By Bethany Culp | Fountain Hills
On March 6, I submitted an ethics complaint against Mayor Friedel based on what I feel is a violation of the Code of Ethics codified in the Fountain Hills Rules of Procedures.
The complaint was based on the following demonstrably false statement, made by Friedel in a letter to the editor of this newspaper, published on Feb. 21: “My meetings with Sheriff Jerry Sheridan resulted in year-over-year savings of 6% or approximately $370,000.” This statement was untrue. The reduction had nothing to do with Friedel, something he has yet to publicly acknowledge.
Friedel’s attempt to take credit for the reduction violated provisions of the code obligating him to “be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor, ethics and integrity” and to avoid conduct “unbefitting” a public official.
In an article published by this newspaper on March 7, Friedel said he had no comment and would allow the “process to proceed.” It now appears that the “process” will not be allowed to proceed.
Two weeks after a complaint was filed establishing, through the town’s own documents, that the mayor made a demonstrably false statement about a matter of clear public interest, a majority of the council is preparing to order an end to the investigation of my complaint, get rid of the enforcement provisions that allow residents to hold officials accountable for unethical conduct, and may even eliminate the Code of Ethics altogether.
The timing of the decision to change or eliminate the Code of Ethics and the process that has been relied upon to enforce it, is clearly suspect. Is it a coincidence that the suddenly urgent need to change the rules coincided with the filing of a complaint alleging demonstrable dishonesty or is this, as I believe, a cover-up?
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