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Thursday, December 13, 2018

Zrinski Needs to Correct Incomplete Ethics Statement

Under the state Ethics Act, elected officials must file a "Statement of Financial Interests" every year. It enables the public to follow the money and pick upon possible conflicts of interest. But that's impossible when an official fails to tells us where she gets her money. That's precisely what has happened with Northampton County Council member Tara Zrinski.

Her most recent "Statement of Financial Interests" was filed 3/1/18, and covers calendar year 2017. According to the State Ethics Commission, "THIS FORM IS CONSIDERED DEFICIENT IF ANY BLOCK IS NOT COMPLETED."

Block 10 requires her to list direct and indirect sources of income. The instructions explain that you must list the name and address of each source of $1,300 or more of gross income. If there is no income, you are supposed to check "None."

Zrinski left it blank. She even failed to list the money she is paid by Northampton County.

Block 13 requires her to list the name and address of any business at which she is an employee "in any capacity whatsoever as to any business entity." Zrinski checked "None," indicating she was employed nowhere in 2017. Yet her LinkedIn page claims that she was an adjunct professor at both Northampton Community College and Lehigh Carbon Community College in 2017. It also boasts that she was a Tesla Energy Advisor from June 2017.

Zrinski checked "None." She even fails to list her own business selling her book, "All Ducks are Birds", for $30.99 and offering classroom visits for $50 plus travel.

Now I understand that people often make mistakes filling out forms. I am assuming that Zrinski's failure here is simply an oversight. But these ethics statements are what enable the public to keep an eye on public servants. So I have sent Zrinski an email, asking her to amend her report within seven days. If she does, fine.If she refuses, I will do what I have to do.

Updated 2:12 pm: Zrinski to Amend Ethics Statement. -  Tara Zrinski has emailed me to say she will amend her ethics statement at her earliest convenience.
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14 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 12:46 AM

    She also needs to can her stupid resolution that has nothing to do with the county. She claims townships and boroughs can do it, so why not go to them directly?

    Now this too. What is her problem? She may want to focus on being a responsible person and not such a self promoter.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 6:08 AM

    Don’t you know? Don’t you know? Hear me ROAR mr white privileged man, if I list that stuff I will get stalkers, like you

    Translation, I’m above the law or simply I have no ethics

    E.L.F.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 6:27 AM

    Rules are rules. Show us the money, or admit your resume' is puffed up and your book/speaking enterprise hasn't even grossed a grand.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 7:40 AM

    She even failed to list the money she is paid by Northampton County.....um, she wasn't on Council in 2017.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 8:04 AM

    White men can’t dance.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bernie O'HareDecember 13, 2018 at 8:30 AM

    "She even failed to list the money she is paid by Northampton County.....um, she wasn't on Council in 2017." I believe she was paid by the county in 2017 to go to CCAP. But i don't know that and should not have said it. Fair point.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 9:01 AM

    Bernie the blog bully should do a symposium on hate blogging with the Russian cyber trolls they would learn a lot

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 9:07 AM

    Is filling out the ethics form a law, and everyone in office must fill out the form? Then there are two ways to remove you from your political seat, the voters and the ethics forms. If she doesn't fill out the ethics form, then they are just wasted scraps of paper. If she refuses then everyone voted into office can refuse to complete the form with no consequences.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 9:36 AM

    Keep it up Bernie. Seems you are the only one checking into these matters. My question is who is responsible for insuring this form was completed in the first place?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bernie O'HareDecember 13, 2018 at 11:10 AM

    The state ethics commission. They do not check their hem though unless there is a complaint.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 1:05 PM

    Is Tara a Christian?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bernie O'HareDecember 13, 2018 at 1:21 PM

    Your question is irrelevant.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousDecember 13, 2018 at 4:48 PM

    Thanks maybe you won't file the complaint but I will.

    ReplyDelete
  14. DomDecember 13, 2018 at 10:21 PM

    Kudos! Great catch Bern dawg!!
    I think it was especially civil and decent that you gave her the benefit of an ‘oversight doubt’ and then seven days to clarify too; it seems she’s responded and will disclose

    Listen gang - I’m aint perfect or flawless so I’m gonna suspend judgment until she does disclose....or doesn’t.
    It’ll say A LOT if she doesn’t - and maybe even more is she does lol
    But as someone who overlooked filling in my Soc on form 8822 - i’ll give her the 7 days in earnest

    Fool me once...

    ReplyDelete

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