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Monday, August 21, 2006
Seattle Ethics: An easy call
Seattle relies heavily on advisory boards to shape city policies. The significance of boards and commissions makes it all the more important to hold their volunteer members to high ethical standards.
We don't see any crisis in ethical standards. Because of a 2005 ruling by the city Ethic and Elections Commission, however, a choice must be made between standing pat with rules in effect since 1992 or tightening up. That should be an easy call: Be more transparent, unbiased and fair.
A proposal from Mayor Greg Nickels isn't the "ethics light" some critics contend, but it sides too much with the status quo. In an understandable interest in attracting volunteers, the measure would exempt board and commission members from fines for violations of codes requiring them to dismiss themselves from some discussions or disclose indirect interests in other decisions. City Councilwoman Sally Clark, chair of a committee looking at the issue, is right to insist that some fine is necessary, even if it might be less than the $5,000-plus generally applied under ethics rules.
There is a case for imposing different standards for appearance of fairness issues on volunteers than on city employees or elected officials. But King County gets along with one-size rules.
Clark said she doesn't want to eliminate stakeholders from advisory committees, but thinks there should always be a mix of disinterested citizens. Strong ethics rules can contribute to balance by forcing the city to expand its recruitment base. Change may create temporary problems. Over time, however, the city will gain in credibility if it aims high rather than settles for convenience.
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