I was shocked by the article about Vancouver City Councilor Bill Turlay’s intermittent, but ongoing, use of his personal email for city business (“Turlay an exception to city’s policy regarding email,” May 7, The Columbian). There is a policy that says council members will use their public email accounts for official business and there is an ethics policy that says members will “conduct their official duties … in a manner that avoids even the appearance of impropriety or a conflict of interest.”
Integrity and openness are lacking now at all levels of our government. Large numbers of citizens do not vote, citing as the reason a corrupt system that is beyond reform and repair. I believe it can be reformed, and we must not let clear violations of policies go unchecked. Sanctions for violations of the city ethics policy range from admonition to removal from office. The council member admits he chooses ease when conducting his official business and says he will not change. This calls for action from the council, along with an assurance to the public that the improper conduct will not continue.
