ETHICS COMMISSION GOES TOO FAR

Cape Girardeau is seeking a few good men and women to serve on its new ethics commission. But stringent disclosure requirements for members may deter many quality applicants.

Members must file a financial interest statement every year. The thought is that the city wants to ensure that members do not have financial interests in any of the matters they may be investigating.

That is all well and good. But many business people wouldn't want to reveal their financial dealings each year. That is a lot to ask a volunteer on a city board, and this requirement alone will probably keep a good number of qualified people away.

Members are also banned from making contributions in support of or in opposition to any candidate or proposition. Again, that seems to carry the issue a bit far.

There is a list of other requirements as well. All in all, the standards are much higher than required of members of other city advisory boards.

Good intentions don't always make for good government. This new ethics commission is an example.