News Clips

There needs to be an effort to find a balance, said Heather Ferguson, director of New Jersey operations for Common Cause, a Washington, D.C.-based ethics advocacy group. “There’s a good way to balance the transparency aspect and also help out elected officials as I think we have been entering some unprecedented times where they’re rightfully concerned about their safety and security,” she said.

Sailor Jones, associate director of Common Cause North Carolina, alluded to those setbacks in addressing the audience. “This time, my friends, the courts will not save us,” Jones said. “Who will?”

Kate Titus, of the good government organization Common Cause Oregon, said elected officials should consider more than just their minimum legal requirements when conducting the public’s business. “There’s what the law mandates, but above and beyond that, there’s also what’s ethical. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical or in the best interest of the people,” Titus said. “Public perception matters. Elected officials can’t just follow the letter of the law, they need to follow the spirit of the law,” Titus told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “Ultimately, elected officials have an obligation to work in the best interests of the town, not Amazon and not for themselves.”

But one issue trailed him: a complaint had been filed with the Federal Election Commission by the good-government group Common Cause about his payment to Ms. Daniels, which was publicly revealed in January 2018 by The Wall Street Journal.

“Its most immediate impact is that it adds to cynicism among voters,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York. “The more money that floods into our system, the more people feel like their interests aren’t heard.”

Gavin Geis, executive director for Common Cause Nebraska, said he believes Pillen should continue the tradition of governors sharing their schedule with the public. “Government transparency and accountability are not just enshrined in state law but are what Nebraskans expect from elected leaders,” he said. “The governor’s schedule gives us all insight into his priorities and helps keep the public informed about the work he’s doing on our behalf,” Geis continued. “While it may be an afterthought for some, it’s an important part of bringing voters into the hard work of governing.”