Local Officials Sitting on Community Boards

I don't usually turn over an entire blog post to someone else, although I would like very much to do it. <a href="http://www.timesleader.com/golackawanna/people/Kavulich_legislation_on_…; target="”_blank”">This
letter
to the editor by Kevin Haggerty</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lackawanna_County">Lackawanna County</a>
(PA) deputy
director of government and community affairs (and candidate for state
representative), which appeared in the
<i>Times Leader</i> on Saturday, is too well written to summarize, and it says it all. The
discussion concerns state representatives, but it equally applies to
local officials.<br>
<br>

"Representative Sid Kavulich is on the mark in his legislative
efforts to end state senators and representatives from receiving pay
for sitting on extraneous boards of directors, during a sitting
official’s time of public service. <br>
<br>"Rep. Kavulich stated in the Scranton <i>Times</i> that 'outlawing pay would
"remove" any indication of impropriety.' Although I agree with Mr.
Kavulich in regard to outlawing state leaders from receiving pay from
boards they sit on, simply the connection to outside boards alone
creates a potential conflict of interest.<br>
<br>"Most boards are run by some of the wealthiest people in our
community. In many cases, some of the very same faces appear on several
boards. A state representative or state senator who sits on these
boards can potentially compromise how they vote on these boards, in
return for significant campaign contributions. Influential board
members have money and are generally connected to money in the
community. Allowing an elected state leader to vote on any peripheral
cause or issue outside of their elected responsibilities can compromise
the dignity of any elected office.<br>
<br>"I commend Rep. Kavulich for his efforts. The newly elected state
representative is doing something that is long overdue, and now I only
hope he will pursue these efforts a bit further. The responsibilities
of an elected representative and senator go no further than the
constituents who elected them. An elected member of the Pennsylvania
General Assembly does not belong voting anywhere else, or pursuing any
other agenda outside the halls of the capitol building in Harrisburg. <br>
<br>"There are so many wonderful organizations and civic boards in our
community, and Mr. Kavulich participates with two such boards. But to
set the overall example in Harrisburg, an elected official has to make
sacrifices that did not exist before they were elected. I would hope
that Rep. Kavulich would include in his bill outlawing law makers from
sitting on outside boards while serving as an elected member of the
Pennsylvania General Assembly." <br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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