EDITORIAL
Hit ethics scofflaws in the pocketbook

In the lingering wake of unethical and illegal transgressions perpetrated by certain former City Council members — namely Rene Mansho and Andy Mirikitani — city employees and members of boards and commissions are expected to attend ethics workshops.

But overall, there's little if any practical disincentive for running afoul of city ethics codes. Violators either get a letter of reprimand or their case is forwarded to the city prosecutor. That leaves no place for what might be called intermediate sanctions.

City Councilman Charles Djou wants to target the clearly-unethical-but-not-criminal cases that fall through the cracks. He is proposing to put on the November ballot the question of whether the City Charter should be amended to give the Ethics Commission authority to issue civil fines.

The City Council Executive Matters Committee has approved his resolution, which now goes before the full council.

But first, city attorneys must advise the council on whether the city is allowed to issue such fines, and whether such authority can be granted through an ordinance rather than amendment.

We don't expect the city to be raking in ethics fines if this amendment goes through. First-time offenders would probably get off with a warning. But it doesn't hurt to place another hurdle in the path of bad behavior in government.