A movement is afoot in Utah County. Codes of ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations seem to be breaking out all over. Orem city last week passed an ethics guide for elected officials. Next, it wants to pass an ordinance that keeps officials from voting on matters involving their own personal interests. Provo is contemplating a similar ordinance.
If this were to spread up State Street, through Salt Lake County's local governments and right up to the State Capitol, it would be one of the most positive trends to hit local governments in a long while. We're not saying that a lot of elected officials are unethical or looking for personal gain. We are saying that a strict and well-defined set of rules would go a long way toward restoring public confidence in government.It also would go a long way toward reminding elected officials of some basics. Orem's struggles with a conflict-of-interest ordinance illustrate the need. For instance, some members of the City Council have objected to language that would prohibit elected officials from voting, or participating in discussions, on matters that involve their own relatives. One council member noted that the mayor's cousin is a developer who often appears before the council regarding one or more of his projects. It would be "ridiculous" for the mayor to have to leave the room every other meeting or so when his cousin was on the agenda, the councilman said.
On the contrary, it would be ridiculous for the mayor to expect public confidence not to be compromised if he didn't leave the room. The severity of a conflict should not be defined by how frequently it might occur but by how it might compromise the integrity of the elected office. If a mayor's cousin wants the City Council to approve a project from which he would profit, common sense dictates the mayor should not be involved.
These are the kinds of issues that come up from time to time in small towns across the state. Often, there is no malice or treachery involved. Elected officials, guided by their familiarity with community members and their own honest intentions, may not see the need to avoid situations that appear to be wrong. However, the few who are not honest may take advantage of lax rules and procedures. This is precisely why it helps to specify and codify the rights and wrongs.
Orem's new ordinance requires its elected officials and employees to "subordinate any personal interest which conflicts with the public interest." That was a good start. If it does the right thing and approves a tough conflict-of-interest law, it could set in motion a snowball that ends in a meaningful lobby reform bill at the Legislature.