“Even the appearance of impropriety” is a legal and ethical standard meaning that public officials should avoid not just actual wrongdoing, but also any conduct, scenario or relationship that could look suspicious or unfair to an outside observer.

Even if your motives are 100% pure, your actions are entirely legal and no rule was actually broken, the standard requires asking: “Could a reasonable person looking at this situation suspect something dishonest or biased is going on?” If the answer is yes, the conduct should be avoided.

Having followed the news of political donations from Kathleen Jones-McCann to Lane County commissioners Ryan Ceniga and David Loveall, and the land-use decision vote of Sept. 29, I am reminded why our nation’s citizens are so cynical about money and politicians.

I feel sorry for the victims of the Holiday Farm Fire. For them, complex land-use permitting processes caused major initial holdups in their efforts to rebuild their homes and lives. None of them, I would guess, considered secretly building a home, hoping a few dollars thrown toward a campaign would make it OK.

Anthony M. Huck
Eugene