Hume Denies Conflict of Interest During Council Meeting
Code of ethics investigation needed? During last week's Elk Grove City Council meeting Council Member Pat Hume publicly addressed an ...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2010/04/hume-denies-conflict-of-interest-during.html
Code of ethics investigation needed?
During last week's Elk Grove City Council meeting Council Member Pat Hume publicly addressed an e-mail he said he received regarding property owned by his stepfather in the Cosumnes River sphere of influence (SOI) transitional area.
Hume's said that based on the advise from Elk Grove City Attorney Susan Cochran there is no consanguinity between he and his stepfather and therefore there is no conflict of interest requiring his recusal from participating or voting on the matter.
Hume did not address any potential conflicts of interest he might have as it related to the Capitol Southeast Connector JPA on which board Hume also serves.
The JPA is tasked with building a connector road between Interstate 5 and US Hwy 50. All of the suggested connector roads are near Hume's stepfathers property.
While Cochran may be providing Hume with technically correct advise, Hume may have not acted in the spirit of the City of Elk Grove Code of Ethics. The code includes the following language:
Although Hume does not have a direct blood relation with his stepfather, his involvement in this matter at a minimum gives the perception that he might be causing the public to question his "independent judgment."
Lest we forget, earlier this year Mayor Sophia Scherman hired a law firm to investigate allegations that Vice Mayor Steve Detrick violated the city's code of ethics. Detrick's transgression - making an off-the-cuff comment that the Sacramento Dioceses look at locating their then-proposed St Marie Goretti parish at other locations in Elk Grove including an empty lot near his primary residence.
Although the investigation found no intent to benefit personally on the part of Detrick, Scherman nonetheless considered the matter serious enough to warrant the hiring of an attorney at the cost of several thousand dollars. In Hume's case, the SOI has been proceeding the entire time he has served on the city council and it wasn't until he received an e-mail inquiring about THE property of his stepfather that he addressed the matter.
If we are to apply the same standards to Hume as were applied to Detrick, Mayor Scherman needs to call for an investigation into whether or not Hume violated the code of ethics. Failure to do so will render the code to nothing more than a paper tiger to be used for political games.
During last week's Elk Grove City Council meeting Council Member Pat Hume publicly addressed an e-mail he said he received regarding property owned by his stepfather in the Cosumnes River sphere of influence (SOI) transitional area.
Hume's said that based on the advise from Elk Grove City Attorney Susan Cochran there is no consanguinity between he and his stepfather and therefore there is no conflict of interest requiring his recusal from participating or voting on the matter.
Hume did not address any potential conflicts of interest he might have as it related to the Capitol Southeast Connector JPA on which board Hume also serves.
The JPA is tasked with building a connector road between Interstate 5 and US Hwy 50. All of the suggested connector roads are near Hume's stepfathers property.
While Cochran may be providing Hume with technically correct advise, Hume may have not acted in the spirit of the City of Elk Grove Code of Ethics. The code includes the following language:
"I avoid actions that might cause the public to question my independent judgment"
Although Hume does not have a direct blood relation with his stepfather, his involvement in this matter at a minimum gives the perception that he might be causing the public to question his "independent judgment."
Lest we forget, earlier this year Mayor Sophia Scherman hired a law firm to investigate allegations that Vice Mayor Steve Detrick violated the city's code of ethics. Detrick's transgression - making an off-the-cuff comment that the Sacramento Dioceses look at locating their then-proposed St Marie Goretti parish at other locations in Elk Grove including an empty lot near his primary residence.
Although the investigation found no intent to benefit personally on the part of Detrick, Scherman nonetheless considered the matter serious enough to warrant the hiring of an attorney at the cost of several thousand dollars. In Hume's case, the SOI has been proceeding the entire time he has served on the city council and it wasn't until he received an e-mail inquiring about THE property of his stepfather that he addressed the matter.
If we are to apply the same standards to Hume as were applied to Detrick, Mayor Scherman needs to call for an investigation into whether or not Hume violated the code of ethics. Failure to do so will render the code to nothing more than a paper tiger to be used for political games.
Posts
6 comments
Hmmm.... it does have a certain odor to it doesn't it?! If it was his father-in-law would that be different? Technically, there is no direct BLOOD relationship there either. What about a half brother or sister? Mr. Hume should have divulged, at the beginning, this property owned by his step father and then, in the spirit of good faith and honest leadership, recused himself.
The past 10 years have been filled with leaders like Cooper, Briggs, Leary, Soares, Scherman and now Hume. Add developer funded electeds like Notolli, irresponsible school board members like Amavista, a water board that Kowtows to its director, prior city attorney Mansanetti and city manager John Danielson and one has a 10 year supply of ruthless, egotisctical, self centered and destructive leadership and staff. And that's sans several un-named CSD people equally qualified that I haven't mentioned.
Prior to... and early in our cityhood we had such great expectations. Well... at least I did. But so much energy has been spent dealing with the likes of the above there's not been much progress made as could have been were we blessed with effective leadership from the get-go. Damn.
Here, here...Brother Stark!
What the heck? Don't you people remember the days when everyone was related to everyone else? Certain families ran things around town. Roads are named after them in the older and outlying parts of town. Parks are named after them in the newer parts of The City. Ya, The City!
What the heck do we do to name parks and streets if we upset the status quo?
I wonder, will we see a Leary park or Scherman lane? Can we change a street name if we vote on it?
This darn internet makes it hard to keep things running smoothly without a bunch of people asking questions and probing around.
Can we shut down the internet in Elk Grove to keep things smooth and unquestioned? Thats impossible. Oh wait, someone said that had actually been done recently? This local control thing that was voted in ten years ago sure complicated things. Before it was easy just to blame the County. Now we have to dig around and try to figure who owns what and who supports who and why.
Way to go Phillip! I'd heard about the other relative connections for Hume so when he only mentioned the one I thought it was amusing, in an insidious sort of way.
Is Paddy boy's mother still alive? If so, does the step father's land pass to her if he kicks the bucket? Who receives the land when she passes...her son...hmmm????
Malleus good questions. Mama is still alive and kicking. With her son sitting on the EG council and being the chairman of the Connector JPA, citizens of Elk Grove have the right to know what current and future potential financial benefit he recieves.
Hume is not practicing full disclosure. He is only putting forth a very small piece of the overall puzzle and that based on what is faulty advice from the city attorney. Sorry, it just doesn't wash.
Post a Comment