Debating the Soundness and Merits of Irvine’s Development and Planning

Two recent incidents in the city of Irvine, one involving the mayor and one involving a consultant, ought to impel the City Council to take action on a code of ethics based on the ancient precept that no man (or woman) can serve two masters. The mayor was fined $2,000 for voting to approve the city manager’s contract (after she had been involved in a real estate transaction with him). The consultant was hired by the city as a consultant while at the same time lobbying the city on behalf of developers.

Such a code would resolve the inadequacies of the present conflict-of-interest code to address conflicts that may do harm to the public interest but do not come within its provisions (such as the lack of a 10% interest by the consultant in the consulting firm that employed him.)

Such a code would also provide fair and prior notice to an elected official of possible ethical misconduct. This would eliminate the concerns expressed by Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan that the complaint against her was based on a legal technicality, that the city attorney failed to advise her beforehand of a possible conflict and that political opponents were to be blamed.

Such a code of ethics would place the responsibility for ethical conduct where it belongs--on the individual. Such a code would make it clear that self-interest and public interest may be in conflict when service to two masters is involved.

The ancient precept that no person can serve two masters has a final admonition for all of us: “Ye cannot serve God and Mammon” (Webster defines Mammon as the false god of riches and avarice). This is not to say that the public and private interests (the two masters) served by the consultant or the mayor were adversely affected by the dual representation or the fees and commissions earned. What is being said is that when money changes hands, there is a perception that money talks to influence one interest (or master) over the other.

These recent incidents involving a conflict of interest or an alleged conflict of interest mark neither the beginning nor the end of such incidents. They will continue so long as the Irvine City Council relies on private individuals to take action and shirk its own responsibility to act on a code of ethics.

AL NASSER

Irvine