making local government more ethical
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BY SUSAN COOPER EASTMAN
February 3, 2009
This cover story is reproduced with permission from Folioweekly magazine
See: www.folioweekly.com

COVER STORY

Recently Susan Eastman from the Folio Weekly wrote the lead article for that week on Carla's activities in the City of Jacksonville role as Ethics Officer.

Sometimes, those who write or amend local government ethics codes forget to make it clear exactly who is covered by an ethics code. Sometimes there is discussion about who should have to file annual disclosure statements, and sometimes there is discussion about whether volunteers should be covered. But too often individuals and bodies not central to local government are ignored.

Ethics office budget stirs city turmoil

Confusion over an increase has raised eyebrows and questions.


By DAVID HUNT, The Times-Union

In Mayor John Peyton's proposed budget, it looked like the city ethics office stood to receive a 70 percent boost.

City Ethics’ very own Carla Miller (also the Jacksonville Ethics Officer) is in the news this week with an important municipal ethics dispute. At least one Jacksonville lobbyist refuses to disclose the names of the clients he represents or the issues about which he is lobbying for each client, pursuant to a new ordinance intended to follow state requirements.

For years, Jacksonville lobbyists could list their clients as “various.” Attorney-lobbyist Paul Harden argues that disclosing the names of his clients would violate attorney-client confidentiality rules. At the same time, he said, “It’s pretty clear who I represent.”

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04/16/2008
by David Chapman
Staff Writer
From: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49846

As of Tuesday, discussions between the City Ethics Commission and Office of General Counsel were ongoing about how to handle the issue of 10 area lobbyists not in compliance with new code requirements regarding disclosure of clients.