For public officials, there is actual impropriety and there is the appearance of one. Joe Martinez, 50, committed the latter, and in the process revealed how weak Miami-Dade County's ethics laws are. Mr. Martinez, who is seeking his third term on the County Commission, had a drywall contractor do free work on a home he was building.

He correctly checked with the Ethics Commission, and a special committee of the ethics panel determined that there was no actual violation as long as Mr. Martinez reported the free work. The committee also decided that the drywall contractor could continue to lobby the commission, but not Mr. Martinez directly.
What Mr. Martinez did -- accept free services for personal gain -- is wrong. It gives the appearance of a conflict and raises questions about one's judgment.

When he ran in 2004, Mr. Martinez drew no opposition. This year he is challenged by Whilly Bermudez, whom we are recommending. Mr. Bermudez, 31, who owns a marketing and advertising business, strongly supports leaving the Urban Development Boundary where it is.
Charging that Mr. Martinez caters to special interests, Mr. Bermudez would curb their influence at County Hall by requiring lobbyists to report income from clients with business before the commission and ban campaign contributions from firms that contract with the county. He supports term limits for county commissioners.

For Miami-Dade County Commission, District 11, The Miami Herald recommends WHILLY BERMUDEZ.