Integrity in government is not simply the absence of illegal conduct. It is demonstrated in how public officials use their authority, represent facts, treat other people, manage disagreement, and place the community’s interests above personal or political advantage.

For me, integrity means honesty, accountability, humility, and consistency. It means applying the same ethical standards to allies and opponents. It means listening as carefully as speaking, acknowledging mistakes, respecting professional staff, and treating fellow councilmembers and members of the public with dignity, even during serious disagreement.

Integrity also includes temperament and decorum.

Public meetings belong to the public. Councilmembers need sufficient time to ask questions and discuss difficult issues, but they also have a responsibility to use the public’s time thoughtfully. When meetings are dominated by interruptions, prolonged arguments, repetitive commentary, anger, or condescension, they become less productive and less accessible to residents with jobs, families, disabilities, transportation limitations, and other responsibilities.

Speaking the longest or loudest does not necessarily demonstrate leadership. Raising divisive issues does not, by itself, demonstrate courage. Effective leadership requires the ability to distinguish facts from rhetoric, consider perspectives beyond one’s own, and move difficult conversations toward workable solutions.

Citizens for Integrity in Government was formed because we believe the community should consider not only what candidates promise, but how they are likely to govern. Our purpose is not to investigate candidates’ private lives or act as an “integrity police.” Our work is primarily philosophical and civic. We are asking candidates how they define integrity, manage conflicts, respond to criticism, treat staff and colleagues, and approach the responsibility of representing an entire community rather than a particular faction or interest.

We want to offer voters an additional way to look at candidates: through conversations with fellow community members who bring different professional, civic, and personal experiences to the table. Those perspectives may not align with every political club, advocacy organization, newspaper, or established community voice. They do not need to. A healthy civic conversation should include more than one source of influence and more than one definition of the “right” candidate.

Some criticism of our group appears to reflect discomfort with new participants entering a space where others have traditionally exercised considerable influence. But civic participation is not a limited resource. One group’s involvement does not diminish another’s right to evaluate candidates, make endorsements, or advocate for its priorities. Indeed, this exchange of differing perspectives and the freedom of citizens to organize, participate, and inform one another is the essence of the democratic process. No individual or organization has exclusive authority to shape the choices presented to South Lake Tahoe voters.

Our members are publicly identified. Our purpose has been publicly announced. We are not a PAC. Every formally registered candidate is being offered the same opportunity to speak with us. We do not represent a political party, business organization, newspaper, or single policy interest. We are members of the community concerned about the direction and functioning of our city government.

We also do not claim the power to choose the next council. That authority belongs solely to the voters. Our goal is to inform their choice by encouraging them to look beyond political labels, familiar endorsements, campaign volume, and public performance. We hope voters will also consider whether candidates possess the judgment, temperament, honesty, humility, and collaborative ability necessary to govern effectively.

The candidates with whom we have spoken have been impressive. Our conversations have shown that South Lake Tahoe has thoughtful people willing to serve, listen, learn, and disagree respectfully. Giving voters an opportunity to see candidates in that light is not an attempt to control an election. It is an effort to broaden the conversation.

Our community does not need representatives who serve the interests of any club, organization, faction, or influential individual. We need councilmembers who will work in the best interests of the entire community.

Citizens for Integrity in Government is not asking voters to surrender their judgment. We are inviting them to exercise it by considering the candidates from a different perspective, hearing their own words, and reaching their own conclusions. 

-Nicole Ramirez Thomas

South Lake Tahoe resident, small-business owner, and engaged citizen