Representing From Afar
This doesn’t bother me. A member of the St. Charles County Council is working in Iraq for one year of his four-year term. He stays in touch with constituents and the council through phone calls and online communication. A few of the other council members griped to the Post-Dispatch about the arrangement — they want a new ordinance requiring council members to attend meetings in person.
The question should be left to the council member’s constituents. If they’re satisfied with his telecommuting, that’s what counts. If they’re not, they should vote him out of office.
I don’t know the particular rules in St Charles County, but perhaps they can’t vote him out yet, even if they are unsatisfied. This is an interesting application of the Moral Hazard: voted into office, then leaves the country.
I must agree, though, that it seems he is perfectly capable of doing the job from afar, and he is obviously dedicated to performing his duties responsibly.
Comment by Josh Smith — May 13, 2009 @ 10:47 a.m.