Should Palm Beach County employees take gifts from county vendors?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's, often, the popular perk of being a politician---freebies.

From tickets to the latest concert or festival to more elaborate gifts-- The Contact Five Investigators are digging through the most recent gift disclosure reports to discover who's getting what and why.

In a community that has become known as 'corruption county,'  you might think those who are accepting gifts would make sure that there's no room for wrong impression .

"Everyone's being so careful to follow the rules," a county administrator told NewsChannel 5.

In all, more than two dozen elected county leaders and employees reported accepting gifts valued at nearly $74,000. Last year they included-- $200 gift cards and $530 dollar men's shoes.

"The thing about these gift clauses...you don't want people getting contracts or getting work they wouldn't have gotten otherwise, " an ethics professor told NewsChannel 5.

Most gifts raise few questions-- others, stand out.

Thursday night on NewsChannel 5 at 11, we're looking at who's getting gifts in Palm Beach County. What are they? Who's handing them over? And are the people behind these presents looking to make friends or make money from the county?

What do you think: Should county employees take gifts from county vendors?