Editorial: Hogging credit shouldn't be politics as usual

If government does something good for the people, what is the most important aspect?

Is it what happened and how it will help? Or is it who gets to take the bow?

Too often, politics focuses more on the credit.

This week, Allegheny County was awarded a $2 million grant to help handle the escalating costs of the 2020 general election.

That grant is important. There are more than 900,000 registered voters in the county. That’s about 10% of the Pennsylvania electorate. Making sure Allegheny has the resources to make voting not just possible but safe in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic and a bitterly contentious presidential voting year is critically important.

So when that pool of money from the Center for Tech and Civic Life was received, it should have been done with full-throated appreciation for the givers and lots of talk about how the money would be allocated.

Instead, it ignited a Twitter spat. County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam took credit for the application. Communications Director Amie Downs fired back, saying Hallam had “absolutely nothing to do” with the grant.

Hallam said she applied for it on Sept. 25 after the council dismissed it. Downs said Elections Division Manager David Voye applied on Oct. 1. There were screenshots and copies, denials and assertions.

This is not an Allegheny County issue. This happens at every level of government. The only thing more important than avoiding blame is capturing the spotlight.

When some funding is awarded, the announcements will be embargoed until the right people are available for the photo opportunity with the great big check. The municipality that did the heavy lifting has to let the state legislator have his moment. A senator won’t vote for an issue he supports because it was introduced by the wrong congressman.

It doesn’t matter who applied for the election money. Did Hallam and Voye take the initiative? Good. One way or another, the county’s voters were well served.

Everyone in government needs to remember the bow is never more important than just doing the job.