Judge ethics at ballot box

On possible ethical lapses and Spokane Valley: Ethical dilemmas are a constant of public life. When the Library Board approached the city of Spokane Valley for a partnership, I knew this one-time opportunity for economic development at U-City would come not only with necessary scrutiny, but also with more than a few hints of cronyism. To me, the community benefit overrides this commentary.

On “The Great Barbed-Wire Conspiracy”: Only recently did perhaps thousands of us find we were quietly removed from compliance by ordinances of the planning department in a language cleanup of the sign code. Valuable commercial as well as residential acreages were rendered illegal, subject to fines, not even grandfathered.

No ethical lapse here, removing this ill-advised government overreach affecting the income base of the city and forcing economic hardship on ordinary citizens.

Questions: Who then becomes the moral arbiter of ethical behavior? Perhaps a political opponent with an agenda contrary to the wishes of the electorate? Is it a panel with secret ties to special interests never publicly revealed? It happened.

Thus, for me, the process begins with the citizens who demand accountability through the ballot box, not the unelected who are accountable to no one.

Dean Grafos

Spokane Valley councilman

Spokane Valley