Corroon Lays Out His View of Need for Ethics Reform
by Jeremiah Stettler
Salt Lake Tribune
Peter Corroon’s call for ethics reform helped win him the mayor’s seat in Salt Lake County, where a series of scandals scuttled his opponent’s re-election bid.
Now, the two-term Democratic mayor is pushing again for ethics reform — this time statewide to pump his gubernatorial campaign.
Just hours into the 2010 legislative session, Corroon stood on the steps of the Utah Capitol to demand lawmakers enact reforms ranging from capping campaign contributions to creating an independent ethics commission to barring officeholders from using campaign cash for personal reasons.
He urged an all-out ban on gifts, a prohibition on donations from state contractors and stricter rules preventing former legislators from returning too soon as lobbyists.
Governor Gary Herbert sees little wrong with current rules and seems oblivious to the need for ethics reform. And who wouldn’t after just taking in a $1 million dollar haul that is totally unrestricted and he spend any way he damn well pleases and it came in unlimited amounts. He’s been bought and doesn’t know it, or is happy being a servant to his new owners.
When you take $25,o00 from someone a serious transaction has taken place and there is an understanding of expectations between the giver and the receiver. It’s bribery, but wink, wink, not called such. Bribery doesn’t sound good.
If Herbert doesn’t change his mind about ethics reform he will lose.
“The people of Utah want real, meaningful ethics reform,” Corroon said. “They want to get back to the basics of an honest, ethical government. We have heard a lot of talk about ethics reform over the years, but it has been just that, talk.”
The Democrat’s remarks come after a Salt Lake Tribune poll showed overwhelming support for both an independent ethics commission and limits on campaign contributions.
While Republican Gov. Gary Herbert is working with the Legislature on an ethics-reform package, he remains opposed to a contribution cap such as the $10,000 limit Corroon favors for statewide races, according to spokeswoman Angie Welling.
Herbert argues the limit would favor wealthy candidates who can finance their own campaigns, shift an electoral advantage to incumbents and impinge on free speech. The better approach, he says, is transparency.
The governor — who raised nearly $1 million at his annual gala, mainly from donors who gave more than $10,000 each — has listed his donations online.
Corroon, who trails Herbert by 25 percentage points in the latest Tribune poll, pledged to do the same. He, too, has accepted donations exceeding $10,000 this campaign, which would violate the standard he proposed.
“I’m going to play by the existing rules,” Corroon said. “When I get into office, I’ll make those changes.”
The Legislature is now weighing a package of ethics bills, including a proposed constitutional amendment to create an ethics commission. Meanwhile, backers of a more sweeping ethics initiative are gathering signatures for a public vote.
Corroon has signed the initiative. Herbert is working toward a legislative fix.
Ethics reform
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, who is running for governor, called for the following statewide ethics reforms:
» Cap campaign contributions at $10,000 in statewide races and $5,000 in legislative races.
» Prohibit state contractors from donating to statewide and legislative campaigns.
» Bar elected officials from accepting gifts.
» Prohibit campaign funds from being used for personal reasons.
» Prevent former legislators from returning to the Capitol as lobbyists within two years.
» Create an independent ethics commission.
