Questions Answered I Was Never Asked: Do We Need An Ethics Policy?

A few weeks after I filed my candidacy, I had a conversation with a member of my HOA, asking if I can put up some signs on the edge of our subdivision. He responded that signs were against our covenenant and he was not interested in bending the rules. However, he especially wouldn't do so in my case because, as current HOA President, I should be held to a strict standard in obeying our rules. The worst thing that he could do would be allow someone in a position of power to break the rules, as it sets a terrible example for how we run things and treat our laws.

I couldn't say I was happy about it, as to that point I didn't even know lawn signs were against our rules, but after showing me the actual rule, what could I say? How could I argue that I should be allowed to do something that other people in my subdivision wouldn't be able to do in a similar circumstance?

When we had our last HOA meeting a week ago, he explained to me why he was so hard on this issue. When he had moved to the subdivision, he said the HOA was allowing friends of theirs to violate the covenants regularly. It started out as little things, but things that allowed them to advance their own interests, that other, non-connected people would not be allowed to do. Eventually that resulted in certain people being allowd to build sheds, gazebos, and other things that were against our rules, but things that were permanent. However, when other members of the community wanted to build the same thing their neighbors did, they were shot down by the HOA, saying they were against the rules. He said it was this example of favoritism that caused him to get involved and he has been militant against any bending of the rules, espcially by people involved on the board, since they are the ones entrusted with enforcing the rules of the community and the dues that residents pay.

Again, at times I thought he was too dilligent about enforcing the rules but, understanding the context and what he was trying to prevent, how could I argue? So that is why it bothers me so much to see our candidates knowingly violate the laws when it comes to signage. After all, its not as if anyone here has experience as an elected official to judge their character in office. And I believe actions speak much louder than words. So this is one of the few things we can judge candidates on.

Don't forget, I'm not just a candidate, I'm also a voter. So when I go to the polls, I want people elected who I am confident will protect my property rights and uphold the city's laws. I don't want elected officials putting their friends and associates over the other citizens of town. Worse, I don't want our elected officials doing things to help themselves at the expense of our rules. Judging by what I have seen the last few weeks, I have not been overly encouraged.

How can I trust someone to protect my property rights when they have no problem violating someone else's to stick their sign in their front yard? How can I trust them to rule fairly on city code enforcement when, just a week after Gwinnett County removes illegal signs from a place (and all of the candidates were informed that this is what they are doing), they go and stick their signs right back up in those same spots? And, what is worst in my view, how can I trust candidates when, after sharing these perspectives with some of them personally last week, I watched them nod their heads and heard them agree with me, and then, less than 24 hours later, do exactly what they said they were against.

This is a very simple issue and I don't understand having to make an argument that we should be following the law. I know and acknowledge I haven't been perfect during this campaign but I have always tried to comply with the rules we are supposed to follow (and the sign laws aren't always the easiest to follow). And if I find out I have made a mistake, I try to fix it without, argument or blaming other people because they did it first. This isn't grade school, we are being trusted with a 7 figure budget that our residents are forced to pay into, and if I have to argue as to why its wrong for us to break the very codes that we are going to adopt and violate the property rights of the very people we are supposed to defend, I am very concerned as a voter, property owner, and a resident.

This brings me back to the initial question that was asked at a candidate forum, should we have an ethics policy? My answer to that is no. We already have rules that we are supposed to follow, laws we are supposed to obey. The best way to get people to act ethically is to keep government as open as possible, allow citizens a view into what we do, and make sure that the laws on the books are enforced. Another organization or legal code isn't what we need, accountability is.

That is why you, as citizens, need to judge us by our actions, not our words; what we do, not what we say. And since the best example the voters have of how candidates would act in office, to this point, has been how they campaign, it should be the basic expectation of all them that we follow the rules. Remember, these are the very laws we are running to enforce for the city and, to see candidates knowingly violating these laws, and I would hope you would expect more of your council than that.

I know this seems sanctimonious, and its probably not great politics to write something like this, but, again, I'm a voter, and whether I am elected or not, I have to live here. We sold this city as a new type of experiment in governance. We should expect more from our elected officials, especially our first group (who will set the standards for all councils that follow), than to put themselves first, to ignore laws when its convenient, or to say the politically correct thing and then do the exact opposite.

If you find my prior mistakes in this area enough to decide that I'm not electable, that is a cross I'm willing to bare. If harping on this ethics issue costs me the election, I can live with that. But as a resident, property owner, and voter, I expect more from my city council than politics as usual. I hope you do as well. The best arbiters of our ethics isn't some code or some committee, its you.

Like what I had to say? Hate it? Have questions or comments for me? Join me at Ten Bistro this Saturday from 3:30-5:00 PM for a private meet and greet and let me know what you think over some great appetizeters in one of our city's best restaurants. Hope to see you there and I'm excited to get your opinion on this and every other issue that our city will be facing in the near future.

Scott Ehrlich

Candidate, Peachtree Corners City Council Post 3

scott@choosescott.com

www.choosescott.com