February 02, 2010: No favors
Category: Ethics
Posted by: David M Patt
Associations frequently curry favor with public officials who have influence over public policy that affects the association's members.
That is fine - but not during elections.
Once candidates have filed petitions for elective office, the association should not do anything that appears to favor a candidate - even if the candidate deserves being favored.
Associations that do not endorse electoral candidates should follow these guidelines:
1. DO NOT invite the candidate - even if that candidate is a current officeholder - to speak at an association meeting. It implies an endorsement, even if the candidate does not talk specifically about campaign issues or appeals for votes.
2. DO NOT invite the candidate to sit on a conference panel. It gives the candidate an unfair advantage over opposing candidates and implies an association endorsement.
3. DO NOT print the candidate's picture on a web page or in any association publication during the campaign.
4. DO NOT publish biographical or governmental information about the candidate.
5. DO NOT mention the candidate's role in supporting association programs. Save that for after the election.
6. DO NOT promote the candidate in any way that appears to favor that person over opposing candidates.
The association attorney may declare all or some of these actions to be legal - but that does not make them ethical.
That is fine - but not during elections.
Once candidates have filed petitions for elective office, the association should not do anything that appears to favor a candidate - even if the candidate deserves being favored.
Associations that do not endorse electoral candidates should follow these guidelines:
1. DO NOT invite the candidate - even if that candidate is a current officeholder - to speak at an association meeting. It implies an endorsement, even if the candidate does not talk specifically about campaign issues or appeals for votes.
2. DO NOT invite the candidate to sit on a conference panel. It gives the candidate an unfair advantage over opposing candidates and implies an association endorsement.
3. DO NOT print the candidate's picture on a web page or in any association publication during the campaign.
4. DO NOT publish biographical or governmental information about the candidate.
5. DO NOT mention the candidate's role in supporting association programs. Save that for after the election.
6. DO NOT promote the candidate in any way that appears to favor that person over opposing candidates.
The association attorney may declare all or some of these actions to be legal - but that does not make them ethical.
