California must end conflicts of interest among elected officials

State legislators, including senators and assemblymembers, are elected to serve the public full-time. Yet, many continue to hold outside jobs or consulting positions, often with corporations or industry groups that have a direct stake in the legislation they influence. Even more troubling, some receive lucrative stock options or consulting fees from entities that stand to benefit — or lose — from the policies these officials help craft.

This is not just poor ethics — it’s a direct threat to the integrity of our democracy. If a legislator sits on an environmental regulation committee, for example, they should be absolutely barred from any financial ties to companies in the environmental sector. The same goes for health care, technology, real estate and any other area where legislative action has a financial impact.

The temptation is simply too great. Allowing these side arrangements opens the door to self-dealing and corruption, while eroding public trust and doing measurable harm to the people of California. Public office is a public trust, not a platform for personal enrichment.

We need strong, enforceable rules that prohibit outside income and financial entanglements that create conflicts of interest. California voters deserve better.

Jim Lawrence

Foster City

The letter writer is the former mayor of Foster City.