This Editorial ran in June after the passing of a comprehensive
package of ethics reform bills in the Jacksonville City Coucil.

Ethics: This progress was historic

Posted:June 19, 2011

Jacksonville residents have this self-image that we have a
progressive government. But consolidation was more than 40 years ago.

In creating a strong culture of ethics in city government,
Jacksonville has been left behind – until now.

With the unanimous passage of new ethics legislation Tuesday,
Jacksonville’s city government has the foundation, for the first time,
of an independent ethics office.

It came only with great persistence from the Ethics Commission and
its part-time director, Carla Miller. In fact, she put in so many hours
into this venture that she used them up; she has been working as a
volunteer lately,

Many others deserve a bow. There was an unlikely coalition of
community groups that took an active interest: The NAACP, the tea
party, the Concerned Taxpayers, the League of Women Voters,
Jacksonville Community Council Inc. and the Young Democrats.

When City Council committee meetings were held on the ethics bills,
the active citizens were well represented.

Citizen groups pushed back against attempts to undercut the
commission’s independence. This was not going to be a weak commission
for show. This was going to fulfill its duties as a responsible
watchdog for the people.

The final bills represented 98 percent of what the commission had
recommended, Miller said.

Her motto for these efforts is: “Pick battles big enough to matter
and small enough to win.”

Frankly, this battle looked too big to win. But this time, history
was made.

Here are a few key elements of the bills:

The intent

The new Ethics Code begins with this goal:

“Ethics is more than the avoidance of criminal behavior. It is a
commitment for public servants to take individual responsibility in
creating a government that has the trust and respect of its citizens.
There needs to be a proactive approach in strengthening the emphasis on
ethics and in guiding city officers and employees in upholding them.”

The members

Appointments are made in a traditional way. Appointments are made by
these six: mayor, council president, state attorney, public defender,
chief judge and sheriff. The commission itself will appoint three
members. All appointments will be confirmed by City Council.

There are defined standards for the members. Examples: An attorney,
an accountant, a former judge, a higher education faculty member, a
former law enforcement officer experienced in investigating public
corruption or a former board member of an independent authority.

The ethics officer

There is a long list of duties that involve more education and
prevention than most realize.

Complaints remain anonymous. As Miller said recently, many city
employees fear retaliation.

Independent Powers

The commission may investigate sworn written complaints. Or, by a
supermajority vote of six of the nine members, it can initiate an
investigation on its own.

Due process is included. And if a complaint is found to be
frivolous, the commission may order the complaining party to pay costs
and attorneys fees.

Conflicts and gifts

The code states it is unlawful for officers or employees of the city
or an independent agency to intentionally use their official positions
to secure by coercion or threat a special privilege or exemption … or
to secure confidential information for any purpose other than official
responsibilities.

Watch out if a city employee asks, “Do you know who I am?”

The code restricts city employees from accepting any one gift
greater than $100 or a total of gifts in any calendar year of more than
$250 from a lobbyist or someone doing business with the city.

The code, though impressive, is still just a start. It can stand to
be beefed up in the lobbyist provisions. And there continue to be
public records and sunshine issues that crop up with new technology.

The ethics code is a historic moment for Jacksonville.

Congratulations to everyone who took part.

You should be proud.

Read online at Jacksonville.com:
 http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2011-06-19/story/ethics-progress-was-historic