Colter Brian is a former private investigator/photographer and now a freelance writer. When he writes, he contributes to sites such as Online Searches. Some of Colter’s hobbies include spending time in the outdoors and perfecting his pasta recipes for his toughest critics; namely his two children.
It goes without saying that anyone who seeks public office should be properly vetted, including personal lifestyle choices as well as a thorough investigation into their past educational performances, voting records and character/personal values. So how is it that someone who has been purportedly put through the wringer can still be caught committing egregious and criminal acts? Impossible? Hardly, but as a concerned citizen, you have every right to know who is representing you and your city.
How? Let’s take a look below:
• Rumor has it: Yes, relying on word of mouth or idle gossip is hardly a reliable source, yet, it may warrant a closer look if the rumors persist and come from fairly reliable sources. If a council member regularly drives home after consuming a few drinks at the local watering hole, is this representative of values you and your town uphold? Are certain above the law and go about recklessly and with impunity merely because of the so-called status from their elected positions. Be careful, of course. A person’s reputation and legal rights may be at the crux of such a predicament, but many a public official has been known to toe-the-line when it comes to knowingly committing infractions. Perhaps an anonymous phone call to a local newspaper might be the lead to get a proper investigation under way or a tip to the local television station. Who needs another Chappaquiddick? Certainly not honest citizens and taxpayers who might have to foot the bill in the event of legal proceedings.
http://liarcatchers.com/contact.php
• Be your own detective: Let’s face it, often times city council members are those who wear many hats; they’re teachers, ministers, ranchers, farmers and business owners in addition to having a passion for the inner workings of their cities. So if one of them is involved with shady business practices, what can you do to protect yourself? Perhaps, you can look to your inner Columbo to find out. By going onto a site like Online Searches , you can get the ball rolling. Let’s say, Mr. X who is an investor and city councilman had in fact, a business relationship with a deceased client whose funds were never turned over to her remaining heirs, ever. And apparently any complaints and dissention has been quickly overlooked and silenced. You can get online with just the minimal of personal information and get your own investigation started. If you don’t act up to right an injustice, who will?
• Election Results: Perhaps one of the best ways to avoid an impeachment down the road, is to do a little background work before they get elected. Try your local library and City Hall to inquire about public records. Make sure that those candidates are indeed, who they say they are, have lived in the city the required time or whatever rules apply for holding office. It never hurts to be extra careful. As Americans we seem to suffer regularly from collective amnesia. How soon we forget about a certain government official who supposedly went for a walk on the Appalachian Trail and somehow end up in Argentina. Very curious, I could be speculating here, but I’m thinking there were other signs long before this happened. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice….
At the end of the day, we all hold a certain amount of responsibility for who runs our government. And there is little satisfaction in those who simply stand in the aftermath involving a very public official and even more public scandal and say, “I knew something was just not right.”
Be proactive. Don’t forget in our preamble, it states “WE, the people…..” as in, no one person is above the law. And transparency should be at the forefront.
