This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
I have found the trial of Paul Manafort fascinating. I'm aware that whether I'm paying attention or not, nothing will change. The Special Counsel's office has assembled a detailed, thorough case which they are nearly finished presenting. But it's hard to look away. Forgetting everything about President Trump which I find disappointing, this is a rare example of someone powerful in our country being called to account. Paul Manafort is rich, he's connected, and he is on trial for violating the law. Not a combination you see very often.
The speed with which the Special Counsel was able to bring charges against Manafort has led to speculation that the FBI had been building a case against him for a while. There's probably no way for the public to ever find out if charges would've been brought in the absence of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. But the past two years have shown that sometimes journalism precedes legal accountability. There are simply more journalists than federal, state and local law enforcement officers. And more people will talk to a journalist than a cop.
Much has been made in the past two years about how Donald Trump violates norms and is weakening institutions. Those are real problems. But to me, the real rot is exemplified by Paul Manafort: It's just corruption.
I don't think about government corruption much when I think about local government. Mayors offices and city councils simply have less incentive, and are closer to their constituents which results in less opportunity. Nevertheless, there are examples of small government corruption -- sometimes petty, and sometimes profound.
As a recent import, corruption is certainly something I don't worry about in Longmont. Times are good, the town is booming and the city seems well run. Who could argue with well run city services and the fastest internet in the country? As a new resident, with just a year under my belt, there often seems to be so much going on in town that I just don't know about ahead of time. The Boulder County Fair, for example. There's no TV channel to watch for local news, not that I would. And the Times-Call is trash.
So, really, how do I know that our local government is on the up and up?
To be clear, I'm not writing this article to cast aspersions on anyone in our government. I've only ever had good interactions with Longmont public servants (shout out to Parks, Open Space and Trails). But observing the extent of corruption on a national level, and at the state level, has me doubting my certainty. It's why I'm proud write for the Longmont Observer, and proud of my colleagues who go to city council meetings so they can learn about leaking oil wells and inform the rest of us.
Information sources like the Observer, Channel 8 and the public library are critical in keeping Longmont's population informed and educated. They provide a mechanism for us to watch those who hold the levers of power. As the Observer grows, I hope it also begins to provide a voice for the community. A robust source of information, serving as a one stop shop for anyone wanting to know what this place is about. Because only by cultivating those institutions which inform us can we keep Longmont a wonderful place to live.
