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Ethics and Government Personnel

Guilt by association.

Here’s the headline: “Lt. Gov. Benjamin Arrested in Campaign Finance Scheme.”

Brian Benjamin is lieutenant governor of New York. I don’t know the details of what he did or is accused of doing. I do know that it is just another point of reference for people who believe that government is crooked and that elected officials are all corrupt.

While it might have been just Benjamin who is at fault for his actions, we all will be labeled by some as being associated with him because we are in government.

It behooves all of us to be diligent in how we personally behave, not only in our direct actions, but also because of how people might perceive what we do.

My last comment is that I work with many elected officials and I’ve found them to honest and straightforward and just trying to serve their communities to the best of their ability.
Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.