ABINGDON, Va. – It’s hard to say what constitutes a “perfect form.” If one confusing box is left blank, does it still count? What if there is too much detail, or there’s little information but the paperwork is pristine?
With all that factors into filling out statements of economic interests, including vague directions and unenforced regulations, it’s hard to determine whether a form truly is perfect.
But, in reviewing hundreds of forms – most of which had errors – there were some that appeared to be completed correctly.
In Washington County, one member of the county’s Board of Supervisors and one member of the Abingdon Town Council filled out what appeared to be perfect forms: the right form, fully completed with what appear to be correct answers.
On the Abingdon Town Council, it was 33-year-old Jason Berry, whose election last year unseated a councilman who’d held his seat since Berry was a second-grader at E.B. Stanley Elementary School.
On the Washington County board, it was 70-year-old Tom Taylor, who was elected to the job last year after a long and distinguished career of public service, including 25 years as director of the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission.
To add to the difference in age and experience, they’re on opposite ends of the political spectrum, with Berry’s pro-business conservatism keeping the Town Council on its toes, and left-leaning Taylor often reminding the Board of Supervisors of the need to carefully control development.
In the realm of background, politics and world views, the two men couldn’t be more different. But when it comes to filling out financial disclosure forms, both have all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed.
“Life is too short to make some kind of little mistake on a form and then try to explain it to somebody, because no explanation ever works,” Taylor said when asked how he completed his form. “If you can’t fill out the form right to go into office or hold office, then that says something about your capability of being in office.”
Filing correct forms was more common among higher-ranking elected officials, such as state delegates and senators – though, despite a higher level of scrutiny, some still left them incomplete.
From a citizen’s perspective, perhaps one of the best forms belonged to Washington County Treasurer Fred Parker, who insisted he has no prescription for completing a form correctly, but has a definite philosophy about doing them himself.
The rule he lives by – the people are his boss, and they have a right to know where his financial interests lie.
“I don’t have anything to hide, and I don’t have any reason to do so, so I put it on there,” said Parker, who itemized his land parcels by map number and listed the source and amount of each component of his income – more than what’s required by state code.
While he says those who don’t fill their forms out as he does aren’t violating any requirements, he thinks it wouldn’t hurt to make it required.
“If you are an elected official, you live in a glass house,” Parker said. “It’s just part of public life.”
dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701
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