When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
(OP)
I have always seen the role of engineers in public service as assisting the public to understand technical issues. I have also had experience in volunteer work in non-technical (John Q Citizen) capacity on local civic issues. However, if a civil engineer seeks an elected position in his or her community (mayor, city council, etc.), under what circumstances would it be considered a conflict of interest? Would such an elected position obligate the engineer to apply engineering standards to such common issues as safety in the municipality? Is is possible to separate professional responsibility from the political pressures?





RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
However, I have many personal friends who are employeed there and even considered returning to the firm at one time. During that time of consideration (a couple of weeks during which there was no activity between the Town and the firm), the partners involved and I had several conversations about work with the Town. The area I would have worked in would have been the industrial group with no dealings with the Town or clients within the Town. Also, the use of the firm is sporadic and except for one project is very minor in terms of billings. For a variety of reasons I declined returning and told the other Board members what had happened.
In these situations, you need to look at the people you represent and do what is in their best interest. They elected you to do just that. I have voted to select other firms over my previous employer because they didn't offer the best value or expertise.
To answer rockchip's question, I think someone (if an officer/partner/etc) would have to recuse themselves from performing work in the community they govern. If the board member were an employee (not an owner) they should not work on projects in or for that municipality, approve bills at the municipal level (abstain specifically from approving that bill during the audit), be involved in consultant selection when their firm is involved, etc. There may have to be professional sacrifice, but when you decide to be involve that is something one must consider.
Having an engineer on a local municipal board, especially in a small town (about 3500 people and almost as many cows), in my opinion is valuable. It helps with dealing with state regulatory agencies, town highway issues, etc.
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
BobPE
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
To my way of thinking there is no conflict between one’s political duties and one’s engineering ethics. As an engineer your primary duty is to protect the public. As a politician your primary duty is to serve the public. No potential for conflict there.
The problem arises when a politician forgets that he is there to serve the electorate and becomes a self-serving politician who acts in his best interest instead of the best interests of the public. Then he is in conflict with his duties as an engineer as well as his duties as a politician.
There is always room for discussion on what the public’s best interests are and that is what elections are for.
For safety in the municipality I see no differential between engineering standards and civic standards. Safety standards are usually enshrined in codes and laws and we have to follow them if we are engineers or not. Being engineers we may be more familiar with them and better able to understand them but everyone, engineer, politician or John Q. Public has to follow them.
I was once involved in a politically hot issue. In the course of that I was exposed to the majority of the federal and provincial leaders in Manitoba. The only one who was actually able to get a grasp of the issue and see it as it really was and not as they wanted to see it was the then premier (similar to a state governor) Garry Filmon P.Eng. I think that says a lot for having engineers in public office. Since then I have always voted for any engineer running if I support his position or not simply because I feel that he would at least give every issue honest consideration.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
Section III.2.a encourages engineers to seek opportunities to participate in civic affairs and names career guidance for youth and advancement of safety, health and well-being of community as a goal. This last section goes to the heart of my question. Any thoughts?
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
As a public official, what is the meaning of "protect the public?" To one party, it means eliminating government oversight and expediture of public funds; to another, it's the opposite.
I don't think there's any conflict of interest with respect to being an engineer, as you would not be required to certify your decisions as a PE. The conflict is what is the "greater good?" Given that a half-million people die from DUI-related driving and a similar number die from smoking related diseases, would you pass a law to ban alcohol and cigarettes? How do you balance the obvious good that would arise from that against the elimination of free choice?
As an engineer, you can easily verify and validate the statistics and physical effects, but the decision is not an engineering decision. It's more like being a program manager, wherein you have to weigh cost, efficacy, and customer desires. As a public official, your customer and your employer is the "public", but the customer is divided on every single issue, and may not even be aware or care about the conflict.
TTFN
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
I have no problem with a politician serving the segment of the community that elected him, as long as he was open and honest about it during the election. That would have no conflict with engineering ethics either.
What I do have a problem with is a politician who once elected reneges on the election promises made. That would have a conflict with engineering ethics.
Part of the thread has been dealing with the business ethics of being a politician and an engineering businessman in the community. I really have nothing to add to dig1’s comments above except to say that the ethical ground may not be as clear as we would want it to be.
For example, lets assume that an engineer-politician- businessman was sitting on a board that was to advise on a consulting contract and because of the conflict (or any other reason) the business chose not to submit a proposal. Could the engineer-politician-businessman still comment and vote on the proposal? Some would say yes because he has removed his business from the competition and as a professional involved in the industry would have some special insight that others would not have. Some would say no because he could still influence the award in such a manner that would be of benefit to his business. i.e. to a competitor who would then not be able to bid on other non-government work.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
You promise to accomplish something, but later find out that executing the promise will cause damage to the environment or cause a 200% increase in taxes. Are you reneging or are you "protecting the public", from yourself, in this case.
Promises made, in the absence of complete data, is not unlike a preliminary engineering analysis that is later contradicted by analysis with more complete data.
TTFN
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
I don't recall much in the way of George's engineering career between the French and Indian wars and the Revolutionary War.
TTFN
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
Cyril Guichard
Mechanical Engineer
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
I have no idea how qualified GW was as an engineer.
TTFN
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
RE: When Does Public Service Become Conflict of Interest?
ProEpro
www.whitelightdesign.com