Many local government ethics codes define a
conflict of interest as existing only when an official stands to receive a
financial benefit from his or her action or inaction. But real and perceived
conflicts exist even when there is no financial benefit to an official.
Important examples include benefits to relatives and business
associates, where the official only benefits indirectly, while others
benefit directly.<br>
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A new argument has been made in the legislative immunity part of the
case against a Baltimore council member who is now the mayor. In a
memorandum to dismiss a new indictment (attached; see below), filed on
September 8, the mayor has argued, on pages 3-10, that testimony by
someone who attended events which the mayor attended in her legislative
capacity cannot be used against her.<br>
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This is an interesting extension of the argument that legislative
immunity prevents any evidence to be introduced regarding a

<a href="http://www.dupageco.org/&quot; target="”_blank”">DuPage County, IL</a>, a county of
nearly a million people just outside Chicago (its largest town is
Naperville), is juggling two ethics ordinance revision processes, one
for the county, the other for the county election commission. Both
appear to have attracted some controversy.<br>
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There is little in government ethics that is more important than
recognizing that, unlike other laws, an ethics code provides only
minimum standards. That is, a public servant is required to fulfill the
letter of an ethics code, but this is just the start. In this way,
ethics laws are not like ordinary laws. Why and in what way? Here are two different
responses.<br>
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The New Orleans Ethics Review Board, formed in 2006, certainly wins an
A for independence. According to the <a href="http://nolaethics.com/uploads/File/Legislation/City%20Code%20of%20Ethic…; target="”_blank”">city
ethics code</a>, six of its seven members are chosen by the mayor (with
council approval) from nominees submitted by the heads of five local
private universities (the seventh is the mayor's to select).

Some news in Greensboro, NC led me to a blog post on old news in
Greenburgh, NY, so here's the new news and the old news about two
cities with nearly the same name.<br>
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In Greensboro, NC, a council candidate has thrown down <a href="http://www.electnancyvaughan.com/ethics.html&quot; target="”_blank”">a challenge</a> to
fill out and post online the state financial disclosure form. It's not

Government ethics policies sometimes clash. The most common clash
involving ethics commissions is with transparency laws.<br>
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Like any government body, ethics commissions would prefer not to
discuss
many sorts of matters in public, both to protect the parties involved
and
because it is uncomfortable to discuss many ethics matters in public.
Because counsel is present during most such discussions, ECs (and their
lawyers) often feel that such discussions are privileged. There are

"I must say regretfully that ... what I have heard is a statement I can
only describe as arrogant, unrepentant, and a smear on this
institution.  Everybody does not do it.  Members of this body
attempt, by word and deed, publicly and privately, to take great care
with their personal conduct as it might be perceived by the American
people.  That is equally true for Democrats and Republicans,
liberals and conservatives.  I have found that to be the only
unifying thread in this body.  For the senator from California to

According to <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20090827/NEWS06/90827036/1008/Cox-backing-…; target="”_blank”">an
article in the Detroit <i>Free Press</i></a>, Michigan's Attorney General is
seeking stronger financial and gift disclosure requirements for state
officials, and he wants these requirements to apply to local officials,

Two former public works employees are in the news this week for
misconduct.<br>
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