Our view: Public trust

When he talked to reporters, he said he wouldn't be answering any more questions about his background -- personal or professional.

As far as we know, reporters and Alaskans in general haven't shown much interest in his personal life, with the possible exception of his legally required financial disclosures. Most questions have focused on his conduct of public duties.

He's been asked about the circumstances of his departure from borough employment, including his alleged use of borough time and equipment in his political campaign to unseat Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich in 2008, and the hiring of his wife while serving as a federal magistrate.

These are legitimate subjects for public discussion. The answers -- or lack of them -- tell voters something about Joe Miller's approach to conducting the public's business and his willingness to be held accountable for his actions. After saying that he wanted an open discussion of his borough work, now he says it's off-limits. After the borough asked Miller to sign a formal release for his records, his attorney, Thomas Van Flein, warned the borough not to provide any more information, arguing that the law requires the information be kept confidential.

We'd like to remind Mr. Miller that he is running to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate, arguably the most powerful legislative body on earth. His record as a public servant should be available to the voters.

Miller can choose to build trust by being open and forthcoming about the educational and work history that he says qualifies him to be a senator. Or he can erode trust by refusing to answer reasonable questions about his biography. So far, he's chosen to do the latter.

It is telling that former borough mayor and state legislator Jim Whitaker decided he needed to tell what he knows of Miller's departure from borough service. Whitaker has a well-earned reputation as a straight shooter. He preferred to stay out of this business, he said, but when Miller decided to clam up, he decided to speak up.

As Whitaker tells it, Miller has misled the public by omitting details from his professional biography. Whitaker said Miller got in trouble for ethics violations by using borough time and computers in the bid to oust Ruedrich. He said Miller was reprimanded, and that it was his understanding that Miller was about to be fired by the borough attorney when he resigned in 2009.

"This entire event happened on my watch," Whitaker said. "I know what the truth is, and I felt obligated to tell the truth."

Reporters should continue to press Miller for facts about his government service. That's their job.

As for Miller, stonewalling is not the right answer to the questions he's being asked.

BOTTOM LINE: Joe Miller should make public his whole record as a public servant.