Calhouns Can(n)ons

Why Does Mother Calhoun Have To ‘Splain This AGAIN?

O.K. Here goes, again. CSD member, Julie Tacker, again, landed on the front page of the Tribune, this time accused of violating several conflict of interest issues. The gist of the violations are: Sent a letter to the Supervisors offering the services of a business Tacker owns (528-FLOW) and which Jeff Edwards, her boyfriend, is its marketing manager, offering to, as the Tribune puts it, “provide and install low-flow plumbing fixtures for Los Osos residents. Tacker and Edwards suggested the supervisors revise wording in the law to require a kind of low flow showerhead that their business installs.”

Then, as Boyfriend Edwards tells the Tribune, “ the company would provide the retrofits at little or no cost in exchange for the water credits the residents would receive. Those are development credits given for conservation of water. . . . The company [Tacker’s 528-FLOW] could then stockpile the credits, which would then allow it to develop projects in the town or sell the credits to other developers, Edwards said.” (And guess who’s the “developer” who’s likely to do that? Yep. Edwards.)

Sweet deal. Doesn’t even begin to pass the smell test. Then it really goes off the ethical rails when Tacker took off her 528-FLOW hat and put on her CSD hat and voted to support a CSD ordinance that could result in her 528-FLOW company maybe doing a deal. Even if there were no quid-pro-quo, that’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

I saw the same thing at work years ago at School Board, wherein one clear, ethical member, recused herself from voting on an issue because her company once did business with one of the bidders, years ago. The connection was extremely tenuous, at best, but this Board Member’s ethics were such that she was willing to remain like Caesar’s Wife – above suspicion, not merely inches from the ethical line.

The problem gets compounded by our method of government: Citizens volunteering to serve part time which constantly brings them into conflict with all sorts of legal and grey ethical lines since living real time in a real community doing real business will constantly challenge the lines.

Even harder is the pretense we make that someone can take off their hats. That is, an elected official can stand up at public comment period anywhere on any issue and declare,”I’m not here as a (fill in the blank,) but merely as a private citizen.” Legally, that’s supposed to put them in the clear. Practically speaking, that bell cannot be unrung and EVERYBODY knows they’re (fill in the blank.)

Add to this mix is the fact that we live in a small community where everybody knows everybody else, gossip spreads like wildfire and Guilt by Association, while unfair, is a reality. Also, in Los Osos, no elected official can ever forget that there are still ugly Sewer Wars factions willing to play Medea to the Teeth; the long knives are still constantly out. And CSD officials need to tread carefully.

And finally, there’s all the stuff your Mom used to warn you about. As the old saying goes, “Lay down with dawgs, git up with fleas” and “Ye shall be known by the company you keep.” The role of Caesar’s Wife -- not only must she actually BE above suspicion but she needs to BE SEEN to be above suspicion -- is an often impossible role to play, but, IF an elected official wants to have any credibility, it needs to be attempted, at least.

Of course, there’s the question: Does the elected official wish to have any credibility? Or even any viability as a Board member? If not, then it’s time to change hats. One way or the other, the voters will have the final say.


And Now, For Something More Serious

Heard about Peak Oil? Well, it’s Time to Talk About Peak Water

At the blog linked below:

http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=69756