This upcoming October, the Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) will once again partner with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to place hundreds of public officials, judges, attorneys, and community leaders into local high school classrooms to address students on the importance of civic participation and engagement as a means of promoting better and more ethical government. 

“It never fails to amaze me how every year we are able to attract so many volunteers to this yearly event,” says Ethics Commission Administration Coordinator Rodzandra Sanchez who administers the program. “However, it does not surprise me as I’ve learned throughout the years, that our community leaders are clear in their belief that building a more inclusive and prosperous society requires the participation of our young people.”

This year’s event takes place on October 16, and the COE extends an invitation for you to be a distinguished speaker at the 15th annual of Ethical Governance Day. Your experiences and insights can inspire the next generation of engaged and thoughtful leaders. 

If you are interested in participating in this year’s event, contact Rodzandra Sanchez at Rodzandra.Sanchez@miamidade.gov, or contact us at 305-579-2594 if you would like more information regarding this event.

COE Staff Attorney Nolen “Drew” Bunker recently took part as a guest speaker on Florida Ethics Law at the 48th Annual Local Government Law in Florida Conference, presented by the City, County, and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar.  This year’s sold-out event at the Hollywood Diplomat Hotel offered presentations and seminars from top local government lawyers.

The COE will continue to support and participate in similar events that seek to promote ethical behavior of government officials and employees, ensuring they act in the public interest.

INQ 25-29: A County department cannot solicit local restaurants to participate in the Employee Discount Program to offer County employees affordable eating options because the solicitation of gifts, i.e., restaurant discounts, would not be used solely by the County in conducting its official business. Additionally, solicitation of gifts or donations cannot be made directly to County lobbyists, contractors, or vendors; however, those parties may be part of a larger solicitation that includes members of the general public.

INQ 25-30: A County employee may engage in outside employment as an adjunct lecturer at a local university because there is no overlap between his public duties and his outside employment, the university does not contract with his department, and he will not use the same resources or come into contact with the same persons or entities from his County work.

INQ 25-32: A selection committee member does not have a voting conflict of interest as a member of a selection committee because he will not be directly affected by the vote, nor does he or any of his immediate family members have any enumerated relationship with any entity affected by the vote. Additionally, since he has no relationship with any respondent to the solicitation and stated he could be fair and impartial when evaluating the various respondents, there are no facts to demonstrate an appearance of impropriety.

INQ 25-40: The Cone of Silence does not prohibit a registered lobbyist from communicating with employees of the County’s independent constitutional offices about a pending County competitive solicitation because employees of the County’s independent constitutional offices are not members of the County’s professional staff. However, the Cone of Silence will still apply to said employees if they function as an extension of County staff under a joint venture between the County and the independent constitutional office, serve on a County selection committee, or otherwise have a role regarding a pending County competitive solicitation.