Correcting a Misuse of Office Should Be Encouraged, Not Penalized
Here's an ethics story from Orlando with a good ending. It emphasizes <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/node/715" target="”_blank”">what I wrote recently</a>,
that government ethics involves dealing responsibly with conflict
situations.<br>
<br>
According to <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-aseclynum25042509apr25,0,…; target="”_blank”">an
article in today's Orlando <span>Sentinel</span></a>,
an Orlando commissioner's son called her while pulled over by a police
officer because, he said, he felt he was being racially profiled. The
commissioner called the police chief, and the son was not given a
ticket. However, when, later that evening, the commissioner found out
why her son was pulled over, she asked to have a ticket sent to her,
and she paid it.<br>
<br>
This was three years ago. State lawyers accused her of misusing her
office and recommended a $10,000 fine. An administrative law judge
disagreed, and yesterday the Florida Ethics Commission panel
unanimously found that she had not misused her office. But this case
has hung over the commissioner for years.<br>
<br>
This case should never have gone anywhere, because the commissioner
dealt with the problem responsibly. When hearing about racial
profiling, she might have misused her office in calling the police
chief. But she quickly corrected her conduct by asking for
and paying the ticket.<br>
<br>
Quick correction of a minor misuse of office
such as this should be applauded and encouraged, not penalized. It
should be used as an example to the many government officials who,
instead of dealing responsibly with conflicts, deny that there is any
problem at all.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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