The Post-Star from Glens Falls, New York • 47

THE POST-STAR stMnv Vnemlvr 2t. 2000 Poor Elijah Local columnist Peter Berger questions the arbitrary scale experts use to rate American teachers. Pagan 14 Will letters Puzzles re omum BBA iiTnirinif Its I 4 Jt I LXV A I mm EDITORIAL Dual role raises questions Ethics in politics is us much ubout perception us it is ubout practice. That's why us the town of Quecnsbury uiid city of Glens Fulls begin regular to resolve' their differences und begin working together iin Martin's dual role us a town councilman und architect of the city's muster plan has come to the forefront. With allegations und rebuttals Hying back und forth, this may be the time to enlist the town's little-used tnics Bourd us the final arbiter.

Anvone who's exam 'I 2 Km fig it i 81 ined Mr. Martin's piv-posals for managing development in the town has to admire the thought und effort he PURVIEW Ethics Board may be solution Vw New Congress proves there's hope C7- puts into them und the S'nuine concern he bus for the future of ueensbury. For example, his proposal to spend up to $1 million to improve the Bay Road corridor, borne out of his observations of other uncontrolled development in the town, showed an understanding ol the town's past problems und vision of possible solutions. The sume thing goes for his latest proposul to throttle excessive development in the town, One aspect of that plan, as put forth during a recent joint meeting of the town und city government boards, is to direct certain businesses turgcting Quecnsbury into vacant buildings in economically struggling Glens Fulls. Ana it is there that the perception of a conflict of interest starts to raise questions.

That's because the planning company for which Mr. Martin works was paid ubout $75,000 by the city of Glens Falls to help develop its muster plan. Coincidenlally. one of the key components of that muster plan is limiting spruwl development in Quecnsbury by directing businesses to vucunt downtown buildings. From an economic development point of view, Mr.

Martin seems to be treading on solid ground. But from an ethical perspective, he's wtiding into muddy water. I low closely is the success of the Glens Fulls muster plan, und key elements like filling vucunt buildings, tied to the prosperity of Mr. Martin's employer und, by extension, his own cureer? By working for both the town und city, two communities that don't tilwuys sliurc the same interests, Mr. Martin is perceived by some us sort of double-agent man with foot in cuch camp.

I le sits in on city meetings to which Quecnsbury officials aren't privy. And he's in the room when the Quecnsbury Town Bourd' excludes the public to discuss privute town business. I le urn be the most ethical, sincere, above- the new members will broaden the outlook of the I louse. im Laiigevin, a newly elected Rhode Island Democrat, was a 16-year-old Hoy Scout police cadet when he was accidentally shot during a training session for would-be law enforcement officers. Now 36, l-angevin is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair.

Lven the businessmen in the group arc out of the ordinary. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, made a fortune with his car alarm firm, and became' head of the Consumer Flectronlcs Association. Felix Grucci, a New York Republican, went straight from high school into the fireworks business und helped make it an international success story. And the freshmen look brainy. Many of them are graduates of elite public and private universities.

Two of the Republicans, Arizona's cff Flake and Indiana's Mike Pence, have run conservative think tanks, Anil freshman Oklahoma Democrat Brad Carson is not just a Rhodes scholar and former White I louse fellow but a member of the Cherokee Nation. All this, and yet the most famous member of the class is the former coach of the national championship University of Nebraska football teams, Tom Osborne, starting a new career us a I louse Republican at age 63. Who says American politics no longer attracts the talented? David llroiler is a syndicated columnist, of Representatives for her successful four-year light to tax smokeless tobacco. Another Republican. Pennsylvania's Melissa 1 lart, was the chainnan of the suite Senate finance committee, handling Gov.

Tom Ridge's major tax rcfomi measures. Matheson, who gave the Democrats a rare victory in Utah, is also the son of former governor. More to the point, his business career has focused on the intersection of energy production and the environment a critical policy area. Many of the other new members bring useful and unusual perspectives to Congress. Mike Ross, an Arkansas Democrat, is not only a 10-year veteran of the state Senate but a specialist on children's und youths' programs who headed a commission on preventing teen-age suicide.

Mike I londa, a California Democrat and former grade school principal, is a legislative veteran who, as a youth during World War II, was interned in a camp for lapanese-Americans. Robert Simmons, Connecticut Republican, is a CIA alumnus who was staff director of the Senate Intelligence Committee before he became a legislator in I lartford. Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican, is Navy Reserve officer who has worked for international finance agencies und has served us counsel to the I louse International Relations Committee. And there are other ways in which WASI IINGTON Ready for some good news from Election 20007 As the morass in the Florida presidential recount grows deeper and the reputation of American politics Is further tarnished, the quality of people coming into government continues to impress. Especially is that true of the I louse of Representatives, the point of entry to federal office for most of the men and women who will be important players in future years, The I louse freshman class looks smart und buluneed just what the capital city needs in this time of power struggles und rancid partisanship.

It's not big class by historical standards 4 1 of them, pending couple of possible recounts, 28 Republicans und 13 Democrats. I've met only eight of them during the course of the past campaign, but I wus Impressed by the biographies of the class and the anecdotes I've heuid from other members of Congress und campaign officials. The most striking thing ubout them Is the depth of their governmental experience. 11ie.se ure not, for the most part, rookies, The youngest member of the freshman class. Florida Republican Adiun I'ulnam, is only 26, But he has four yeurs of experience in the stale I louse of Representatives, starting there only two years alter graduating from the University of Florida.

As a group, they are older than most previous I louse beginners. Only 1 3 of them are in their 30s. while 1 2 are past 50. Those In. their 40s ure the largest cohort, numbering 1 5.

