Atlanta Councilwoman Cleta Winslow Has Questionable Ethics

Filed under: News, Politics

Atlanta Councilwoman Cleta Winslow seems to think that taxpayers should foot the bill when she decides to eat some barbecue or listen to some smooth jazz.

Maybe that's why she spent nearly $29,000 in public money for campaign events last October, which included musicians, food, a DJ and other party essentials.

But partying on the public tab ended up costing Winslow dearly; the city hit her with a $5,420 ethics violation for using public money to help her 2009 re-election activists.

Winslow blamed one of her staff members, and defenders of Winslow have said that the councilwoman has used her personal money in the past to help constituents.

That might be true, but public servants should expect to have to reach into their own pocket every once in a while to help the people they serve. They shouldn't be looking to make extra money while serving the public, as it appears Winslow was attempting to do.

Add the fact that her party for local residents just happened to coincide with other spending for designing and distributing her new campaign newsletters and her actions seem all the more shady.

Winslow wasn't trying to break the bank with her dealings -- we are only talking about a few thousand bucks in all -- but that is more than enough to weaken public confidence in her.

By some accounts, Winslow has been a good representative of people in her district. By others, she has taken positions that hurt constituents like police officers.

But that's politics. Some people love you and others are going to hate you, but Winslow is going to learn that playing fast and loose with public money will ultimately anger both sides.

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