Taking the oath of office

"It seems so simple!" That's what I thought when I originally took my Oath of Office in 2004. And indeed it is very simple: "I, Susan Lesch, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and the Charter of the City of Norwalk. I will in all respects, uphold and enforce by general law the Charter and ordinances of the City and will faithfully discharge the duties of Mayor upon which I am about to enter. So help me God." (Today, this last sentence is optional.) I took that oath twice as Mayor and administered it to dozens of other public servants. I kept a copy on the wall in my office. In my 2 terms on the Huron County Board of Elections, I took a very similar oath with emphasis on election law. Simple? Yes, but what a huge responsibility! I was charged to know the laws of our nation, our state and our city, and to uphold them; to know the duties of the Mayor's Office or Board of Elections and carry them out. Having never served in government before, I set out to learn. Fortunately, there were lots of conferences and workshops. Topics varied and the networking with other mayors was great. I learned much and grew more aware of the privilege and the responsibility of public service. Two areas of this responsibility were consistently highlighted-- areas often misunderstood – or perhaps ignored – by elected officials. These areas are Ethics Law and Public Records law. Ethics Law is quite explicit. I received a copy of Ohio Ethics Law within 15 days of my starting the job. One focus is Conflict of Interest, even the APPEARANCE of a conflict. Officials and their immediate family members cannot solicit or accept "anything of value from anyone, if the thing of value could improperly influence that official in the performance of his or her duties." Including gifts, travel expenses, employment, substantial meals, or other things of significant value. (https://ethics.ohio.gov/ education/overview.html) You can't give a job to your brother or contract with a business that lets you use their condo in Hawaii. You can't take $60 million in exchange for bailing out a utility company. (Remember OH HB6 which made OH the #8 most corrupt state in the nation?) It's simple – Don't make decisions based on what is best for you or even for your election! Your decisions can't even give the appearance that they benefit you. Ohio's Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act, also known as the "Sunshine Laws", may be even more important. It gives Ohio residents access to government records and meetings. These laws promote transparency and accountability." It's how your constituents know how you are making decisions. And sadly, it is so often how we discover bad behavior going on in the back rooms. Ohio Public Records Act outlines how the public can request records from any public office, ensuring transparency and accountability. "The public's right to access such information is a cornerstone of our democracy. So, in a very real sense, this guide equips Ohioans with the knowledge they need to keep watch over the officials they elect and the agencies that are in place at every level of state government." (https://www. ohioattorneygeneral.gov/ YellowBook) My first days in the Mayor's office taught the extent of this law, "Mayor, remember that nearly everything you touch is a public record. Don't throw anything away, not even notes from a meeting. Our Records Retention Board with their retention schedules, determine what and when to discard records." Wow! I thought, I take a lot of notes! Were there complaints from employees worried about public records? Yes. I thought that's simple, "to avoid embarrassment, work hard to get a good annual evaluation. In terms of discipline records – don't do dumb stuff!" The Open Meetings Act provides the same transparency, mandating that public officials deliberate, discuss, and conduct public business in open meetings. No decisions by email or private conversations and then passed in public. In fact, any meeting with more than half of a governing body present, must be announced and open to the public. Certain topics set by law may be discussed in a private executive session. Transparency and Accountability. I came to appreciate these laws and even the diligent press who use them; they are essential to maintain trust and confidence in government. More and more, I came to understand that keeping the oath came down to me. My integrity, my moral compass, the "content of my character" as MLK would say. It is the promise we make in that simple oath to those we serve. If one is brave enough to include that last sentence, "So help me God," one accepts an additional level of accountability, and perhaps consequences.