Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Promoting Good Governance Within Your Agency

A critical part of good governance involves officials and staff knowing and understanding the duties and responsibilities of their agency — and their position within the agency — as well…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Getting Public Employees Off to a Good Start

How does one sensitize the public agency’s workforce to the special obligations of being a public agency staff member? Strategies include discussing practical examples from the media to help…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

When Tragedy Strikes: A Leader’s Role, Revisited

When a tragic event occurs and an investigation follows, it’s helpful for elected local officials to keep a few key issues in mind.

Deciding When to Step Aside From the Decision-Making Process: Abstentions And Disqualifications
Part 2 of 2

The issues related to refraining from participation in an agency decision can be vexing. It may be tempting to abstain because of concerns about making an unpopular decision or simply not knowing…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Deciding When to Step Aside From the Decision-Making Process: Abstentions And Disqualifications
Part 1 of 2

The issue of when to refrain from participating in an agency decision can be vexing. This is an area where the law provides some but not all of the answers.

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Agency Romances: Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

Romantic relationships in the public agency workplace raise a number of ethical issues and carry significant risks. This article explores the problems such relationships can create for the agency…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Understanding the New Travel-Related Exceptions to California’s Gift Rules

California’s Fair Political Practices Commission recently reorganized and — in some instances — relaxed the rules on when a public official may accept free or discounted travel. The changes…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Using Public Resources: Special Issues Around Expenses and Expense Reimbursement

Tips for public agency employees on travel, expense reimbursement and credit card usage.

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Using Public Resources for Gifts and Charitable Purposes

Many agencies are finding their spending decisions under increasing scrutiny.

Who Gets to Use Agency Seals, Logos, Letterhead and Other Insignia?

Examining how other local agencies handle these issues provides a helpful starting place for determining which approach best serves your agency’s needs.

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Get Your Public Meetings Back on Track

Disruptions in public meetings seem to be increasingly common. This article offers tips for local agency officials on handling conflict and strategies to help make meetings more productive.

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Public Agency Attorney Ethics

Attorneys must meet a number of requirements (including ethics requirements) to be able to practice law in California. But what happens when public agency attorneys are pressured to justify…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

Blind Spots: Money, Public Service and the Ethical Hazards of Self-Interest

Recent media coverage of public officials’ ethical lapses raises questions about the underlying causes of such behavior. This column explores why people make poor choices and the roles that…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials Daniel D. Purnell

Regulating Lobbying Activities
Part 2 of 2

This column presents options for securing compliance with local lobbying laws and questions to ask about what kind of laws make sense for a particular community.

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials Daniel D. Purnell

Regulating Lobbying Activities
Part 1 of 2

This article examines common elements of lobbying laws and how these laws typically regulate lobbyist behavior.

Local Agency Opportunities for Website Transparency

Public agency transparency comprises two dimensions: information and process. This article includes a handy checklist of items local agencies may want to consider including on their website.

Understanding Changes to the Gift Rules

A variety of changes to the gift regulations took effect Jan. 1, 2012. The goal was to simplify the gift regulations and make them easier to understand, while reinforcing the principle that public…

Article Everyday Ethics for Local Officials

The “Front Page” Test: An Easy Ethics Standard

As an elected official and public servant, your actions and words are often subject to intense public scrutiny. Thinking about how the average constituent on the street will perceive your actions…