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A plea for the
Conflicts of Interest Act
By Senator Ralph Northam
At theVirginia Military Institute, cadets
live by the honor code. During my time at
VMI, I served as the President of the Honor
Court, which enforces that code, and have
since continued my commitment to public
and professional integrity by teaching
courses on medical ethics at EasternVirginia
Medical School. In our Commonwealth, we
teach our students to hold themselves up to
the highest ethical standards, and we should
expect the same from our elected leaders.
Unfortunately, the flood of stories
about Governor McDonnell’s and Attorney General Cuccinelli’s ties
to STAR Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams and the undisclosed gifts
they received from him gave Virginia a glimpse into how badly we
need to reform our ethics laws in Richmond. This conduct by two of
our highest ranking elected officials has not only created political
problems for those involved but has also given Virginia a blemish
on the national stage and betrayed the trust of millions of Virginians.
The people of our Commonwealth deserve better, and the General
Assembly must act to prevent it from ever happening again.
Ethics reform cannot just be an election year slogan; it must be
a sincere effort to upend the current culture of corruption on Capitol
Square. Unlike people in many states who accept, or at least tolerate,
scandalous behavior by public figures as the norm, Virginians have
always expected more from their leaders. Until recent years, our
state has had a sterling record of integrity. When then Delegate Phil
Hamilton was caught using his position on the House Appropriations
Committee to secure a job with Old Dominion University in 2009,
people were shocked. A House ethics panel ended its investigation
into Hamilton’s wrongdoing because Hamilton resigned his seat and
people were outraged. Hamilton ultimately earned a nine-year prison
sentence for his misconduct. I introduced the Conflicts of Interest Act
in an attempt to toughen the ethics code for members of the Virginia
General Assembly and make sure that politicians can never again
use loopholes to evade justice. My legislation aimed to establish an
open board to investigate politicians who break the law and to pursue
prosecution even after an elected official leaves office.
Now, it is apparent that we need to extend ethics reform beyond
the General Assembly. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work with
both sides of the aisle to ban gifts over $100 to anyone serving the
Commonwealth in an official capacity, as well as to their immediate
families; lower the threshold for elected officials to disclose financial
investments from $10,000 to $5,000; and establish an open ethics
board that reviews all financial disclosures for discrepancies and has
subpoena power and can punish those who violate the law.
I have always felt that there should not be two sets of rules:
one for the hard-working families of Virginia and one for Virginia’s
leaders. We must pass the Conflicts of Interest Act in the next session
along with even more comprehensive ethics reforms to make sure
everyone plays by the same rules.
I have joined my running mates in supporting a ban on gifts,
and I will apply the ban to myself and my immediate family moving
forward even if the General Assembly fails to act next session. The
combination of banning gifts, increasing the level of disclosure, and
establishing an independent board will help prevent the next ethics
embarrassment from happening in the first place and help restore the
people’s trust in our Commonwealth’s leaders.
Ralph Northam is a senator representing the 6th district of Virginia.
He is the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
Letter to the Publisher
By Charlie Todd
Dear David,
Thank you for suggesting that I
write an article on “Ethics in the General
Assembly.” Your idea was apparently the
result of several articles in the
Times-
Dispatch
and
Washington Post
involving
elected Virginia officials who forgot
or otherwise failed to report gifts from
friends and business acquaintances.
I really don’t think I’m morally
capable of writing about ethical matters.
Although as a teacher and school
administrator I have never forgotten, or
failed to thank, anyone who gave me $5,000. I was personally
very careful about reporting expenses. Our finance officer checked
our claims carefully and demanded receipts. Once I attended a
superintendents’ conference and had a quick lunch at a fast food
restaurant on the way home. I charged $1.69 but had no receipt and
was told I could not be reimbursed. Fortunately, I had the bag from
Hardee’s in my car and I stapled it to my voucher, and she allowed
me to collect.
I don’t think members of the Assembly should be subjected to
such scrutiny, but the “rules of the game” should be clearly stated.
Personal integrity is of the greatest importance, and Members of
the Assembly are faced with ethical choices daily. A year or so ago,
officials were given a five-day trip to France and took a two-hour tour
of a defunct uranium mine. Those attending felt it was educational;
those not attending said it was not right to take such a trip because
it could influence their vote. The trip was sponsored by those who
wished to remove the ban on uranium mining in Virginia.
I’ve never reconciled promoting the Virginia Lottery with
its poor odds for players, while at the same time encouraging
youngsters to take more algebra where permutations and
combinations are taught. There seems to be no place for the
practical use of mathematics when it comes to finding more state
money for education.
When I think about ethics, I refer to a favorite book: “Moral
Clarity” by Susan Neiman, a guide for grown-up idealists. It’s
good reading and would be a valuable resource for a committee on
state ethical behavior.
I’m sorry I can’t write an article on Ethics, but you may publish
this letter if you wish. Meanwhile, keep your fast-food bags and
encourage everyone to vote for candidates who display the highest
ethical standards.
Sincerely,
Charlie
Dr. Charles Todd is a retired teacher and public school administrator.
Virginia High School Hall of Fame football coach Glynn
Carlock and his staff would spend countless hours reviewing game
film prepping for the next opponent. When asked by others why he
spent so much time in preparation, the coach would simply reply, “I
only know one way, and that is the right way, there are no shortcuts.
“It takes a lot of hard work to prepare oneself to face the many ethical
dilemmas of one’s profession. In the book
Lincoln on Leadership
,
Donald Phillips writes, “The architect of leadership, all theories
and guidelines, falls apart without honesty and integrity. It’s the
keystone that holds organizations together.” There are no shortcuts,
and the leader’s decisions have a direct impact on the organization’s
employees and the individuals served by the organization.
Thomas Brewster is the superintendent
of Pulaski County schools.
Stepping In It
from page 9
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