A letter writer last week, commenting on the firing of Snohomish County’s planning director for an allegedly lewd act at a golf tournament hosted by a building-industry group, probably spoke for many.
“The very fact that any public official would attend an entertainment event organized by a political organization that is trying to wield influence over that public official is what is lewd,” wrote Garth Henry of Snohomish.
That the public official’s entry fee of $130 was waived by that organization, a fact revealed after Mr. Henry’s letter was written, made it even worse. County ethics policies would have required the fired official, Craig Ladiser, to disclose the gift because it was worth more than $100. Apparently, though, they didn’t prohibit him from accepting it.
To say that those policies need tightening is like saying the Boeing 787 schedule is a little behind.
Snohomish County officials, elected and appointed, represent all the citizens of the county. Land use is among the most contentious issues they deal with. Getting cozy with any policy group pushing an agenda compromises their impartiality — at least in appearance and potentially in fact. That goes for groups on any side of an issue, from builder organizations to those working to rein in development.
Common sense dictates that such relationships be kept at arm’s length. Ethics policies should drive that point home. Gifts that amount to more than a ceremonial trinket — falling way, way below the $100 threshold — should never be accepted by public officials. The idea that an advocacy group entertaining a county leader isn’t trying to buy influence over public policy is ludicrous.
So is the assertion made by the golf tournament host, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, that Ladiser wasn’t representing the county at the event, that he was attending as a private citizen. Please. A county planning director is always representing the county when interacting with a building group. Or an environmental group. The fact that Ladiser was the invited guest of a “friend,” the Master Builders’ government affairs director, only raises more questions of impropriety.
No one’s arguing that county officials should never talk outside the office about development issues. But public officials need to use their heads. Rounds of golf with industry or advocacy groups — with all the back-slapping chumminess that’s part of the game — should be out of bounds. That anyone could think it’s acceptable to let the advocacy group pick up the tab is beyond belief.
Citizens expect, and deserve, better.
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