Last December and again this June, I sat through over an hour’s deliberation by the County Board on their Ethics Ordinance. This deliberation by the County Board began about two years ago when the States Attorney for the County advised the Ethics Ordinance was “un-enforceable.” In December 2011, they came to a tie vote on the new Ethics Ordinance and the County Chair sent it back to Committee.
At the June 2012 Meeting of the Board, the Chair advised the Ethics Ordinance had proceeded through Committee, Executive Committee and the Committee of the Whole with three proposed amendments for consideration. After passing two amendments with the third failing, the Ethics Ordinance came to a vote. It was defeated.
After discussion on the vote and the possible alternatives, the Board agreed to let the current Ethics Ordinance stand. In talking to the current States Attorney, I was advised there are some portions of the document that might not be enforceable and other potions that may be enforceable.
We have got to do better than that!
Bob “Ragman” Getz
Candidate for County Board
District 22, Elgin Township
