Jackson County Legislators to revisit Ethics Code.

May 5, 2009 - PRLog -- Legislator Dan Tarwater announced yesterday, that he along with Legislator Henry Rizzo and Chairman Scott Burnett would sponsor an amendment to the Jackson County Ethics Code that would clarify the Legislature’s standing with the County Ethics Commission.

Theresa Garza Ruiz applauds the efforts of her colleagues and refers back to her January article in the Independence Examiner, saying that, “The ability for any Ethics Commission to deal credibly and forthrightly with the issues that come before it depends on a governing body’s willingness to reform its own ethical rules and behavior… greater scrutiny and public awareness can help set a higher standard and force change from our leaders and our governmental institutions.”   Yesterday’s actions are a step towards reaching a higher standard in County Government.  

Since the adoption of the Ethics Code in December of 2008, Mrs. Garza Ruiz has emphasized the importance of accountability and the need to strengthen the ordinance adopted.  She has stated in the past that a comprehensive Ethics Code “moves us toward making county government more transparent and ensures that our elected officials are held to a higher standard of accountability”.  

With yesterday’s announcement, improvements to the Ethics Code will be coming soon and will hopefully lay to rest the notion that Legislators abide by a different set of rules then everyone else.