It does make you wonder sometimes as to the importance of ethics. Ethics are falling by the wayside and more and more elected officials and staff are putting everything they were taught and believed about ethics in their back pocket.Back in June 2008, Commissioner Cara Jennings introduced a Pay to Play Ordinance. It was decided after much discussion that it should go to the State Attorney for an opinion. The Ordinance was apparently stricter than the State law on it and our City Attorney Karns thought it might be unconstitutional to make an Ordinance that was more strict than the State of Florida. He thought.
On September 16, 2008, the Pay to Play Ordinance came back and was defeated on a 3 to 2 vote with Commissioner Retha Lowe stating that she did not agree with it and objecting to the title of it as did the Mayor. Ms. Lowe wanted more citizens to speak out, like that meant something to her, that it would make some sort of a difference. The Commissioners (Lowe, Jennings, Clemens, Golden and Vespo) all agreed to send it to a workshop.
Here it is, over four months later. We are finally getting that workshop. It is high time, past time and way over due. Palm Beach County is known as the Pay to Play capitol of the country. The FBI is still working here. The State Attorney says there are more arrests to come. Commissioner Lowe already was found guilty by the Florida Elections Commission.
Can you imagine while Palm Beach County and local cities are sending elected officials to prison, the City of Lake Worth’s Commission has a problem setting an ethical standard for Lake Worth? Has anyone walked off with the silver during this long wait? Let’s stop talking. Let’s take action. Let’s pass Commissioner Jenning’s well thought out Ethics Ordinance and raise the bar. The rest of the County will follow us.
