Degrees of Disclosure: Special Report
Requiring public officials to disclose their financial interests is designed to instill citizen confidence in government. It is the law in Virginia and in Tennessee, but a close inspection of disclosure statements reveals widespread deviation from the reporting requirements. Far from inspiring public trust, the statements reveal a story of confusion, carelessness and sometimes disregard for the law by those who fill them out. The Bristol Herald Courier and 11 Connects obtained and reviewed the 2009 statements of about 700 public officials in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee. The investigation reveals pervasive errors, including the use of obsolete forms, blank fields, incomplete and sometimes incorrect information, missing schedules, and forms filed after the deadline. The sheer volume and frequency of the errors suggest that many public officials are uninformed or careless when disclosing their interests, raising questions about whether the documents are complete – and serving their purpose.DATABASES:
Tennessee DatabaseVirginia Database: View details of the disclosure forms filed by local Virginia officials in our database. Details, when provided, are listed by question. In order to view the original form filed by the official, click through to the link provided in the results page.
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Mountain Empire legislators received race tickets, other gifts from lobbyists
Sun, 09 Aug 2009
Combine best of disclosure rules for greater transparency
Sun, 09 Aug 2009
A cozy relationship: Business success and politics go hand in hand
Sun, 09 Aug 2009
The Perfect Form?
Sat, 08 Aug 2009
Overdisclosure
Sat, 08 Aug 2009
Judge? Lawyer? Depends on the case.
Fri, 07 Aug 2009
When governing is a family affair
Fri, 07 Aug 2009
Five of six Russell County Supervisors turn in identical, incomplete forms
Thur, 06 Aug 2009
Disclosure forms important or a waste of time?
Thur, 06 Aug 2009
Links to the land
Thur, 06 Aug 2009
Several of the region’s officeholders own diverse array of investments
Wed, 05 Aug 2009
Many Officials Have Multiple Commercial Interests Within Communities They Serve
Wed, 05 Aug 2009
Renting a home or business location in Richlands might best be accomplished by contacting members of the Town Council or the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.
Several Of Region's Office Holders Own Diverse Array Of Investments
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:10:34 EDT
Regular election cycles can mean little long-term financial security for political officeholders, and many part-time city council and board positions don't offer significant compensation.
Disclosure Law's Author Surprised To Learn Of Loophole
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:10:36 EDT
Virginia Sen. Mark R. Herring, D-Loudoun, was surprised to learn there is a loophole in a disclosure law he helped rewrite last year.
Prosecutor Among Officials Who Erred In Disclosure Forms
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:50:56 EDT
Some elected city leaders have substantial property holdings, but one, Commonwealth's Attorney Jerry Wolfe, failed to list on state-mandated financial disclosure forms one of the two homes he owns.
Punishment for Failing to Comply with Disclosure Laws? None
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:59:26 EDT
A regulatory void exists between the custodian of disclosure statements and the enforcer of the law; a void that raises questions about how meaningful disclosures are without oversight.
In Virginia, No One Assigned to Track Down Officials that Violate Disclosure Laws
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:57:47 EDT
The Virginia Code explicitly charges the commonwealth's attorney with prosecuting violations of the disclosure law, but it neglects to clarify who is responsible for catching them.
Years of Debate and Still no Online Access to Disclosure Forms
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:50:06 EDT
Virginia legislators have been kicking around the idea of putting financial disclosure statements online since 1992. Yet 17 years later, nobody’s gotten around to it.
Many Va. Officials Filed Obsolete, Outdated Forms
Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:00:44 EDT
The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors might have filed up-to-date economic disclosure forms this year if Administrative Secretary Sandy Stiltner had only used Google.
Instead, she typed "state of Virginia economic interest" into a different Internet search engine, Yahoo, and printed the first disclosure form that popped up- a form nearly eight years out of date. The result: Buchanan's seven supervisors filed forms that technically no longer exist.
Majority of Va. officials made errors, omissions on forms
Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:00:33 EDT
A four-month investigation by the Bristol Herald Courier and News Channel 11 Connects found pervasive errors that raise questions about whether these forms are taken seriously and fulfill their purpose.
Landlord In The Legislature
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:00:18 EDT
State Rep. Jon Lundberg smiled as he looked out a window on the third floor of a downtown building he hopes to transform into lofts.
Judge Owns A Lot Of Six-Figure Properties, Forms Show
Thu, 30 Jul 2009
When it comes to Sullivan County’s judges, one thing is clear – in addition to knowing the law, they know a lot about owning valuable real estate.
According to state financial disclosure forms and property assessment data, the county’s judges own homes and land averaging a hefty six figures in appraised market value.
A third of Sullivan County Commission has financial ties to Eastman Co.
Wed, 29 Jul 2009
One-third of the 24-member Sullivan County Commission has financial ties to Eastman Chemical Co., according to a review of the financial interest disclosure forms they are required to file with the Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance.
Shumaker Leads Other City Officials In Real-Estate Holdings
Tue, 28 Jul 2009
City Councilman David Shumaker says the main reason he enjoys acquiring city property is a love for his hometown.
Wells, Carrier Top Property Owners On Bluff City Board
Tue, 28 Jul 2009
While Mayor Todd Malone might be the leader of Bluff City, it is Board of Mayor and Aldermen members Irene Wells and Melvin Carrier who hold the most city property, according to Tennessee disclosure and assessment data.
Many Lawmakers for Ethics Commission Before They Were Against It
Mon, 27 Jul 2009
Many who pushed to create the independent ethics agency are the same ones who pushed for its end a few weeks ago.
Compliance Officer Finds Many Glaring Errors Made by Politicians
Mon, 27 Jul 2009
“There’s just no way with the manpower we have to review every single statement and ensure that everything is disclosed.”
—Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Executive Director Drew Rawlins
Opaque Government: Elected Officials Failing to Ensure Transparency
Sun, 26 Jul 2009
Far from inspiring public trust, disclosure statements from local politicians reveal a story of confusion, carelessness and sometimes disregard for the law.
Lt. Gov. Proud of State’s Transparency; Yet State Earns ‘F’ Grade from Watchdog
Sun, 26 Jul 2009
The center gave the Tennessee Legislature’s financial disclosure process an “F” in a report released in June.
Many Officials Confused about Disclosure Forms’ Rules
Sun, 26 Jul 2009
Campaign finance laws require filings only when candidates raise and spend money, but all state and local public officeholders in Tennessee are required to annually file statements disclosing their personal financial interests.
State’s Compliance Officers See Many Errors, Omissions
Sun, 26 Jul 2009
A public official can’t be his own witness on Tennessee’s statement of financial disclosure forms – but several have tried.
