Toward Reasonable Local Ethics Legislation

The Standard-Examiner editorial board is definitely "on a roll" this week. For the second time in three days Std-Ex readers are treated this morning to a strong editorial, aimed at promoting honesty and integrity in local government.

In the instant case, our Weber County Commissioners have been considering enacting ethics legislation (inexplicably called a pledge,) which would would prohibit Weber County elected officials from exploiting their elective positions for private gain during "or after" their term of office. Whereas, it had appeared in an earlier Std-Ex article that the commission was in agreement as to the the appropriateness of this measure; the Std-Ex now opines that two commissioners have gotten cold feet.

Commissioners Bischoff and Dearden now reportedly believe the proposed language is overly broad, and we do believe they may have a valid point. As proposed, the prohibition would trail off into perpetuity, and could arguably subject outgoing elected officials to ethical scrutiny for entire lifetimes. This would be unreasonably burdensome we believe, and we thus suggest that the commission enact the legislation with a reasonable "tail," a year or two -- or some other finite time limit after leaving office.

With this exception, we believe enactment of the proposed legislation would be a very good thing, and we urge our gentle readers to contact their commissioners to suggest that they pass something tangible and reasonable. All elected public officials should be bound to conform their behavior to avoidance of conflicts actual, potential and perceived, both during their public service and for a reasonable time after leaving office. We believe this legislation would be a step in the right direction.

And what say our gentle readers about this?