Clear Evidence of How Dealing Irresponsibly with a Conflict Can Undermine the Public Trust
One great thing about the Internet is that it provides a clear picture
of how people respond to officials who do not deal responsibly with
their conflicts of interest, and how such irresponsible actions can
undermine people's trust in government.<br>
<br>
A strong example of this can be found in <a href="http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/120115/" target="”_blank”">today's
Duluth </a><span><a href="http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/120115/" target="”_blank”">News-Tribune</a>.</span>
According to the article there, one council member proposed an amendment to an
appropriation resolution for a Sister Cities grant. The amendment would have prevented council
members from taking money from the Sister Cities program in order to go
on Sister Cities trips. A council member had gone on such a trip the
year before, although apparently she paid for much of the costs herself.<br>
<br>
The sponsor of the amendment effectively said there was a conflict of
interest in a council member accepting money from a council grant
recipient. The response to this was shock that her reputation would be
impugned, followed later by accusations of sexism and abusiveness.<br>
<br>
Acting as if raising a possible conflict of interest impugns one's
reputation is not a responsible way to respond. And the many people who
<a href="http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/chat/id/1254/" target="”_blank”">commented
on the article</a> recognized this. It is clear from what they wrote
that the council member's response undermined their trust in the Duluth
council. It also brought out many negative feelings about the Sister
Cities program.<br>
<br>
By being defensive and not taking responsibility for her past actions,
not to mention failing to recuse herself from voting on the Sister Cities
appropriation resolution, which she supported, she did harm to public
trust and to the program.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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