To the Editor:
Councilmembers Lovain and Smedberg are right to be skeptical of the proposal for a City Ethics Commission.
While there is wide agreement that public officials should be "ethical," there is less agreement as to what constitutes "unethical" conduct. What bothers you, may not bother me.
For public officials this is particularly vexing because making tough calls is part of the job. Controversial decisions often involve charges that the "fix" is in and the result of unethical conduct.
A properly functioning Ethics Commission requires ascertainable standards, not vague hortatory pronouncements. Even these may not enough. As with rest of us, ethical behavior by public officials requires recourse to the “policeman within” and citizens paying attention with their votes.
Robert Calhoun
Alexandria