The fundamental ethical principles, as developed in this Code should be considered as a guide and not a substitute for the law or a county commissioner’s best judgment. Ultimately, each county commissioner must find within one’s own conscience, the touchstone on which to base one’s conduct.

Canon 1
A county commissioner should uphold the integrity and independence of the office.

A county commissioner should demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fortitude in all of his or her public activities in order to inspire public confidence and trust in county government.

A county commissioner should participate in establishing, maintaining, enforcing and should observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the office may be preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further these objectives.

Canon 2
A county commissioner should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities.

A county commissioner should respect and comply with the law and should conduct oneself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the office.

A county commissioner should not allow one’s family, social, or other relationships to influence one’s conduct or judgment. He or she should not lend the prestige of the office to advance the private interests of others; nor should he or she convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the commissioner.

Canon 3
A county commissioner should perform the duties of the office impartially and diligently.

A county commissioner should, while in the performance of the duties of the office as prescribed by law, give precedence to such duties over all other activities. In the performance of those duties, the following standards should apply:

A. Deliberate and Adjudicative Responsibilities

1. A county commissioner should be faithful to the general and local laws pertaining to the office and strive for professional competence in them. He or she should be unswayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism.
2. A county commissioner should demand and contribute to the maintenance of order and decorum in proceedings before the county commission.
3. A county commissioner should be honest, patient, dignified and courteous to those with whom he or she deals with in an official capacity, and should require similar conduct of staff and others subject to his or her direction and control.
4. A county commissioner should accord to every person, who is legally interested in a proceeding before the commission, full right to be heard according to law.
5. A county commissioner should dispose promptly of the business of the county for which he or she is responsible.

B. Administrative Responsibilities

1. A county commissioner should diligently discharge administrative responsibilities, maintain professional competence in the administration of duties, and facilitate the diligent discharge of the administrative responsibilities of his or her fellow commissioners and other county officials.
2. A county commissioner should conserve the resources of the county in his or her charge and employ county equipment, property, funds and personnel only in legally permissible pursuits and in a manner that exemplifies excellent stewardship.
3. A county commissioner should require staff and county employees subject to his or her direction and control to observe the standards of fidelity and diligence that apply to the county commissioner.
4. A county commissioner should take or initiate appropriate disciplinary measures against a county employee for improper conduct of which the commissioner may become aware.
5. A county commissioner should not employ or recommend the appointment of unnecessary employees. He or she should exercise power of employment only on the basis of merit, avoid favoritism and refrain from illegal discrimination and nepotism. The commissioner should not recommend or approve compensation of employees beyond the fair value of services rendered.

C. Abstention from Voting

1. A county commissioner should abstain from voting on any matter coming before the commission when one’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
2. To this end, a county commissioner should be informed about personal and fiduciary financial interests, and make a reasonable effort to be informed about the personal financial interests of any spouse and minor children residing in his or her household.

Canon 4
A county commissioner should regulate extra-governmental activities to minimize the risk of conflict with official duties.

A. Financial Activities

1. A county commissioner should be informed concerning the ethics laws of this state and particularly those relating to proscribed gifts and loans and should scrupulously comply with
   the provisions of such laws.
2. A county commissioner should refrain from financial and business dealings that tend to reflect adversely on his or her impartiality, interfere with the proper performance of one’s official duties, or exploit one’s county position.
3. A county commissioner should manage all personal financial interests to minimize the number of cases in which one must abstain from voting on matters coming before the commission.
4. Information acquired by a county commissioner in his or her official capacity should not be used or disclosed in financial dealings or for any other purpose not related to one’s official duties.

Canon 5
A county commissioner should refrain from political activity inappropriate to the office.

A. A candidate for the office of county commissioner, including an incumbent:

1. Should be informed concerning the laws of this state with regard to campaigns and relevant disclosure requirement and should scrupulously comply with the provisions of such laws;
2. Should maintain the dignity appropriate to the office, and should encourage family members to adhere to the same standards of political conduct that apply to the county commissioner;
3. Should not make pledges or promises of conduct in office that he or she will not or cannot perform or would be illegal if it were performed;
4. Should not misrepresent one’s identity, qualifications, present position, or other fact; and
5. Should avoid pledges or promises of conduct in office other than the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of the office.

B. A candidate for the office of county commissioner, including an incumbent, that is filled by public election between competing candidates, should not permit the use of campaign contributions for the private benefit of himself or herself or members of his family.