
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993                   TAG: 9312170270
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A15   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT D. BATES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

POLITICAL CHANGE REQUIRES PUBLIC TRUST

WE HAVE all seen the polls where politicians are held at the same level of esteem and trust in the public eye as used-car salesmen. In fact, politicians are so out of public favor that candidates for office often run against "professional politicians," even if they have been in office 20 years. Anti-political sentiment propelled the candidacies of Jerry Brown and later Ross Perot. The man on horseback won one of every five votes to be leader of the Free World.

This situation would be funny if it weren't so sad. The fact is, our elected officials at all levels are politicians. So not only are most officials held in low public regard, so are the institutions in which they serve.

The recent spectacle in Washington of the public flagellation of yet another president makes anyone ask basic questions as to why our leaders can't lead or make courageous decisions. The answer is that the public does not trust most political leadership or institutions.

The American people do not feel government is on their side or that politicians serve in the public interest. In other words, no one cares about their concerns because they are captive to some other "special interest." that is not them.

Why do politicians and political institutions need public trust? After all, congressmen have been re-elected who have bounced checks and committed assault. The answer is easy: Public trust in government is necessary for any major policy agenda to be accepted and implemented.

Put into a phrase that should mean as much in Washington as it should in Richmond: Without trust there can be no change.

Without public trust - that is, people rightly believing that politicians are on their side and put the the people's interests first - there will be no support for major initiatives on the economy, education or health care. A president, governor, senator or delegate will find bold action impossible with eroding popular support. He or she might be tempted to duck for cover and hope to discredit an opponent as a way of electoral survival.

In Virginia, Gov. Douglas Wilder put forward a package of ethics reform that would tell Virginians that politicians were accountable to the public interest, not monied interests. Wilder's package included year-round reporting of lobbyists' activities, would place a one-year ban on state officials lobbying their former agencies, limits on the amount of money an individual can give to a politician, and creation of a state ethics commission.

The General Assembly approved the year-round reporting of lobbyists. It has been my pleasure as secretary of the commonwealth to implement this public-confidence-building measure.

I believe The citizens of Virginia have a right to know what their public officials might be getting in the line of cash and gifts from lobbyists. I hope the people of Virginia will never believe a monied interest has "bought" special access to a legislator or other official. The best way to prevent such a misconception is to be open and provide full disclosure.

All legislators and candidates for public office this year have the opportunity to take real steps toward re-establishing public trust in politicians and government. They should endorse limits on campaign contributions, support creation of a state ethics commission and support the year-round reporting of lobbyists' activities.

When public faith and trust are restored in our officials and institutions, then change will be possible. With trust can come change. Let us continue here in Virginia.

Scott D. Bates is secretary of the commonwealth of Virginia.

by CNB