It has been a while since this column discussed the obvious need for an inspector general in Delaware.
The lack of action on the legislative front has not stopped the Delaware Coalition for Open Government from keeping the idea alive. At its annual meeting earlier this month, the group brought in the Inspector General for the City of Atlanta to talk about the office.
Taking on the issue is DelCOG President John Kowalko III, whose father championed the formation of the office when serving in the General Assembly.
Nearly everyone agrees the office is a good idea, given the inherent conflict with the role of the Attorney General’s office in serving as legal counsel for state agencies and as prosecutor when cases arise within state agencies – the recent state auditor’s office being a recent example.
As the saying goes, the devil is in details.
Former House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf previously said more prep work was needed on funding, etc. before legislation could move forward. Schwartzkopf was correct in his assessment, but from the outside looking in, it did not look like anyone in power was in a hurry to champion the office.
It was an example of the “not invented here” syndrome that stymies good ideas and is holding back a state with a million residents and a government structure that needs some tweaks, large and small.
Let’s hope we see real progress in establishing the office in the upcoming legislative session. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
