Yes, no, maybe so.

AuthorWilson, Ethan
PositionETHICS 101 - Column

How Do You Avoid Conflicts of Interest?

Do you have any conflicts of interest? Are all conflicts treated the same? To what "class" of interested persons do you belong? Practically all elected officials will have to answer these questions at some point in their public career. And, even though the laws vary by state, are not always clear and may not capture all the possible conflicts and exceptions, there are some universal principles to know and follow.

What is a conflict of interest? At the heart of most conflicts lies an actual or perceived financial or economic interest. It may be a personal stake in a business, in real estate or in securities. It doesn't necessarily have to be direct. It can arise when family members, friends and other close relationships are implicated. The conflict occurs when you introduce, support or vote on legislation that could benefit any of your financial interests. In order to avoid conflicts of interest, you must be acutely aware, not only of your own personal interests, but also of those of your closest friends and relatives.

Are all conflicts of interest treated the same? Well, yes, no, maybe so. People run into conflicts of interest every day, in their personal, business and, for legislators, public lives. Some, of course, are more serious than others. Conflicts in the legislative arena, however, should not be taken lightly. They should be avoided by viewing possible problems through a highly magnified, crystal clear lens. Lawmakers should be hyper-diligent when introducing, supporting and voting on legislation that has any chance of being viewed as self-serving. Not all conflicts of interest are obvious, but for legislators, all those that are will be easy targets. Even if your motivations are not self-serving, the...

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