Elected officials should know better when it comes to serving with integrity, practicing good ethics and simply abiding by the law. At minimum, a long list of politicians ruined by scandals should serve as a warning to those thinking about bending the rules.
Yet, in 2008, New Yorkers got an earful of shocking revelations, crime and political maneuvering.
We deserve better. So to help politicians who haven’t landed in hot water stay out of trouble, we put a series of tips together (with the point of reference in parenthesis).
Don’t be client No. 9. (Eliot Spitzer)
Don’t use voter choice as a cover for your own self-serving rule changing. (Mike Bloomberg)
There is such a thing as TMI on your hotel-motel affairs. (David Paterson)
Pay your taxes. (Charles Rangel)
Don’t get arrested. Don’t drive drunk. Don’t call your secret baby’s mama for help. (Vito Fosella, Fosella, Fosella)
File your campaign finance records on time. (Pedro Espada Jr.)
Don’t put your siblings, partners, or spouses on organizations you give major funds to, or on your payroll. (Miguel Martinez, Christine Quinn, Carmen Arroyo, Martin Dilan)
Saying that you tripped and broke a glass cup on your girlfriend’s face sounds like the dog-ate-my-homework excuse. (Hiram Monserrate)
Take responsibility for the disorganized, shady organizations you give funding to. Better yet, do your due diligence before you dole out the people’s money. (Hiram Monserrate)
Avoid illegal campaign finance practices that result in felony charges. (Nora Anderson)
Act as if you have more substantive issues to spend your time on than trying to ban the word ghetto. (Maria Baez)
