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Storms needs to explain

Hillsborough voters adopted a charter in the 1980s to establish a framework for keeping special interests from running the government behind the scenes. Their wariness was justified. A former county official testified in federal court last week that Commissioner Ronda Storms asked him for "a favor" - to delay granting approval for a bikini bar that has sparked outrage in Storms' east county district. State Attorney Mark Ober should examine whether Storms violated the county's guiding legal document. County Administrator Pat Bean needs to show she intends to govern within the system as designed.

The idea of keeping elected board members from meddling with the staff is as sound today as it was 20 years ago in the midst of the county's corruption scandals. Clear lines of authority reduce the opportunity for commissioners to manipulate policy for political gain. Under the charter, commissioners are supposed to set overall policy while the administrator oversees the day-to-day workings of the staff. A U.S. magistrate judge clearly saw some overlap in the commission's attempt to use development rules to stop the bikini bar from opening. She signaled she would allow the bar to open.

Storms needs to publicly explain what she told the building official, David Ford, and square her act with the spirit of a charter she is entrusted to uphold. Ford's story is part of the record. Rather than spin from the county attorney, the public needs to hear from Storms what she said and what she hoped the conversation would accomplish. That the administration continues to cover for her only bolsters concerns that the executive branch is overly deferential, and has been for years out of political fear, which negates the very purpose for balancing power in the charter between the elected board and the administrative branch.

A review would also be fair to Storms, by clearing the air and helping to set parameters for commissioners. They could use it. Bean also needs a wakeup call. She has failed to protect the administration's turf, and shares as much blame for creating a vacuum as those commissioners trying to grab power. Having a charter works only if the people in charge see it as more than benign protocol.

[Last modified December 21, 2005, 00:51:17]