The "appearance of impropriety"

Re; the article in this morning's Journal, link sub req
about the number of Bill Richardson's cronies who end up
with cushy jobs at UNM, and presumably other state institutions as well.

The appointments are always explained with some form of
the Bart Simpson defense;

"I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it,
you can't prove anything."

Unfortunately, there is still fallout;
stakeholders loose confidence in state agencies and in public service in general.

The leadership of the APS was treated to a soirée at
the Inn of the Mountain Gods, by a bunch of APS vendors;
vendors who benefited greatly from inadequate polices and
accountability in APS' Finance Division.

Nobody offered sweet deals to vendors;
nobody took any kickbacks.
Nobody saw the corruption; the sweet deals and
the kickbacks.
You can't prove anything.

And yet when the next (necessary) mill levy, or bond issue rolls around; it will likely be soundly defeated.

That is why there are not only rules against impropriety; but rules against creating the appearance of impropriety.

Rules that are regularly ignored by the leadership of the UNM, the leadership of the APS, and by every other powerful public servant with the opportunity to create the appearance of impropriety, and the lack of will to prevent it.