We need honorable public servants

When are Illinois' politicians and quasi-politicians going to learn?

If there are potential conflicts of interest, that's a problem. They should be known, not hidden.

If the system clearly is broken and you played a role in breaking it - or not fixing it - then someone else needs to take over.

And if you're caught breaking the rules - or the law - don't make excuses.

Illinois residents and this newspaper have demanded reform in state politics. Some ideas are coming to fruition, others are languishing. But for those who want to enter politics or government in a post 2009 Illinois era, remember this: We won't tolerate anymore what we've heard in the last week.

We have consistently called on reforms at the Illinois tollway - including just a couple weeks ago. The agency has not had clear oversight and many of the people who have managed it over the years have been unable to do so without controversy.

Last week, Tracy Smith, the tollway inspector general, whose job it is to root out fraud and corruption, quit unexpectedly. Why? Could it be the state attorney general's office's concerns about her performance? Could it be because she had a previously unknown friendship with the former tollway Chairman John Mitola's wife?

Mitola, who resigned earlier this month, scoffed at such a question. "The notion that she was recommended due to an association she had with my wife from 15 years earlier in law school is ridiculous and is an insult to her background."

It's more of an insult to the taxpayers and tollway users that the association wasn't divulged before Smith's hiring in 2005.

"Given the fact we've had scandal after scandal ... how the heck can anybody justify the inspector general having any ties to the chairman? What's the point of having an inspector general then?" said state Sen. Susan Garret, a Lake Forest Democrat.

And yet that's what happened.

Also last week Gov. Patrick Quinn changed course and said he wouldn't force out two University of Illinois trustees who have refused to resign - along with the rest of the board - in the wake of the admissions scandal. Quinn's wrong not to force the issue and they are wrong not to do the right thing. The state's flagship university needs to recover from this black mark and those associated with it should not be part of the solution.

But that's how Illinois politics has played out in the past and why it needs to change. Indeed, one of the poster boys for the bad old days of Illinois politics said as much last week as he tried to make excuses for actions that led to prison time.

"It's the politics that I grew up with. It is Illinois politics," said Scott Fawell, a one-time top aide to disgraced former Gov. George Ryan.

"I think the rules have changed about how politics and government and campaigns are run."

If only that were true. Governmental reforms are still needed. And we need people serving for the right intentions, with transparency always in the forefront.