Fiegenschuh, Cain comment on corruption

PRINCETON — The vast majority of political leaders, especially local leaders, go into public service for the right reason, according to Princeton City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh.

That reason is to make life better for the people they serve, Fiegenschuh said Tuesday. The recent corruption charges against Gov. Rod Blagojevich should not be equated to all public leaders, he said.

As a professional city manager, Fiegenschuh said he is hired to run the day-to-day management of city government in a non-political way. As a member of the Illinois City/County Management Association, Fiegenschuh has taken the ICMA Code of Ethics which requires, in part, for city managers to refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators and to seek no favor or profit secured by confidential information.

Locally, Fiegenschuh said residents have the right to attend all city council meetings and to inspect meeting minutes and reports. Also, people have certainly called him, Mayor Keith Cain and the city commissioners if they have questions or problems, he said.

“I would just ask people to remember that our elected and appointed officials, especially at the local level, are there because they want to do a good job for the people they serve,” Fiegenschuh said.

Mayor Keith Cain agreed with Fiegenschuh’s assessment.

“You have to be able to trust the people you elected,” Cain said. “Those that are corrupt are in such a small minority, but they are the ones that make the news. And, that reflects poorly on the rest of the elected officials who are honest and doing the best they can for the people they serve.”

Cain encouraged residents to become active in getting to know their officials and to address any problems and concerns directly to them. Also, people need to remember differences of opinion, on how to handle those situations and problems, do not mean an official is corrupt.

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