Elected officeholders can be$,$ but too often are not, exemplary leaders. Suppose you are the mayor of a city, population $31,580,$ and ran successfully for office on a platform of bringing ethical government to the community. You are a genuinely committed mayor and you are also a devoted father. You find yourself in a situation in which you need to get your daughter to summer camp and at the same time, attend a meeting to negotiate an agreement for a local sales tax. As you are trying to determine what to do$,$ your assistant speaks up$,"$Oh$,$ I can get your daughter to summer camp. No big deal!" You take your assistant up on this offer. Done! Daughter is at summer camp and you are able to get to your meeting.

$45$ minutes later you realize that you have violated the city's ethics code by allowing your assistant to transport your daughter to amp while on duty. You are embarrassed by your lapse in ethical judgment.