Why not the Pillars of Character Counts!?

There needs to be, standards of competence and conduct that apply to politicians and public servants in the Albuquerque Public Schools.

There needs to be some sort of honest accountability to those standards, even for the most powerful politician or public servant.

The standards need to be clear and unequivocal.
The accountability needs to be inescapable.

The first legitimate use of power is
to protect the power from abuse.

The power and resources that belong to the people
are available for their use in holding their government
accountable. They are used instead against the public
interests by politicians and public servants to defend
themselves against legitimate allegations of their abuse.

I propose as the standards of government in the APS, using
the same standards we establish and enforce upon students.
I propose that we hold ourselves honest y accountable to
the Pillars of Character Counts! a nationally recognized,
accepted and respected code of ethical conduct, at least for
the few hours a day we hold students accountable to them.

I am prepared to defend my commitment to these particular standards. If not the Pillars, then which? Put another set of standards on the table; let us look at them. As a matter of principle, I would be equally happy to defend my commitment to any standard of conduct established by the people; it needn't be, it shouldn't be my choice alone.

Why is it "crazy" to believe that our future rests on holding ourselves honestly accountable to a standard of conduct higher than legal weaselry? And that the Pillars are a worthy choice?

There is no higher standard than the law, which does not have as its grounding principle; you have to be willing to hold yourself accountable for telling the truth.

The difference between the law and any legitimate standard of conduct; is the difference between "not lying" and "telling the truth"; candidly, forthrightly, ... honestly.

I am prepared to loose this election over my advocacy of Character Counts! because I believe, if we want our children to grow up to embrace character and courage and honor, someone has to show them what it looks like.

Character is taught by personal example, and it is taught
only by personal example.

It would be profoundly disappointing, if the subject never came up.

The candidate forums, to date, have not given candidates an opportunity to ask questions of their own. When I can, I will ask;
Why not restore the role modeling clause to their own standards of conduct? Why not declare and commit?;

In no case shall the standards of conduct for adults,
be lower than the standards of conduct for students.

And further; why not declare and commit to the Pillars of Character Counts! as the standard? Why not declare and commit the Pillars of Character Counts! as the clear and unequivocal standards of conduct and competence for students and for adults enforcing those standards upon them?


I would ask rhetorically, where are all the community leaders who stood on stages and endorsed Character Counts!? Where are the members of all of the Character Counts! Leadership Councils? whose only accomplishment was spending federal grant money a la United States Senator Pete Domenici, himself a bonafide Founding Father of Character Counts!?