The smartest of politicians know that perception is equally, if
not more so, as important as the actual truth. It’s a large reason
why smear campaigns dominate politics in close races and
politicians in general have developed a reputation for saying one
thing and doing another.
The smartest of politicians know that perception is equally, if not more so, as important as the actual truth. It’s a large reason why smear campaigns dominate politics in close races and politicians in general have developed a reputation for saying one thing and doing another. Locally, it’s the very heart of the reason why an Ethics Committee is necessary in this day and age of San Benito County politics. The voters desperately need a vehicle capable of cutting through the rhetoric to separate truth from perception, and based on recent history, candidates need a watchdog to keep them honest.
Considering an Ethics Committee would wield tremendous power over the people’s perception of the candidates, county supervisors were wise to pass on creating their own version of an ethics committee – saying any effort must come from the community. The inherent political interest tied to every supervisor seat could create the perception the supes built the committee to preserve their own power. Likewise, the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, runs a similar risk in their effort to prescribe ethics in SBC.
Worthy as their cause may be, LULAC is undeniably a political organization with an agenda for policy locally and abroad – their demonstration in Hollister last night is evidence of the group’s desire to influence change for the Latin community. Their involvement in an ethics campaign could create the perception that the process is somehow tainted or designed to favor one political philosophy over another – when it comes to politics a person’s perception is their personal reality.
And the success of any committee’s ability to keep candidates honest is directly tied to the people’s belief that the process is completely sanitized of any outside political influence.
LULAC would do well to look at our neighboring counties such as Santa Clara when they bring in a Seattle consultant to help craft the new committee. We say don’t reinvent the wheel. Santa Clara County relies on a panel of retired judges to investigate and advise on ethics claims. That process could work here as well, especially if LULAC’s plan included the Grand Jury to investigate and make recommendations on any claim of a breach in ethics.
Above all else, if LULAC wants their effort to have staying power, they need to establish and announce how they will wash their hands of the committee and turn it over to the people of San Benito County once it’s created. The only trustworthy Ethics Committee is one that doesn’t have any political strings attached to it – perceived or otherwise.
