A question for Lago Vista City Council.

Yes, I support including an independent Board of Ethics made up of qualified Lago Vista residents selected through an open and transparent process. I do not believe City Council should be responsible for investigating itself. The final Charter language should clearly define the board’s authority, how members are selected, and how due process will be protected. I will review that language carefully to make sure the process is fair, transparent, and follows the law. The same standards should apply to everyone. In short, I support an independent Board of Ethics that is fair, transparent, and accountable to the public while protecting due process for everyone.

Written by the candidate

Yes, I would support exploring an independent resident review board as part of the Charter review, provided we can structure it to operate fairly and with as little political influence as possible. I think we have a gap in how we hold elected officials accountable. Right now, when a Council member's conduct raises serious concerns but doesn't rise to the level of a criminal offense, much of the responsibility for addressing it falls on fellow Council members. That's a difficult position to put anyone in. We're all human. None of us is perfect, and serving on Council doesn't change that. But residents have every right to expect professionalism, respectful conduct and accountability from the people they elect. The challenge comes when Council has to investigate or take action against one of its own. Relationships, political differences and concerns about the consequences for the City can influence whether something is pursued at all. Even when people are trying to do the right thing, those competing considerations can get in the way. I don't believe accountability should depend on whether your fellow Council members are willing to hold you accountable. An independent review board could help fill that gap. But I would want us to be thoughtful about how it's created. Who appoints the members? How do we keep political disagreements from turning into ethics complaints? What authority would the board actually have? How do we protect someone from an unfounded accusation while also making sure legitimate complaints receive a fair review? I support public hearings where appropriate, but we also need to protect confidential information and ensure everyone receives a fair process. And there is another practical challenge. We already struggle to find enough residents willing to serve on some of our boards and commissions. An ethics board would ask volunteers to take on some particularly difficult responsibilities. We need to be realistic about that and make sure members have the training and support to do the job. I would like to see us examine how other cities have structured independent review boards, what has worked, what hasn't, and what authority we can legally give such a board through our Charter or enabling Ordinance. I don't want to create a board that looks good on paper but has no real ability to accomplish its purpose. And I certainly don't want to create another tool for political retaliation. I want a fair process that protects both the public and the person being reviewed, with clear rules that apply equally to everyone. People will disagree. Council members will make mistakes. But when there is a legitimate concern about conduct, residents should have confidence that it can be reviewed fairly, objectively and independently, regardless of who is involved. That's the kind of accountability I would support.