Private Character and Public Leaders – Do We Care?

By Linda Ford
Special to Elk Grove News

Clinton, Edwards, Spitzer, Sanford, Ashburn, Leary, and the list goes on and on!

Do we care about the character of our elected officials?

All of this raises very important questions: What is character and how important a role should it play in public life? Is a leader’s private behavior even relevant to his or her public performance?

Recently, there was a political tug of war when the St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church was before the Elk Grove City Council. Morality and character was brought up on both sides including violations of the City of Elk Grove's Code of Ethics.

As a Roman Catholic, with the recent events of character playing a role in local races and in matters before the city council, I am left wondering how much of a role it really plays.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said in a speech, “I want to talk briefly tonight about the connection between personal character and public leadership. I don’t believe they can be separated. In fact, I’m going to argue that effective public leadership depends intimately on the character of the elected leader.”

Would you knowingly vote for someone who was lacking personal moral character? After all, sex scandals involving elected officials seem to be everywhere in the news these days.

Would it matter to you if one of your elected officials was having an affair? Would it matter to you if any elected official’s position or votes where swayed by being involved in an extra-marital affair?

Are we to take conflicts of interest seriously? What about criminal behavior?

Former Elk Grove City Council member Michael Leary allegedly committed real estate fraud while he was still on the city council. While Leary is still awaiting his criminal trial, his employer, the Sacramento County Sheriff decided they had enough of his behavior and terminated his employment.

I believe real leadership, including the kind required by public office, should never be described in terms of purely professional skill. I believe it should be a blend of both character and competence.

Is there such a thing as a moral conscience? Shouldn't a good leader act honestly, even in their personal life?

At the last Elk Grove City Council meeting, a code of conduct allegation was brought up again. We only have to look at the past egregious actions of Leary to understand that a higher standard of conduct should apply to anyone in public leadership, and especially to elected officials in whom we have invested our trust.

Writers James Kouzes and Barry Posner have been studying the 20 most common characteristics of admired leaders. The authors write, “If people are going to follow someone willingly, whether it be into battle or into the boardroom, they first want to assure themselves that the person is worthy of their trust. They want to know that the would-be leader is truthful and ethical.”

So do we look the other way when an elected official seemingly lacks sound moral character? Does character matter to you when you vote?

In voting, we are building a public community. Every vote does matter, and whether we like it or not, we are responsible for the moral character of those we put into power. We get the elected officials we deserve.

Archbishop Chaput also writes, “High moral character is even more important today in our public officials than it was 100 years ago. Therefore we need to be more, not less, attentive to the standards we apply to ourselves, and to those who represent us.”

We cannot turn high moral character on and off like a faucet when it pertains to our elected officials. We hang this one, but look the other way with another.

Wouldn't we be hypocrites if we do? No double standards or preferential treatment should be allowed

.Bottom line, character really matters, it matters now, it matters in the next election, and it matters forever!

Ed. Note: We think disgraced politicians should skip the tell-all news conferences and talk shows and pick up a toilet brush like John Profumo did nearly a half-century ago. Read about Profumo's redemption.