More Important, 32 of the 41 have had substunliul experience in government, mainly, like Putnam, in the legislatures of their slates. Three have held statewide office and most have served at one time or another In locul government. One of new colleagues, Ancler Crenshaw, was the first Republican president of the Florida Senate. Another, California Democrat I lilda Solis, was the first hilino woman elected to the California Senate. Other women in the group also have impressive credentials.

West Virginia's Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican and the daughter of a former governor, won laurels in the Democratic-dominated state I louse board person in the universe, but il his col leagues or members of the public perceive him to have a conflict, then his credibility is compro This election questions our greatness mised in both roles. The town itself has a mechanism for clearing up such mutters: its little-used Bourd of Ethics, which could issue ruling on the conflict issue if someone files compluint. People ure generally quick to point out potentiul conflicts of Interest involving, public officials, but ure usually reluctant to tuke that exlru step of filing a formal complaint. So the board is hardly ever called upon to perform the function for which it was established. The most effective way Mr, Martin could reduce questions about his potential conflict is to remove the conflict by giving up his dual role us an employee of the town unci of the city.

I le could ulso abstain from voting on issues or discussing matters in which he has potential conflict with his role in the city's master plan. Or someone could muster the courage to file a complaint with the town Ethics Board, letting that body weigh the potential conflicts and make recommendations us to how Mr, Martin should conduct himself. One thing Is sure, Until something is done, the perception of conflict of interest will continue to cast cloud over Mr. Martin's many worthwhile proposals, HOW TO CONTACT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NORTH COUNTRY CURMUDGEON never found a country I'd rather live in than this one, or I'd be living there, but I'm not sure this is the greatest country on Farth. I don't know what the term "greutest country on Furlh" means.

German bread, beer, and sausage ure better than American, French wine and cheese are, I lighways in Furopc are as good as if not better than ours. Canadians, including the Ouebccois, don't hate each other us much as many of us do. In a great many countries, people live longer and fewer children starve. Finally, given recent political events, especially In Florida, are we sure that we are better at democracy? I close with a Idler sent to the Albany Times Union by (can-Francois Briere, who teaches at SUNY Albany and is a French history scholar, I have his permission to use it. Briere has lived among us for two decades and presumably thinks this Is a pretty good country.

I didn't ask him if he thinks it's the greatest, "If George Hush and Al (iore were candidates lor the presidency In France Instead of tnc United Stales, At the end of recent public statement that did nothing to calm the storm of partisanship that Is sweeping over this country, George W. Bush, the heir-apparent to his father's throne, wished everyone a "I lapny Thanksgiving," I Ic said that we nave much to be thankful for, especially the fact that wc live In the greatest country on luirlh, It's a funny thing. If you live in Glens Fulls, you can freely express your opinion that Glens Fulls is dump, Its cops Inept, Its government leaders corrupt, its entertainment opportunities practically nonexistent, und Its streets pot holed, No one will object; in fact, they'll cheer you on, Any New Yorker can say that Iowa or Mississippi is a far better state than ours, thai our taxes arc tin) high, our leaders, our streets, etc, (sec and most of his hearers will agree, although some may opt for Idaho over Iowa. Americans can and do make the complaints outlined above nlxnM our country. Hhtc is one difference, however.

They must end by saying that America Is the greatest country their campaign to get elected would, by law, have lasted two weeks. Flach of them would have received four hours of free time on national radio and four hours of free time on television networks to present their plans, Any other use of rudio and television by the candidates would be illegal. They would have received $6 million from the government to help finance their campaigns. Contributions from any business or organization would be banned. "Both men would now be preparing for the runoff election in two weeks, with Nader and Buchanan no longer allowed to compete, lliey could use four more hours of free national television and radio time to lure voters, Hie election would always take place on a Sunday.

Only paper ballots counted by hand would be used, llie candidate winning the popular vote at the runoff election would he elected president, "Mow docs that sound?" Miirk livcnmn, live lam writer imil rviiml tern her, make his home in southern Wihhinyton county. Vie North Country Curmudgeon upwirs ri'gulnrly on Sundays und Wednesdays, on luirth. If one hints for one moment that he doesn't believe that, the outcry will be tremendous, In addition to wondering how one can believe simultaneously that our politicians ure all both venial and inefficient and that our country Is the greatest, I find It strange that those who are loudest In their certainly uIhhiI this arc mostly people who have never been out of this country. Some of them have never been out of Warrenshurg, I lived for three years, off and on, in Canada, I lived for alxiut the same period in Germany, I have visited most of the countries of Furone, and I spent some time In North Africa. I ASSEMBLY Ellntioth O'C, Little, Quoonsbury 109th Assembly District Glens Falls office 21 Bay St, Glons Falls, NY 12801 Phone: 792-4546 Fax: 792-5584 Albany office Now York State Assembly Room 324 Albany, NY 12248 Phone: 455 5505 Fax: 455 5710 E-mail: llttlnoanssnmbly slnlfl.ny us JAMES 0.

MARSHALL PublisherEditor 1 1 1 11 KENTINOLEY Manning Editor JEfT REYNOLDS Buslrmvt Office Manngnr DON COYOTE SAYS "I know pooplo who'vo run with tho bulls In Pamplona but aro afraid to go to tho mall on Black Friday. Guess they're not so 'crazy after all." POST-STAR Glens Fulls, N.Y. Founded llKM SAM GAYLE BILL SARA Operations Dlrntfor Circulation Director NICHOLAS CAIMAN0 AitvertKing Director "1 'I.