Transparency is always the best policy.
That’s why I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday to get a call from Lynn Ellins,
Way to get ahead of the situation so it doesn’t become a scandal.
It’s similar to what
Why is transparency so important?
First, it’s essential that public officials be trustworthy and have integrity. Transparency is one of the main avenues candidates for public office have to earn the trust of those they want to serve.
Second, these issues usually seem to come out anyway. When a journalist or a candidate’s opponent makes such an issue known publicly, there’s almost always an appearance that the candidate didn’t bring it up because he or she was trying to hide it. That creates scandal.
People like to know that their public officials are human and make mistakes. But they also like to know that officials learn from mistakes and are open about them. Too many public officials don’t understand this and try to hide their past. As a result, they create scandal, whereas if they had just admitted mistakes up front, before their opponents had the chance to attack them, their opponents would have little ammunition to use against them.
Ellins has shown the sense to get ahead of this so it doesn’t become a scandal, and the humility to admit his mistake publicly. Other candidates would be wise to follow his lead.
That’s not an endorsement of Ellins’ candidacy. Doña Ana County Democratic voters should consider the merits of all four candidates before voting in June. I’m simply saying that Ellins has done what all candidates for public office should do in similar situations.