I think the proposed guidelines are a little tough by seeking to outright ban elected officials from advocating an exception to city policy on behalf of a constituent.
Obviously, the provision aims at banning the use of strong arm, raw politics as an end run around city policies on behalf of favored constituents. This is an admirable goal, but the provision is too broad. This will be impossible to enforce in practice, and in the end it won't prevent the bad behavior from occurring, it will only force it underground or under the table where it cannot be seen or regulated.
The very concept of banning an elected official from advocating on behalf of a constituent is foolish. Part of the reason that council members get elected is to protect their constituents from unfair, unusual, or unanticipated applications of general city policy. And, with respect to local politics, constituents expect their council members to be advocates for their interests inside City Hall.
On the whole, this provision is a self-defeating attempt to ban political behavior by politicians.
Instead, the ethics ordinance ought to establish an open, transparent process for elected officials to make a good faith argument for any exceptions to established city policy as applied to a constituent. Perhaps a requirement that any exception to city policy be approved by the Council as a whole, for example. This will allow the elected official to act in his or her natural role as an advocate for constituents, while preventing them from intimidating city staff behind closed doors in order to get their way (which is what this provision is really trying to prevent).
Otherwise, I think the proposed ethics ordinance is excellent, and I heartily support it.
Greg Abbott Linden Hills 13th Ward
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Greg Abbott Linden Hills 13th Ward
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