Salt Lake County leaders will need someplace to chill if the latest batch of ethics nuggets is digested this summer.

The recipe calls for a complete recusal - debating and voting is a no-no - when elected leaders, employees and even volunteers have a financial interest or a restricted connection to county business.

That includes everyone from rank-and-file workers filling out purchase orders to County Council Chairman Michael Jensen, who, as deputy chief for the Unified Fire Authority, must flee when the county talks fire.

And if they don't, taxpayers are encouraged to sue to nullify the action. Under the proposal, they'll be reimbursed for their legal fees.

A second part of the plan restricts former county employees for one year from lobbying the county on any issue that could line their pockets. (Indefinitely, as long as the matter is still pending with any county agency.)

So will Jensen or long-connected county officials Randy Horiuchi and Jim Bradley ever get to vote again? Will they be pushed to the proverbial cry room when the council convenes each Tuesday?

Details, including the parameters on "conflict," are yet to be defined. But Councilman Mark Crockett, the architect of the new proposals, hopes the language holds some teeth.

"The principle should be pretty clear," he says. "Up to now, people have been able to participate in a discussion and just before a vote, announce they have a conflict and still vote. This helps by making sure that when people are voting, they are doing it for the county's business, not their own."

That standard also would apply to any county operative negotiating a contract, selecting a vendor, deciding a zoning question or making a purchase, Crockett says.

"If you have a financial interest, you should not be making decisions."

Crockett spent several months on a bipartisan subcommittee crafting the latest ethics language. Councilman David Wilde, another member, supports the recusal concept.

"If there's been absolutely nothing on the books, we need to make sure we're doing business in a way people are not personally profiting," he says.

The "books" were overhauled last fall when then-acting mayor Alan Dayton unveiled an ethics package that tightens restrictions on nepotism and requires county lobbyists to list clients. But the plan only hit broad strokes, says Dayton, who calls the new rules "totally appropriate" if mindful of unintended consequences.

For instance, he says, most county officials work full time, which can create conflicts, especially for developers or lawyers. Yet, they have to make a living.

"If you try to eliminate all conflict of interest on a part-time council, then the politicians just turn into bureaucrats and they have no foot in the real world," Dayton says. "If the people have a conflict and they don't disclose it, the public will vote them out of office."

Cassie Dippo, vice-chairwo- man of Common Cause of Utah, applauds the effort but says some county corruption over the past year could have been avoided had the measures been in place sooner.

"It's great. Especially in the climate we're in now," she says. "Some of these items can be esoteric. But [if passed], the public will have more confidence in their government. That's fabulous."

In the past year, the county has been rocked by scandals, from gas thefts by employees and improper use of county vehicles in fleet operations last summer, to criminal investigations this spring addressing abuses of tuition assistance and time cards.

Dippo also says a restriction on lobbying would be a big improvement.

"They need a cooling off period."

If the recusal rule becomes binding, Jensen may be affected the most. A firefighter who represents much of West Valley City, he proudly displays a fire logo on campaign signs and uses the wordplay "fight for the west side" in elections.

"Philosophically, I don't have a problem having the discussion," he says. "Clearly, the devil's in the details."

Since taking office, Jensen has recused himself on salary decisions for firefighters but participated in "perfunctory" UFA budget items. He insists disclosure has always worked.

"It's not as though I, by myself, can unilaterally do anything to make myself benefit," he says.

Horiuchi notes the recusal question - the council likely won't debate the change until next month - was one reason he opposed changing county government from a full-time format. He supports rigorous conflict rules but insists elected officials must still be able to pull a paycheck.

"There ought to be some sort of standard to follow," he says. "Right now, everybody sort of uses their own conscience.

"It's one of the perils, quite frankly, of going to a part-time council."

djensen@sltrib.com

County crackdown

If adopted, Salt Lake County's new ethics proposals would require:

Recusal by officers, employees and volunteers from any discussion or vote in which they or members of their household have any financial interest or restricted conflict. (Private individuals may sue the county to nullify any action taken with a restricted conflict and recover their legal expenses).

Disclosure by officers or employees of any conflict of interest prior to discussion, including campaign contributions greater than $500.

A restriction on unelected county officers, employees and members of boards, commissions or committees, after they leave the county, from attempting to influence for money any action still pending with any county agency. Former employees would be prohibited from communicating or trying to influence the county for one year.