Ethics Speed Bump
Fresh off squashing the CIAA tickets kickback scheme with a revision to their ethics policy, Mecklenburg County commissioners were informed last week by the county’s legal department that they could not accept free tickets to attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star Race, courtesy of an invitation extended by Charlotte Motor Speedway. The same prohibition extended to all county employees.
The city council and city staff? Not so much. Similar to the continued policy that allows councilmembers to accept free luxury skybox tickets to the CIAA basketball tournament, the city’s legal eagles opined that it would be perfectly fine for councilmembers and staff to accept free tickets to the All-Star Race, along with assorted perks intended to “enhance your race day experience” – a tour of pit road and the Sprint Cup garage; a sit-in with driver/crew chief meetings; and a Dierks Bentley concert. Never mind that the city has poured millions of dollars into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and annually funds festivities surrounding the All-Star Event Weekend. No conflict there. What. So. Ever.
City officials could not confirm how many councilmembers accepted free tickets to the All Star Race, but Senior Deputy City Attorney Robert Hagemann related that, “Regarding councilmembers, I do not see the acceptance of tickets to be a violation of the Council’s Ethics Policy. Charlotte Motor Speedway does not, to my knowledge, have any contractual relationship with the City nor do I reasonably foresee any contractual or other matter directly affecting the Speedway coming before the Council in the future as the speedway is located outside the City limits and outside of Mecklenburg County. Under these circumstances, there would be no violation of state law or City policy if a councilmember accepted the Speedway’s invitation.”
That isn’t sitting well with Mecklenburg Commissioner Bill James, a Republican who led the push for the county board to revise its ethics policy, which in turn led to commissioners giving up their CIAA basketball tournament freebies.
“My problem with that is that the City Council’s lax ethical standards don’t prohibit receipt of such gifts,” James wrote in an email relating to the All Star Race freebies. “The City Council & Mayor are ethically challenged.”
Outside of invitations extended to councilmembers, the City of Charlotte received 10 “complimentary” tickets to the All Star Race “because of the City’s participation as a member of the Local Organizing Committee for activities associated with the weeklong buildup to the All Star race,” according to the city’s communication and marketing department. The tickets were distributed to employees in the utilities, planning, and engineering departments.
“These tickets are complimentary to the City and carry no printed value,” a city spokesperson related. “They were given to the City and not specific employees, and therefore do not violate the ethics policy for City employees.”
Meanwhile, city attorney Mac McCarley has rendered his opinion that all is fine and dandy concerning the latest scandal to rock the rolling mess known as the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. No problems there, according to McCarley. None. What. So. Ever.
Carry on, citizen, nothing to see here.
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