In light of the controversy surrounding an Oklahoma City councilman and his DUI arrest, we believe it’s important for any political candidate at any level to disclose his or her past so voters can make a credible decision at the ballot box.
With the Midwest City council elections less than three weeks away, candidates for Wards 2, 4 and 6 should be completely forthright about their past – whether good or bad. These people seeking public office have a duty to release any information that the voters should know.
It’s not our contention that any of the council candidates have something to hide from the public. However, we believe full disclosure by all candidates is a necessity. The public deserves and is entitled to open, honest government that is run by open, honest people with no personal agenda.
Over the last several decades, public officeholders at every level of government have been caught in scandals of all sorts. Now is not the time for Midwest City and its residents to become embroiled in such a controversy.
Whether its poor business dealings, personal indiscretions or inappropriate behavior in public, voters can tolerate most mistakes if candidates are honest and remorseful about their actions. The candidates who withhold critical information in an attempt to deceive the public will sooner or later be found out and dealt with. It may be in a court of law or the court of public opinion. Either way, it’s the taxpayers and the voting public who are the ultimate losers.
On Feb. 8, the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce will host a public candidate forum at the chamber office. The event begins at 8 a.m. That’s also the time council candidates can come clean, talk about their past in detail and then let the voters decide Feb. 14 who they want as their elected representatives.
The council candidates should make their views known on all topics related to city government. The candidates should answer all questions with complete candor, even if some of the answers may not place that particular person in a positive light.
Midwest City has a history of good government. Let’s not let this election cycle change things.