I was in the audience as Sanders came out of the backroom as the Legislators anxiously anticipated his less than frequent public speaking opportunity. Sanders had stated recently at the State of the County address that he had taken action to approve the code that he said would be ready within 90 days of his taking office. Twenty-three months later there it is. The guts have been taken out of it because it does not apply to any elected official. Nothing happens with Legislative of adminstrative approval so, whatever they say goes.

I need to go back and review my notes regarding what the Task force had ready to release in July of 2007 because that is the last time any changes were publicly made. The idea that this code does not apply to county officials is somewhat troubling because the State Code is taylored for State officials and the election process.

A couple years back a complaint about Scott Burnett was taken up by the State after the local commission said "there is no meat on them bones". They found that Mr Burnett was improperly using his county paid aide for his personal business. Failing to pay her anything while she worked everyday in his office. Burnett was ordered "cease and desist" from such practice, told to paid a "fee"(fined). They did not pursue the complaint that Burnett's company did more than six million dollars worth of business with the County for which Burnett claims he did not profit from those transactions.

Go figure.