Ethical Accountability Policy

Introduction

I believe political communication should be rooted in ethics, fairness, and accountability. Politics is about people, but not every person connected to a story is a public figure. That is why I follow a clear personal policy when creating political communications, referencing public records, or publishing commentary on matters of public interest.

Core Principle

I do not name private individuals who may be incidentally or otherwise implicated in political communications, public records requests, or related matters. My focus is, and always will be, on holding accountable those who actively seek or hold public trust: elected officials and political candidates.

Why This Policy Exists

This policy reflects my commitment to practicing accountability in an ethical way:

Minimizing unnecessary association: Protecting individuals from being unfairly linked to political controversies when they are not the subject of accountability.
Preventing disruption of personal lives: Avoiding needless harm to reputations, families, or careers of those who are not in public roles.
Keeping the focus on accountability: Ensuring attention remains where it belongs, on the choices, leadership, and actions of elected officials and political candidates.

How This Policy Works

In political graphics and commentary, I name and critique elected officials or candidates, not private individuals.
In public records requests, names of private individuals are redacted unless disclosure is essential for public understanding.
In storytelling and communications, I focus on leadership accountability rather than pulling private citizens into the spotlight.

Commitment to Integrity

This policy is not about shielding wrongdoing or avoiding hard truths. It is about practicing accountability in a responsible, ethical way. Public officials and candidates step into the public arena and should expect scrutiny. Private individuals deserve protection from being pulled into that arena unnecessarily.

Errors and Corrections

I recognize that sometimes errors happen. If a private individual’s name or information appears in my communication in a way that does not align with this policy, I will retroactively redact that information. Corrections will be made promptly and transparently, because protecting individual privacy while maintaining accountability is too important to compromise.

Conclusion

This Ethical Accountability Policy reflects my commitment to responsible civic engagement. By following it, I strive to hold leaders and candidates accountable while respecting the privacy of individuals who should not be caught in the crossfire of politics.