The latest chapter in the debate over encouraging more ethical
conduct in campaigning and government was written by Assemblyman
Simon Salinas.
The latest chapter in the debate over encouraging more ethical conduct in campaigning and government was written by Assemblyman Simon Salinas. His bill, AB 1234, would require local elected government officials to participate in ethics training – after they are elected.
The bill awaits Gov. Schwarzenegger’s signature, which Salinas’ aides believe is forthcoming.
While we have no objection to Assemblyman Salinas’ “Sunshine law,” it’s one of those “can’t hurt” pieces of legislation that don’t really get to the heart of the matter, which is the mud and gore during the election campaigns. AB1234 does nothing to address that problem.
Elections in this country have been so ugly for so long there are many voters alive today who think is has always been that way and always will. It hasn’t, and it doesn’t’ have to be.
But to get there, proactive steps need to be taken, and that’s why it is time to issue a challenge to the Board of Supervisors to get serious about creating a county ethics committee to oversee elections.
The idea was first floated 19 months ago in the run-up to the disputed March, 2004 District 5 election, which brought Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz to office amid charges of election irregularities.
It’s been over a year since the board in August, 2004 put the proposal for an ethics committee on its agenda. After that, the board has see-sawed back and forth considering different proposals. Since a poorly attended public meeting on the matter July 19, it has done nothing.
It is time to act.
The early rumblings of next year’s election are upon us. Sheriff Curtis Hill has declared his intention to seek reelection, while the early, distant cannon fire of the likely Salinas/Denham senate race can be heard. Other potential candidates are quietly assessing their support and weighing their candidacies.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors has an obligation to resolve this issue now, before the election gets underway, and before such a proposal itself becomes an election issue.
We say: Put it on your next agenda, and pass it by the end of the year.
And we repeat a previous pledge made in these pages: If an ethics committee is created, no candidate for public office in this county will receive the endorsement of this newspaper without signing a pledge to campaign ethically.
Providing such a platform on which to campaign should be the highest priority of county supervisors.
