The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)
Copyright 2006 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
When it comes to integrity, members of the state Legislature should take a lesson from Tom Eithun.
Eithun, who was elected an Oregon trustee in April, resigned in June after the state attorney general’s office said Eithun would face a conflict of interest in serving on the Village Board while also serving as fire captain for Oregon Area Fire/EMS. The ruling said Eithun couldn’t be in a role that had influence over his captain’s salary.
Although Eithun disagreed with the decision, he resigned from the board and (take note, legislators) he plans to pay back the village $2,303 in legal fees.
Let’s compare that act of ethical behavior with the actions of state Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, and his Assembly colleagues. Stone is under investigation by the attorney general for what appears to be a significant violation of the open records law. He is alleged to have shared draft legislation with selected special interests.
His mates in the Assembly, angered at the investigation, defiantly authorized taxpayers to pick up Stone’s legal fees, up to $10,000.
Praise goes to Eithun for demonstrating how to be a responsible public servant.