Advice to avoid ethical pitfalls: a panel of veteran legislators offers advice on how lawmakers can avoid some of the obvious and not-so-obvious ethical pitfalls.

• Author: Kerns, Peggy
• Position: TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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As legislators tip-toe through the mine fields of policy choices, they face other potential dilemmas. Whether it is building relationships with colleagues, lobbyists and staff, being attentive to their families, campaigning for reelection, doing outreach to the public or keeping their heads above water, ethical dilemmas do arise.

Former Ohio Senate President Dick Finan, North Carolina Representative Deborah Ross and Oregon Representative Dennis Richardson combine years of experience as elected officials to offer their advice on how to act ethically in the legislative environment.

1

BEWARE OF THE HIDDEN TRAPS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

Conflicts of interest occur in all walks of life and are not inherently wrong. It's how you handle them that may present problems. The panel advises never to vote your financial interests and be watchful of situations where your personal interests may overlap into your professional ones. Be conscious of what effect your professional employment, community involvements, personal and partisan relationships and even your family have on your votes. "You are elected to represent your constituents, but you also are your own person," says Representative Ross. Keeping their best interests in mind will help you make the right choices, but ultimately, you have to live with your actions, she says.

2

MAKE FRIENDS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

But be cautious about what those relationships mean. Representative Ross says it is good to have an open door policy with anyone who wants to talk with you about issues. "It's natural to like some people more than others, but be wary of forming personal relationships with people whose job it is to influence you." Representative Richardson agrees, "Legislators should never confuse positive business relationship with friendships." Former Senator Finan takes a different tack. Over his many years in the Ohio legislature, he found that friendships with lobbyists can be valued relationships. "They also can provide you with inside information. But quickly learn whom you can trust and whom you cannot. Loose lips sink ships."

3

DEAL ETHICALLY WITH THE PRESS.

You must deal with the press as honestly as everyone else. But how do you deal with a reporter's difficult question that you don't want to answer? Respond as accurately as possible while emphasizing the points you want to make. Respect the confidentiality of issues and accurately describe your opponent's views. Senator...