Many people think that lawyers make
the best ethics commission members. In fact, many ethics codes
require that at least some members of an ethics commission be
lawyers.<br>
<br>
However, lawyers are the individuals most likely to have
relationships and obligations that conflict with the obligations
they have as EC members. For example, they often have relationships
with elected officials, who are often lawyers themselves, as well as
with clients who seek special benefits from the local government.

<a href="http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x1997481126/When…; target="”_blank”">A
Bakersfield <i>Californian</i> editorial on Saturday</a> points out the kinds of conflict situation that arise when, to save money, a
coroner office is brought into a sheriff or police department
office.<br>
<br>

<a href="http://articles.courant.com/2013-11-15/news/hc-ed-hartford-treasurer-et…; target="”_blank”">A
Hartford <i>Courant</i> editorial on Friday</a> asked a question that is
not asked enough, Why delay an ethics investigation until a criminal
investigation is complete? Another such question that is not asked

<a href="http://parentsunitedphila.com/2013/11/15/is-right-to-know-the-new-pay-t…; target="”_blank”">A
recent post on Philadelphia's Parents United for Public Education
blog</a> raises an issue that pulls together FOI and confidential
information issues. Entitled "Is 'right to know' the new 'pay
to play'?", the post is about Parents United's attempt to make

According to <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/whats_in_a_name_for_a_st…; target="”_blank”">an

I'm reading an excellent novel right now:  <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=AsFLaG69M-wC&pg=PA382&dq=quiet+chaos&h…; target="”_blank”"><i>Quiet
Chaos</i></a> by Sandro Veronesi, translated from the Italian by
Michael F. Moore (Ecco, 2004, 2011).<br>
<br>

<a href="http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/repository/SA/pa13044.pdf%27&quot; target="”_blank”">A
November audit by Tennessee's Comptroller</a> applies the <a href="http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html&quot; target="”_blank”">Federal
Acquisition Regulation</a> (FAR) to a state procurement situation,

As I keep saying, conflicts are about "benefits" and
"relationships" rather than about "interests," and this should be
reflected in the language of ethics codes. The clash of these two
kinds of language is the subject of a recent Virginia Supreme Court

"Frivolous" is a word that, I believe, has no place in a government ethics
program. A look at an attempt to add it to Kenosha's ethics program
shows how, well, frivolous the word is.<br>
<br>
According to <a href="http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/ordinance_seeks_to_derail_frivolous_eth…; target="”_blank”">an

In my estimation, Seattle voters made a big mistake last week. They
voted for two related changes to their government. One was a public
campaign financing program for citywide council elections. The other
was a change from citywide council elections to district council
elections, which would leave only two citywide positions.<br>
<br>
Public financing was rejected 51.6% vs. 48.4%. Council districts
were accepted 65.6% vs. 34.4%. Both votes will lead to more
institutional corruption in Seattle. By this, I mean the legal