§ 2-42. Declaration of policy.

(a)

In furtherance of its responsibility to protect the integrity of government and administration of the county and recognizing that its system of representative government is dependent upon the people maintaining the highest trust in their public officials, the board of commissioners finds and declares that the people have a right to be assured that the impartiality and independent judgment of public officials will be maintained. Public interest requires that the county protect against improper influence or the appearance of improper influence by establishing appropriate ethical standards with respect to the conduct of public officials. Officers by their conduct should avoid the appearance of impropriety.

(b)

It is essential to the efficient operation of government that those persons best qualified be encouraged to serve in positions of public trust. It is the intention of the board of commissioners that this division be construed to accomplish this purpose and interpreted and understood as not unreasonably to frustrate or impede the desire or inclination to seek and serve in public office by those persons best qualified to serve. To that end public officials should not, except as otherwise provided by law, be denied the opportunity available to all other citizens to acquire and maintain private, economic and other interests, except where a conflict of interest would necessarily result.

(c)

The policy and purpose of this ethics code, therefore, is to make clear those standards of ethical conduct that shall be applicable to public officials in the discharge of their official duties; to implement the objective of protecting the integrity of the county's government and to prescribe only such essential restrictions against conflict of interest as will not impose unnecessary barriers against public service.

(d)

The county attorney shall make a good-faith effort to review this ethics code with each officer within 30 days following such officer's swearing-in.

(Ord. of 11-14-89, § 102; Code 1977, § 3-20-32; Ord. of 2-22-00; Amd. of 7-28-15)