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Delegate J. Randall Minchew
I strongly support a dedication of
substantial time during the 2014 session to
consider, review, and adopt bills to reform
and improve our Commonwealth’s ethics
and disclosure laws. I completely concur
with the words of Speaker Howell and
Majority Leader Cox who wrote last month:
“We agree with both Governor McDonnell
and Attorney General Cuccinelli that
serious steps need to be taken to reform
Virginia’s disclosure and transparency laws. As we have previously
stated, we are committed to seeking the strong reforms necessary to
guarantee the integrity of that system.”
Virginia has been blessed since the days of our Founding Fathers
with ethical leaders and exemplars and in this Commonwealth we
demand that traditional principles of honor be treated as directive
rather than advisory or aspirational. As such, when fact patterns
emerge that show shortcomings in our existing ethics and disclosure
laws, we are duty-bound to reform them.
As a lawyer and member of the House Courts of Justice
Committee, I look forward to commencing this work.
J. Randall Minchew is a Republican delegate representing the 10th
district of Virginia.
Delegate Rich Anderson
Ethics reform is a front-and-center issue
in Virginia, and that responsibility rests
squarely on the shoulders of the General
Assembly.
Over the last six months, I have
been working on a bill with the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL),
which consists of all 7,300 state legislators
in the U.S. As one of 30 legislators who sits
on the organization’s governing body, my
approach has been to tackle this from an analytical and best-practices
perspective.
Other perspectives will be offered by other delegates who craft
their own bills, and I look forward to working with my Republican
and Democrat colleagues in the House and Senate to find a way
forward that meets the expectations of our fellowVirginians.
All can agree that our republic works best if its public officials
fulfill their public trust with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Our fellowVirginians expect it…our history and heritage demand it.
Rich Anderson is a Republican delegate representing the 51st
district of Virginia.
Delegate Joe Morrissey
I know that ethics, specifically the
reporting of gifts, will be a primary topic of
debate during the 2014 General Assembly
session. We should all seriously consider
imposing a monetary cap on political
donations to members of the General
Assembly. How about capping a political
contribution at $1,000 for a start!
Joe Morrissey is a Democratic delegate
representing the 74th district of Virginia.
Stepping In It:
Avoiding Troubling
Outcomes for
Ethical Dilemmas
By Thomas M. Brewster
While serving on the Virginia State
Board of Education, I approached our
conscientious Executive Assistant to
the Board, Dr. Margaret Roberts, about
a situation that I viewed as a potential
conflict of interest. After her consultation,
she reminded me that it was her job to keep
me, as well as other Board members, from
“stepping in it.”
As school superintendent, there are
many decisions that have to be made
during the course of the school year.
Many of these decisions involve unanticipated ethical dilemmas
that sometimes require immediate and decisive action. In fact, one
would only have to peruse local and statewide newspapers to see
troubling ethical dilemmas that often develop within other school
districts. Though it can be impossible to anticipate some of these
situations, there are three key principles that you can follow to
avoid “stepping in it.”
Define Your Ethical Standards
Each year, our local Board adopts the Virginia School Board
Association’s Code of Ethics. This Code contains the framework
that commits Board members to be advocates for students and
public education. The document further outlines 12 principles for
Board members to follow in order to successfully meet the criteria
of the Code. In the book “The Leadership Challenge,” Jim Kouzes
and Barry Posner write, “When you clarify the principles that
govern your life and the ends that you will seek, you give purpose
to your daily life. A personal (or organization) creed gives you a
point of reference for navigating the sometimes-stormy seas of
organizational life.” A leader in any field should adopt a personal
or collaborative code that addresses fundamental beliefs and sets
high standards. After all, the leader’s actions will be viewed and
judged by the organization’s employees and the individuals served
by the organization.
Anticipate Ethical Dilemmas
As mentioned earlier, it can be impossible to anticipate all
ethical dilemmas. However, by using a problem-based approach,
leaders have the opportunity to explore real-world problems and
challenges. This means studying real-life situations relevant to your
field of expertise, and asking what you would do in these situations.
Anticipating ethical dilemmas using a problem-based approach will
prepare leaders to do the right thing if a similar situation does arise.
Surround Yourself with Good People
As a State Board member, I was fortunate to have someone like
Dr. Roberts guiding me through the maze of ethical dilemmas. As a
leader, there is no reason to make decisions in isolation. My staff and
I meet regularly in an offsite location within one of our schools. This
regularly scheduled meeting gives us an opportunity to confidentially
discuss each area of responsibility. The information shared is often
useful to the entire group. However, sometimes the discussion of
ethical dilemmas within each area allows members of our leadership
team the opportunity to share the burden of leadership, and discuss
the grey areas where policy and practice are not well defined.
See
Stepping In It
, continued on page 14
Delegates look forward to
tackling ethics and disclosure
during the 2013 session
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