The Observation Deck

Completing My Issue Canvas on Pending Ethics Legislation

Those candidates (including Anderson & Bullock) that have not expressed an opinion on this Issue have been sent this email. I will update the chart as I hear from candidates:


I am currently tracking (posting) candidate positions in the Lakewood municipal races on the Observation Deck on Ethics Reform under "Why This Election Matters!"

Do you support or oppose the pending legislation introduced by Council-Member-At-Large Rader on Ethics-in-Government and Campaign Finance?

This is a key issue for our local government and one that deeply concerns me as a long-term resident of Lakewood.

I would appreciate a short position statement from you on this topic.

All the very best!

Mark

Mark D. Kindt
(216) 521-6024

http://www.kindt.com

Hope for an updated chart soon. David Anderson is a lame duck. Tom Bullock is Tom Bullock.

Dan Alaimo wrote:Hope for an updated chart soon. David Anderson is a lame duck. Tom Bullock is Tom Bullock.

Both Mr. Anderson and Mr. Bullock are serving council-members with votes and positions. As a voter, I'd like to have some sense of where office-holders and candidates stand on this pending legislation to update Ethic-In-Government norms to 21st Century standards.

A non response would indicate to me that a candidate has no awareness of this legislation- or in other words a total absence of the most essential issue that has been at stake for the past several years.

Stan Austin wrote:A non response would indicate to me that a candidate has no awareness of this legislation- or in other words a total absence of the most essential issue that has been at stake for the past several years.

Tom Bullock is Tom Bullock.

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Stan Austin wrote:A non response would indicate to me that a candidate has no awareness of this legislation- or in other words a total absence of the most essential issue that has been at stake for the past several years.

Tom Bullock is Tom Bullock.

And as of this moment Dan O'Malley is Dan O'Malley.

And if I'm Tom Bullock I'm wondering WTF. Why the double standard?

m buckley wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Stan Austin wrote:A non response would indicate to me that a candidate has no awareness of this legislation- or in other words a total absence of the most essential issue that has been at stake for the past several years.

Tom Bullock is Tom Bullock.

And as of this moment Dan O'Malley is Dan O'Malley.

And if I'm Tom Bullock I'm wondering WTF. Why the double standard?

Dan is an effective ward representative. Tom is ... well, I still don't want to say it anywhere it can't be deleted or forgotten.
Why Dan O'Malley hasn't responded to Mr. Kindt, I have no idea. I wish he would.

Strong Affirmative Statement From Candidate Tess Neff On Ethics In Government

"I am aware of the legislation and I have not had the opportunity to read it yet. That being said I firmly believe high ethical standards are necessary for government entities and public agencies that are accountable to the public. I have always conducted myself by the highest ethical standards and being an attorney and a former magistrate I’m bound by those rules. In my current position all staff sign an acknowledgment that they will follow the code of ethics and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. We strictly enforce this work rule."


Updated Table Reflects This:

Mark Kindt wrote:Strong Affirmative Statement From Candidate Tess Neff On Ethics In Government

"I am aware of the legislation and I have not had the opportunity to read it yet. That being said I firmly believe high ethical standards are necessary for government entities and public agencies that are accountable to the public. I have always conducted myself by the highest ethical standards and being an attorney and a former magistrate I’m bound by those rules. In my current position all staff sign an acknowledgment that they will follow the code of ethics and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. We strictly enforce this work rule."


Updated Table Reflects This:

Reform in Lakewood 4.jpg

I am surprised that we have not seen statements by Messrs. Shachner and O'Malley.

It seems that Mr. Buckley has been ahead of all of us on Mr. O'Malley---very disappointing for me to admit this.

I was only made aware of this question today. I have not received any emails from Mark K. in over a year. Mark, would you check to be sure you have my correct email address? It’s daniel.omalley@lakewoodoh.net

In any event, I can tell you I am generally supportive of expanded ethics requirements. My primary concern is about creating duplicate enforcement mechanisms that would in fact be less strong or stringent than the ones that already exist at the state level for all Ohio public officials (e.g., we already have an ethics commission - one with paid staff, adjudicating authority, etc. I have sought their opinions on several issues and don’t find their responsiveness to be lacking.) I’m happy to go into more detail about specific provisions, just ask. I strongly support enhancing our campaign finance regulations.

Dan OMalley wrote:I was only made aware of this question today. I have not received any emails from Mark K. in over a year. Mark, would you check to be sure you have my correct email address? It’s daniel.omalley@lakewoodoh.net

In any event, I can tell you I am generally supportive of expanded ethics requirements. My primary concern is about creating duplicate enforcement mechanisms that would in fact be less strong or stringent than the ones that already exist at the state level for all Ohio public officials (e.g., we already have an ethics commission - one with paid staff, adjudicating authority, etc. I have sought their opinions on several issues and don’t find their responsiveness to be lacking.) I’m happy to go into more detail about specific provisions, just ask. I strongly support enhancing our campaign finance regulations.

So Dan O'Malley, you did not answer the direct question.

Do you support the pending ethics legislation put forth by your fellow councilman Tristan Rader.

A simple Yes or No will do.

A thought for all elected representatives and candidates for elected office. You will often find good questions raised here on the Deck that should be addressed by City government. I read the Deck daily because Jim has asked me to, and it doesn't take all that much time. If I have to skim something, I skim it. If I chose to ignore something, I ignore it.

I don''t ask for an open commitment, like Mr. Kindt's on ethics, but I think all of you have a responsibility to read the Deck regularly, and I'd like it very much if more of you would participate in discussions, like Dan O'Malley does.

One big reason for not being on the Deck, at least as a reader, goes away in January.

Bridget Conant wrote:

Dan OMalley wrote:I was only made aware of this question today. I have not received any emails from Mark K. in over a year. Mark, would you check to be sure you have my correct email address? It’s daniel.omalley@lakewoodoh.net

In any event, I can tell you I am generally supportive of expanded ethics requirements. My primary concern is about creating duplicate enforcement mechanisms that would in fact be less strong or stringent than the ones that already exist at the state level for all Ohio public officials (e.g., we already have an ethics commission - one with paid staff, adjudicating authority, etc. I have sought their opinions on several issues and don’t find their responsiveness to be lacking.) I’m happy to go into more detail about specific provisions, just ask. I strongly support enhancing our campaign finance regulations.

So Dan O'Malley, you did not answer the direct question.

Do you support the pending ethics legislation put forth by your fellow councilman Tristan Rader.

A simple Yes or No will do.

Yes, but I would like to see some changes/clarifications made like the ones I suggest in my post above. I'm sorry if that position wasn't clear to you.

Thank you, Dan O’Malley

In The Ward 1 Race

From the statements of each candidate in the Ward 1 race, it is clear that both candidates have a stong underestanding of the role of ethics in government service and both have considerable practical and professional experience with this important issue.

I compliment them both for their time in government service and their professional committment to ethical standards.

Thank you both for taking the time to post or communicate on this topic.

I wish each of you the best of luck in your professional endeavors as public servants!