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Monday, May 12, 2008

City Takes Lead Again, This Time on Ethics



      Instead of joining the Santa Fe chorus of “we aren't crooks so why do we need ethics reform?” Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has introduced the “Ethical Public Service Act.” It mandates ethics training, details which actions will get you into what kind of trouble, sets up a system of progressive discipline and provides for reporting misconduct and contesting allegations. And it does it for all city employees – blue collar and white collar alike.
       The proposal also transforms the city clerk job through a “competitive hiring process” stressing qualifications that recognize the office's responsibility to oversee public finance and public records.
       Chávez has plenty of critics, including many who would scoff at him being a champion of ethics. But this is a visionary proposal that should have a positive impact long after the mayor has left office — much like his work to make government information as accessible as possible to the public.
       This proposal is not an indictment of an entire group nor the product of a small team of well-meaning but disconnected policy wonks or public officials. Instead, it's a realistic acknowledgement of “public perception that ... unethical behavior is pervasive and tolerated.” And it's a remedy that has great buy-in potential because employees, managers, union reps and residents designed it.
       The mayor himself weathered a reprimand from the city's ethics panel in the ABQPAC fundraising affair – and apparently learned enough from that experience to push this initiative.
       City Council approval of the Ethical Public Service Act is required. Councilors should support a system that encourages and enforces ethical conduct. They should content themselves with making it even stronger and resist the temptation to make political hay by derailing the proposal because of who proposed it.
      

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