The fact that a candidate seeking a parliamentary seat had two drink driving convictions has raised the question as to whether these should preclude him from holding public office.
The tenets of crime and punishment are clear !
A person who commits a crime must appear in a court and be judged. If found guilty a punishment is prescribed by that court - and this may include a fine, a period of restriction - or even gaol. There is also a usual period requiring that person to be of good behaviour tacked on to the eventual release.
Once the sentence of the court has been fully met the offender is cleared of further guilt - and our system of justice insists that he or she have regained the status of a crime free citizen - except when paedophilia is concerned - where lifetime restrictions may apply.
The situation is different when a crime is committed while that person holds public office. Certain crimes fall outside the parameters necessary to hold public office and the offender must vacate that position - as recently happened. In such cases the offender usually resigns to avoid the humiliation of a public dismissal.
So it seems to be a matter of whether the crime was in the past and whether due process has expunged further liability - but such matters are a factor that the voters consider when making their decision !
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