SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – What does integrity mean to someone seeking to serve on the South Lake Tahoe City Council?
Citizens for Integrity in Government asked each candidate this question: “How would you define integrity in public office as it relates to serving on the South Lake Tahoe City Council?” Candidates were asked to respond in no more than three sentences.
We asked for no more than three sentences, though a few candidates had a little more to say; a familiar occurrence in local government.
Integrity matters in the everyday work of local government: listening to residents, explaining decisions, acknowledging mistakes, and following through on commitments. Voters deserve to know how candidates understand that responsibility.
With Election Day just days away, we are sharing the candidates’ responses in their own words so readers can consider what each has said and the standards they would bring to public service.
The responses below are presented in the order they were received, with each candidate’s wording preserved as submitted.
Doug Williams
To me, integrity in public office means remembering that when you serve on the City Council, you represent South Lake Tahoe. Your actions, both in Council meetings and when representing the City in public, should reflect positively on our community and never bring embarrassment or discredit to the City.
It means being honest, accountable, respectful, and transparent, even when people disagree. A council member should put the interests of the community first, treat people with respect, and conduct themselves in a way that builds trust and leaves South Lake Tahoe in a positive light.
Scott Robbins
The ethical actions and choices of the senior members of any government inherently reflect on the people they represent, and those actions and choices extend well beyond official duties and into personal behaviors; integrity is the summation of those choices over time.
Within this framework we are called to uphold not simply the de minimis of abstaining from the patently criminal, be it personal or professional, but also to avoid the appearance of impropriety and conflicts of interest – a standard which necessarily includes taking payments from lobbying organizations, or taking payments from agencies with overlapping jurisdictions, while serving on City Council.
While these standards should seem self evident, the failures of previous council members to adhere to them, has prompted the current council to adopt a new code of ethics, currently under development by myself and Councilmember Horgan, specify to address these issues, and to ready it for adoption before the next election.
Erika Gonzales
Integrity in public office, as in any highly visible position, begins with defining your own principles, and I have defined mine as transparency, accountability, and a commitment to keep learning. Transparency means explaining how and why I make each decision, accountability means answering for its results, and learning means letting what I hear from residents and what I get wrong shape how I decide next time. Holding to those principles also means staying above the fray during intense, complicated debates and standing by them when pressure pushes me to respond a certain way.
Grant McCracken
To me, integrity in public office is the unwavering commitment to act as a steward of the people’s resources while being guided by a true north of serving the community’s best interests. It requires the character to remain incorruptible, the humility to seek the best information from experts, and the courage to challenge assumptions to ensure every decision aligns with the public good. Ultimately, it means holding yourself accountable to the residents who have entrusted you with the power to represent them.
And just as important as your actions in a formal capacity is your conduct outside of City Hall. Having integrity doesn’t stop the moment you walk out the door. You are a representative of the people in all that you do while you serve. For better or worse, when elected, you represent the people and the city, and have an obligation to conduct yourself with integrity at all times.
Heather Horgan
To me, integrity in public office means being intentional with my words, decisions, and actions and remembering the responsibility I have to the people of South Lake Tahoe. It means considering all perspectives, working toward consensus when possible, making decisions based on what I believe is right for our community rather than my personal interests, and being willing to acknowledge when I fall short. I believe trust is built by being honest, accountable, and consistent in how you serve your constituents.
Aimi Xistra
Integrity in public office on the South Lake Tahoe City Council means consistently putting the community’s long-term wellbeing above personal, political, or special-interest gain, even when that means unpopular votes or disappointing allies. It requires transparency about conflicts of interest, decision-making processes, and the reasoning behind votes on issues that directly affect residents’ lives like housing, tourism, water quality, wildfire risk, and local budgets. Finally, it means being a representative of our community at all times, being consistent between what a council member says to different audiences, being present and engaged, being knowledgeable and versed on topics prior to meetings, and following through on commitments once elected, not just during a campaign.
John Friedrich
Public integrity in office means listening to and representing all the people we are elected to serve, especially those whose voices have been underrepresented. It means never promising policy positions to private interests which may have business at City Council, in exchange for campaign contributions and endorsements. It means accepting accountability for our decisions, and making choices which don’t detract from the focus on moving South Lake Tahoe forward together.
Gantt Miller
Integrity in public office means walking the walk, not just talking about my values, but demonstrating those values every single day through my actions, how I treat people, and my decisions. It means representing my community with sincerity and authenticity, being accountable for my choices, and doing what I believe is right even when it isn’t easy. For me, integrity also means recognizing how incredibly fortunate my big, crazy family and I are to call South Lake Tahoe home, and honoring that good fortune through service by protecting what makes our town special and working to make it even better for the people who live here.
Dina Ramaha
Having true integrity while serving on city council means putting South Lake Tahoe residents, families, and workers first—not outside special interests. It’s about listening to diverse perspectives so every resident feels heard and understood, while staying relentlessly focused on practical, effective solutions. True leaders with integrity are consistent, reliable, and authentic, holding themselves to the same standards behind closed doors as they do in the public eye.
Veronica Morales
I would define integrity in public office as city council members, first and foremost, having fairness, integrity, honesty, as their foundation. Putting the city and the public’s needs and best interests above our own personal gain and outside pressure.
Kelly O’Haire
I define integrity for a South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember as placing the community’s interests above personal interests, and working in an ethical and transparent manner while conducting City business. Working with integrity means adhering to state law, ethical guidelines and the oath of office while representing all residents and in dealing with staff. I am committed to putting these principles into practice in this role.
Nick Piliae
Integrity in this role is about serving SLT and its people above everything else. To do that we must be transparent, honest, and accountable to our constituents, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
Dyna Bowen
Throughout my career, I’ve learned that trust is earned through integrity, transparency, and results. To me, integrity means saying what you’ll do, doing what you say, and being willing to explain your decisions openly. It means listening to people, considering different perspectives, following the facts, and making decisions based on what’s best for the community, even when it’s not the easiest path. Integrity isn’t a slogan, it’s how you lead every day.
Citizens for Integrity in Government