Appearances count, too

Cedar Rapids City Council members Tom Podzimek and Pat Shey did not act unethically in contracting to work on a publicly backed project, the city's Board of Ethics has ruled.

The board determined this week the two had no actual conflict of interest when their construction firm performed work for The BottleWorks loft condominiums project at 905 Third St. SE.

The board also decided not to consider whether the arrangement presented the appearance of a conflict - board members said they think that would be too far-reaching and subjective an issue to deliberate.

We disagree.

While it is obviously critical that public office holders not use their positions for personal gain, it is also important they avoid the appearance of such a conflict.

Cozy-seeming business and government arrangements undermine the public's trust - even if such arrangements don't fall under strict definitions of conflicts of interest.

That's why we think public officials should choose either to do business with local government or be a part of the decision-making process. They shouldn't do both.

We understand some officials might have to pass on opportunities they otherwise would have pursued. That's the going price to pay for ensuring trust and respect of the citizens they serve.

As partners in a small construction firm and an insulation company, Podzimek and Shey subcontracted on the BottleWorks project, which received financial incentives from the city.

They did the right thing in recusing themselves from a key 2008 city council vote that approved those incentives to the project's developer, even though they had not yet officially signed on to the project.

Still, we question whether the councilors should have accepted the work at all because it raises questions in the public's mind.

Some worry that such an ethics policy would limit the number of people willing to serve in local elected office, on boards or commissions.

Some ethics board members said elected officials should be able to discuss and vote on projects they eventually profit from, so long as they didn't know they'd get the business while considering the project.

We think its better serves the public, and the elected officials' own public servant image, to pass on such opportunities. Better they avoid contracting for projects they and their colleagues have discussed and considered on behalf of the citizens they represent.

We understand that business relationships in Cedar Rapids, as most communities, are interconnected. But citizens should be assured that public decisions are made purely in the public interest. Appearances may be deceiving but they count.

Draw a clear line between public service and private gain - a line drawn to err on the side of caution.