Fox episode presents R.I with opportunity to better itself

Two public goods should come from completion of the investigation and prosecution of Gordon D. Fox, former speaker of the R.I. House, last week.

The first is obviously the conviction and sentencing of a corrupt elected official.

Perhaps of greater import is that this high-profile case shines a light on the need to put more robust tools in place to identify and convict offenders, as well as prevent public corruption.

Common Cause Rhode Island argues that routine auditing of campaign filings should be made the law of the land, and that is a good start. Such an approach would have identified Mr. Fox’s nefarious activities sooner and brought him to justice in a more timely fashion (or knowing that he might be audited may have prevented him from ever spending campaign funds for his own lifestyle in the first place).

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The good-government group also recommends the restoration of an Ethics Commission with greater power and jurisdiction over the General Assembly, also a step that makes sense.

But there are other tactics that might make as much, if not more, sense. The R.I. attorney general could create a public corruption unit, with the sole purpose of finding and prosecuting officials with ethical shortcomings.

Public officials convicted of corruption should not be allowed to hold office, ever again.

There is more that can be done, for sure, and the state’s leaders should not be committed to one approach, just to the end result that Rhode Island will no longer be known as a den of corruption. •

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