Ethics Allegations Often Bring Out the Worst in Elected Officials

According to <a href="http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20091120/NEWS01/311200073/1006/SPORT…; target="”_blank”">an
article in <i>Town Talk</i></a>, an allegation against the mayor of Alexandria
(LA) of ignoring a conflict of interest has led to some all too typical
denial, squabbling, and inappropriate city attorney activity.<br>
<br>

The city council's legal committee passed a motion to conduct an
investigation into the mayor's alleged conflict. The mayor's first
response was not to provide information, but to accuse the council
president of being behind the investigation (he is not on the legal
committee), and then to accuse him of having a conflict, even though
his conflict situation was heard by the council, which made a determination in May.<br>
<br>
The council president called this a "smoke-and-mirrors tactic," and the
mayor called the investigation a political maneuver. As I said, denial
and squabbling, instead of responsibly dealing with a potential
conflict.<br>
<br>
The mayor also said, "It's very difficult to prove or disprove a
negative. ... I can't figure out how to answer
something that just isn't true." Showing that one did not have a
conflict of interest is not proving a negative. It is showing what the
relationship was, what the parties' financial and personal interests
were, etc.<br>
<br>
One thing the mayor said is true: if the council feels he
ignored a conflict of interest, it could file a complaint with the
state ethics commission. This would be far better than having the
council investigate the mayor when there are serious political tensions
between them. Many people are not going to trust the council to be fair.<br>
<br>
According to the article, the city attorney "declined to comment, other
than saying his job is to protect his clients, including both the mayor
and City Council." First of all, a lawyer cannot represent both mayor
and council in this dispute. And yet, according to the article, an
assistant city attorney looked into the matter for the council soon
after the mayor took office.<br>
<br>
Second, a city attorney's job is not to "protect" anyone, but to
represent the city.<br>
<br>
Allegations of unethical behavior often bring out the worst in
politicians. This is why they should be kept away from government ethics programs, except to provide ethical leadership.<br>
<br>
For more on the alleged conflict, see <a href="http://cenlalight.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/shreveport-attorney-larry-en…; target="”_blank”">this
article in today's <i>The Light</i></a>, an Alexandria community newspaper.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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