lakevillema.org/">Lakeville, MA</a> were discussing
the possible hiring of an electrical inspector who does electrical work
for the town of 10,000 south of Boston.<br>
<br>
One side argued that it is unfair to have electricians competing for
town work against the electrical inspector. One of the selectmen added,
"It's not a good feeling when you know you have to come into town and
bid against somebody that's going to inspect your work." The inspector
would be able to work for all the other towns around.<br>
<br>
The other side argued that it is unfair to make an electrician give up
a lot of work to get "a little, teeny, part-time, few hours a month"
position. The selectmen chair said that there are state laws allowing
plumbing and gas inspectors to do work for their town, and it would be
easy for the town to pass a law providing the same opportunity for
electrical inspectors. The chair suggested asking the state ethics
commission, but it appears that the selectmen chose to make the
decision themselves.<br>
<br>
Ironically, the two other people who have applied for the position are
inspectors in a neighboring town that does not allow them to work for
the town. They have already made the sacrifice that the chair believes
should not be made in her town.<br>
<br>
<b>A Complainant's View</b><br>
Worthy of a read is <a href="http://www.whatcomdemocrats.com/story/2010-05-05/ethics-commission-rend…; target="”_blank">a
piece on the Whatcom County (WA) Democrats site</a> by someone whose
ethics complaint concerning the appointment of a council member was
unsuccessful. It's a thoughtful piece, leading up to a valuable and
unusual statement in this highly partisan era: "Republicans are not
your enemy here. The true enemy is complacency." For background on the
situation — whether a council member-nominee for an appointment can
vote on other nominees — see <a href="http://www.whatcomdemocrats.com/story/2010-03-29/nelson-appointment-pro…; target="”_blank">this
post</a> from the same site.<br>
<br>
<b>Ethics and Criminal Charges</b><br>
Sometimes ethics charges can ruin an official's career, but other times
they can be a mere footnote. According to <a href="http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/steve-nodine-may-face-ethics-charges&qu…; target="”_blank">an
article last night on the foxtv10.com site</a>, ethics charges are
going to be brought against a Mobile County (AL) commissioner who took his
county pickup truck to another state for personal purposes.<br>
<br>
This same pickup truck was seen at the scene of what appears to be the
homicide of a woman the county commissioner appears to have been having
an affair with, according to numerous articles (check out the <a href="http://modmobilian.com/2010/05/11/angel-downs-shooting-what-we-know/&qu…; target="”_blank">summary
on the Mod Mobilian site</a>).<br>
<br>
No criminal charges have been brought against the county commissioner,
although there has also been an investigation of marijuana found in the
truck. Therefore, the ethics charges might be the first (and only) brought against the commissioner.<br>
<br>
The ethics charge would seem to be too minor to pursue, if there were
homicide charges brought. However, especially since the charges would not
involve the same incident (in which case the ethics investigation could
be delayed until the criminal case was completed), there would seem to
be no reason not to pursue an ethics charge in this situation.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
---