CityEthics is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 2000 to help local governments build and improve ethics programs. For more than two decades, it has provided free, open-source resources — model codes, blog analysis, training guidance, and advisory services — to cities, counties, ethics commissions, and public administrators across the United States and internationally.
"Breaking the oxymoron: 'City Ethics.'"
At its core, CityEthics believes that effective local government ethics is not about catching wrongdoers — it is about building institutions and cultures that make ethical conduct the natural path. Its resources are used by ethics commission members, municipal attorneys, city managers, and good-government advocates in hundreds of jurisdictions.
Our Team
👤
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research, Retired
Full bio →
Organization History
2000
CityEthics Founded
Carla Miller and Don McClintock establish CityEthics in Jacksonville, Florida, as a nonprofit resource for local government ethics program development.
2001
Jacksonville Ethics Commission
Don McClintock appointed Commissioner on the Jacksonville Ethics Commission by Mayor John Peyton; spearheads ethics legislation reforms.
2001
Jacksonville International Development Commission
Don appointed by Mayor John Delaney to the Jacksonville International Development Commission (2001–2003).
2003
COGEL Involvement
CityEthics begins participation in the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) — the leading association for ethics and elections officials (2003–2006).
2006
City Ethics Blog Launched
Robert Wechsler joins CityEthics as Director of Research and launches the only dedicated local government ethics blog in the United States.
2006
Transparency International — Guatemala City
Carla and Don present at the Transparency International conference in Guatemala City.
2007
Carla Appointed Jacksonville Ethics Officer
Carla Miller appointed as Ethics Officer for the City of Jacksonville — Don steps down from the Ethics Commission to avoid any conflict.
2008
Transparency International — Athens
CityEthics team presents at the Transparency International conference in Athens, Greece.
2013
Harvard Safra Center Fellowship
Carla Miller accepted into the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics Network Fellowship at Harvard University (2013–2015).
2013
Duke Center Presentations
Carla and Don present to international delegations from Kazakhstan and China at the Duke Center for International Development.
2015
Harvard Conference on Institutional Corruption
Carla attends the Harvard Safra Center conference on institutional corruption featuring Larry Lessig (May 2015).
2016
Transparency International — Panama City
CityEthics presents at the Transparency International conference in Panama City.
2016
Robert Wechsler Retires
After a decade of blogging and completing his trilogy of reference books, Rob retires as Director of Research having accomplished his writing goals.
2020
Carla Named Lawyer of the Year — Jacksonville
Carla Miller recognized as Lawyer of the Year for Jacksonville, Florida, 2020.
2024
IACP Distinguished Service Award
Carla Miller receives the International Association of Chiefs of Police International Distinguished Service Award.
2025
Drupal 11 Rebuild & Content Overhaul
CityEthics.org relaunched on Drupal 11 with a full content audit of 2,147 articles, new taxonomy system, and redesigned theme.
What We Provide
The City Ethics Model Code — a complete, annotated model ethics code for municipalities
Local Government Ethics Programs — the definitive reference book for ethics commission members and staff
2,000+ blog posts analyzing ethics cases, commission decisions, and policy developments from across the U.S.
Ethics advisory services to local governments nationally and internationally
Training and ethics program development for municipalities and civil society organizations
International consulting — SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Iraq, Kazakhstan, China
All resources freely available under Creative Commons license
Press & Recognition
New York Times — cited in coverage of local government ethics and anti-corruption programs
Folio Weekly Jacksonville — featured profile of Carla Miller and CityEthics mission
Jacksonville Daily Record — coverage of CityEthics programs and Carla's ethics work
IACP International Distinguished Service Award — Carla Miller
Lawyer of the Year, Jacksonville 2020 — Carla Miller
Contact
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
