We're being assured by Utah Transit Authority Board Chairman Greg Hughes that it doesn't matter that former UTA board member, Terry Diehl, made a fat profit in 2008 when he participated in the sale of land adjacent to a proposed FrontRunner stop. Diehl, by the way, was on the board when the deal occurred.
According to Hughes, because Diehl disclosed his conflict of interest and did not participate in decisions about the property in question, everything is just fine.
Whether Diehl's very profitable result in the sale of land was legal or not, we think it stinks.
It's troublesome when someone who is connected to an organization can make millions as a result of a deal that is closely related to his or her responsibilities. According to documents released, Diel made "in the millions."
At the time, a legislative audit subcommittee knew of Diehl's deal but chose not to pursue an investigation, even though an audit wondered if Diehl had broken a misdemeanor law that involves misuse of public information. Now, a legislative committee, the Transportation Interim Committee, and the Utah Attorney General's Office, is looking into the deal. We're pleased to hear that, although it's quite late to get involved. This should have been investigated more thoroughly three years ago.
It would be a good idea for those associated with UTA and other organizations -- where profitable deals sometimes hang like fat cherries from a tree -- to follow the "grandmother rule" of ethics. The rule is simple: If your grandmother would say it's wrong, then don't do it. Taking that kind of advice would go a long way toward restoring public trust in government.
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