Friday, May. 02, 2008
Are Ethics in Government an Oxymoron?
By Stephanie A. Miller
Staff Writer
Editor’s Note – Requests for answers to The Messenger’s questions on an ethics commission were sent to all Flower Mound Town Council members and candidates. Not responding to our request were Mayor Jody Smith; council members Joel Lindsey, Tim Trotter and Jeff Tasker; and Place 4 candidate Virginia Jellison.
Flower Mound residents, Town Council members and candidates recently discussed whether an ethics commission is "overdue" and is needed to maintain the town’s integrity and moral character.
"It would show that we’re willing to hold ourselves accountable," Flower Mound resident and former Place 2 Council Member Paul Stone said. "One of my overriding philosophies is that government officials – whether they are elected, appointed or hired – should be willing to hold themselves to a higher standard. That way, citizens can have more faith in their government."
Flower Mound’s existing ethics ordinance, adopted about 17 years ago, applies to town elected officials, employees and appointees to boards and commissions. At the April 21 Flower Mound council meeting, Stone and former Flower Mound Parks Board Member Marilyn Jenkins requested town leaders consider establishing an ethics commission to enforce the ordinance.
"It’s way overdue ... simply because we’ve had the law on the books, we should have had a commission," Jenkins said. "I think it was an oversight when the ordinance was enacted, but now we’re growing. ... We’re a bigger city and the citizens need this commission."
Place 2 incumbent council member and candidate Al Filidoro Jr. and Place 4 council member Laurie Long support an ethics commission with some provisos.
"I don’t support it if it’s made up of members of council, if it’s made up of council appointees or if it’s made up of town staff," Filidoro said. "The commission must be completely independent because if it’s not beyond reproach, anything they do will just exacerbate the problem, not solve it."
"We need to make sure the commission members themselves are ethical and understand their charge fully," Long said in support of the commission. And, she added, "If the complaint is found frivolous or unwarranted, there needs to be something in place to deter an abuse of the system for political purposes."
Jenkins suggested Flower Mound residents serve as the commission’s members. "People know ethics. ... People are honored to serve their city, so citizens need to be a part of this commission," she said.
Place 4 Town Council candidate Jean Levenick agrees that the ethics commission should not include elected officials, town employees or current board and/or commission members. "In fact, if possible, a lottery drawn from registered voters may be the answer," she said. "Those individuals would have the option to serve or decline."
Long recommended five to seven members on the commission, which should reflect the ordinance it enforces and include citizens at large. She also said at least one former elected official, town employee and commissioner/board member each could be representatives.
" I’m not sure who should do the appointing, but we need to have a policy in place for dismissal if the ethics commission members are found biased or unethical themselves," Long added.
Place 2 Town Council candidate Steve Dixon agrees the commission’s members should be fair, with good character and have high moral standards.
Stone suggested the commission have three people, but "I’m interested in seeing what the people have to say. They could be elected," he said of the commission’s members.
Stone, Filidoro and Dixon feel the ethics commission should meet when complaints have been filed. On the other hand, Jenkins, Long and Levenick believe some regularly scheduled commission meetings should be held, in addition to meeting on an as-needed basis.
Levenick recommended each commissioner have two-year term limits and Jenkins suggested the meetings be televised.
"It needs to be part of the government and the people need to know what’s going on inside their government," she said.
"It needs to be part of the government and the people need to know what’s going on inside their government"
— Marilyn Jenkinsformer Flower Mound Parks Board member
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