Spokane City Council considering ethics law

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, December 28, 2005

SPOKANE – The Spokane City Council is considering a code of ethics that would prohibit using a city position for personal benefit, the issue that led to this month’s recall of Mayor Jim West.

If approved next month, the 18-page document would create a commission to interpret the ethics code, as well as existing federal and state laws and city regulations involving council members, appointed officials and top employees.

The seven-member commission could levy fines of up to $5,000.

Donna McKereghan, a Spokane resident who serves on the Washington State Legislative Ethics Board, said the proposed ordinance would create a forum for interpreting some of the complex ethical issues that frequently confront city officials.

“The idea isn’t to punish,” she said.

West was recalled from office Dec. 6 on a charge that he used his office for personal gain when he used his city-owned computer to offer someone he thought was an 18-year-old high school student a City Hall internship with the expectation of sexual favors.

That would be prohibited under the proposed ethics code, as would using a city position for personal benefit and improper use of city property or personnel. The code would also prohibit acceptance of gifts of more than nominal value.

Other prohibited activities include having personal interests in city contracts or with contractors, representing a private person at a city proceeding, holding a private job that is not compatible with public service, or disclosing confidential information.

If it is approved next month, Spokane would join King County, Seattle and several other counties or cities with a separate code of ethics.

West’s recall took seven months after citizens began collecting signatures on recall petitions.

Councilman Al French said he wants to amend the city charter to make it easier to place recall elections on the ballot. A charter amendment would be a separate issue from the code of ethics.

Although an ethics code has been discussed for years, the West sex scandal and recall have heightened public concern, French said.

“This happens to be an opportune time because it raises the consciousness in the community,” French said recently.

Included in the ethics proposal is a “cooling-off” clause that would prohibit officials or employees from working in the private sector for one year on matters for which they were directly involved while working for the city.

French said he wants voters to decide on a charter amendment to create an optional recall process in which the council would be given authority to place the recall directly before voters, circumventing the state law’s requirement for a large petition signature drive.

A charter amendment could go to voters early next year, French said.