When Dan DeQuille wrote for the Territorial Enterprise of Virginia City fame, back in the 19th century, he used this depiction of a braying, angry, miner's burro. He always called it, as did most of the prospectors of the day, "A Washoe Canary." Below are some of our brayings, that is, Washoe Canary Songs.

Some Questions About Ethics and Serving as a Member of a Legislative Body

by Johnny Gunn

Personal integrity, that is, morals, should be at the head of every legislative member’s list of what’s important in the job, what would make that member a better legislator, a better member of society. Naive? There’s no question there, but why should it be? Why should working for the public be that much more difficult than working in the private sector?

Just in the repercussions from this last round of sessions of the Nevada State Legislature, we’re seeing almost a dozen members of that august body having to defend their alleged unethical practices, having to come clean if you will, about double dealing the public, about possibly stealing from our taxes. Some have come clean with grace, some have shed light on pitiful practices of their comrades, and some, yes Mr. Williams, I’m pointing a finger, some can’t see where they’ve done anything wrong.

There is a petition working its way around the Silver State demanding that those who work in any government position not be allowed to serve in a legislative capacity. That may be too strong. To deny any American citizen the right to serve his fellow citizens, is a little out of line. On the other hand, if one of these citizen legislators being called on the carpet attempted to do to an employer in the private sector what they’re doing to their government employer, maybe it isn’t too strong.

When Nevada Representative in Congress Jim Gibbons worked for Delta Airlines and wanted to run for a political office, Delta said, if you run you no longer work for us. Cut and dried. Other citizen legislators, State Senator Randolph Townsend for instance, is given as much time as he deems necessary by his employer. Townsend is self employed, so that might not be the best example to use.

However, while discussing other subjects recently, Senator Townsend told us, “There needs to be a clear demarcation when it comes to conflicts. We should enforce the laws we have, and if we need more authority, then we should add it. Those of us who are elected officials should understand where our positions come from. We’re only hired to temporarily fill these seats.”

Gibbons gave up a lucrative career as an airline pilot to serve in the Nevada Assembly. Townsend continues in a lucrative career while serving in the Nevada Senate. But there is no comparison between any legislator working in the private sector and one working in the public sector for one simple reason. The person working in the public sector draws pay from a tax base on both counts, and too often is responsible for voting on or debating the tax issue from which he or she is paid.

This is where personal ethics come in, and where I believe, government induced ethics have a place in the equation. No one should be denied the opportunity to serve his fellow man on the one hand, no one should be allowed to outright steal from his fellow man on the other, and when people like Wendell Williams try to defend their actions in such absurd ways as he has, he should be prosecuted. Conspiracy to commit fraud is the first phrase that comes to mind in his case. And, he’s not alone. Not by one big long shot.

The petition to deny government employees an opportunity to serve in a legislative body would make those people second class citizens, for after all, they do pay taxes, earn a living, purchase goods and services; they are citizens. What I would like to see is an ethics panel that has real powers, powers to stomp on the kinds of actions and attitudes that have led to these abuses. If one’s personal ethics won’t create a climate of honesty, then let the government ethics commission force that climate on those who wish to serve. As Townsend said, “Enforce the laws we have.”

I would like to see it mandatory that if one works in the public sector and wishes to serve in a legislative body, they must take a non paid leave of absence from their day job. Not sick leave. Not paid vacation. Not phony time cards with smirks from supervisors. Not government cell phones use. Not acquiring personal assistants who are already on another government payroll. Oh, yes, Mr. Williams, I’m pointing fingers again.

More than that, I would like to see the electorate take a far stronger position on who is elected and why. Is that person who is already on one government payroll attempting to run for a public office to further the position of that other government entity, or to further your interests as a tax paying, voting citizen?

And, one other little comment while we’re on the subject. Legislative leaders should pay a little closer attention to which committees government worker/legislative members are assigned. It just doesn’t seem quite fair for a representative who works for the university system to sit on the committee that determines how much money the university system should have in its budget.

The Nevada Observer would like to know your thoughts on this and any other subject you feel is important to the citizens of the Silver State. Send your thoughts to:

johnnyg@nevadaobserver.com

To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must be signed and accompanied by a day time phone number, but if you would rather not have your name in print, we will honor that. Do your best to keep your comments under 150 words, and we simply won’t print anything deemed slanderous or libelous.