Baltimore County?s ethics commission last substantiated a claim against someone 20 years ago. That?s right, 20 years ago. As a result, the five commission members do not have a procedure in place for announcing if someone has violated ethics rules.
Bart Fisher, an attorney following a complaint against David Hamilton, Gov. Robert Ehrlich?s personal lawyer, told The Examiner last week, “I?m troubled by the lack of transparency in the process.”
It?s not asif citizens can find out about complaints, since the commission refuses to acknowledge their existence and debates their merits behind closed doors.
Obviously, the commission?s function is more to protect the images of public officials than the public pocket, but where is the harm in releasing complaints after a decision has been made? We the people not only have the right to scrutinize behavior of our public servants ? and those who investigate their behavior ? we have an obligation to do so.
It?s impossible to believe that no Baltimore County public officials have violated the ethics code in 20 years.
Half a century of Democratic control of Congress taught Republicans how to corrupt themselves in only 12 years of power. Jack Abramoff, the disgraced former lobbyist with particularly strong ties to Republican lawmakers, entered federal prison in Maryland last week to serve six years for fraud. He awaits sentencing on a public corruption case for which he is a key witness.
More transparency should only scare Commissioners F. Vernon Boozer, Melissa Gray, Thomas Whiteford, Alexander Wright Jr., Ellen Yerman if they have something to hide. If they do not open up the ethics process, no reason for them to meet exists. Tell them what you think. Contact them at 410-887-4420.
