‏Giannini: An Opportunity for Elected Officials to Restore Some Trust

‏Giannini: An Opportunity for Elected Officials to Restore Some Trust

I write this wearing two hats, one as a former legislator, the other as a taxpayer. The  public has lost faith in its elected officials. As the Fox plea agreement was announced, the cries of the taxpayer grew louder and angrier.  

You could hear people saying things like,  "Only in Rhode Island"  or "They are all the same" or "This state is terrible."  I've heard those cries before when I served in the House of Representatives and I hear them now.

But  there are many good legislators who work hard every day to serve their constituencies. Although it is a part time legislature, many legislators work endless days and nights representing their districts. And every time I say that to someone, they say to me "You've got to be kidding!"  Public resentment and apathy has resulted in lower voter turnouts and lack of trust of elected officials.  

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Many people simply do not want to run for public office anymore because they believe it's not a good place to be. It's sad, but true. One of the reasons people avoid the chance to serve as an elected official is because they have a low opinion of the institution itself.  

Interestingly enough, most people like if not love their own legislator or elected official  that represents them. On many occasions I have heard people say, "Well, my own legislator is good, but I'm not happy with the rest of them." Many people simply like their own legislator but dislike the legislature as a whole. The institution has taken another hit and needs to recuperate. They need to repair some of the damage that has been done.

I have always felt that it is an honor and privilege to serve as an elected official and I know many who  feel the same way.  When you think about it, it truly is amazing to be chosen by your peers in your neighborhood to represent them.  I remember leaving the state house late one night and looking up at the beautifully lit dome amongst the stars and thinking, "I am honored to be working there!"  Yes, it may sound corny but these days " corny "  feels good to me.  I think one mistake  some politicians make is forgetting how they got there.  The people put you there and the people can and will take you out if you betray their trust.  "Either the public trusts you or not, and it's not a gender thing."  It applies to everyone.  

So what can be done to change things?  For start, more accountability and transparency is needed in the campaign finance laws. Campaign accounts should have limits as to what elected officials can spend their money on. Some elected officials  have their own personal limits as to what they will spend their campaign money on. Detailed reports of expenditures and donations need to be more transparent to the public.  A public guideline of what you can and cannot spend campaign money on should be reviewed and rewritten. That would clarify  some of "the fifty shades of grey" area in the campaign laws.

It is important that the public  be aware of changes being made. They need to be aware of steps that are taken to restore the public confidence in government and to right the wrongs.  It is no easy task.  No one has all the answers or solutions to change things but sitting back and doing nothing is the worse thing to do.

And let's not forget the new  candidates each election year who run for office. Even though it  may be their first time running, they need to be informed of the guidelines and should also follow them.  I can remember new candidates who never filed reports or filed inadequate reports and said they didn't know they had to file. Guidelines for following the campaign laws should be clearly explained to  each new candidate.  An informational  seminar  explaining  campaign finance laws should be offered by the Board of elections to all candidates each election cycle.

It  takes determination and hard work  to change things. Especially things that create new guidelines and rules. But that is why the people elect their elected office holders, so they will walk the walk and not just talk the talk at election time.

These are trying times to be in office, but they could also be the best of times. There is an opportunity for all elected officials to make some needed changes in the campaign laws and an opportunity to restore some  of that broken trust.  It's also an opportunity for elected officials throughout the state to change the culture of mistrust and apathy the public feels.

All they have to do is remember two things, who elected them to serve and to keep their word to the people. It's not impossible, but it is needed.

Joanne Giannini served as a RI State Representative from Providence from 1994 to 2010. She has previously written commentaries for the Providence Journal and the Federal Hill Gazette. During her tenure in the General Assembly, she made appearances on CNN, Primetime News, and American Morning regarding legislation she filed in Rhode Island.