Synopsis of State Ethics Program:
All State officers and employees are subject to the Ethics in Public Service Act [1], which was enacted in 1994. The act established the Executive Ethics Board [2] to handle ethics complaints from a state agencies, employees, and private citizens. The five member citizen Board, which meets once a month, may provide advisory opinions, investigate allegations, and impose sanctions for violation of the law. In addition to available on-line training, staff is on hand to provide consultation and training [3] at the request of any state agency.

Executive Ethics Board [4]
2425 Bristol Ct SW 1^st Fl
PO Box 40149
Olympia, WA 98504-0149
(360) 664-0871

Contact the Executive Director: Susan Harris - COGEL member
Phone: (360) 586-6759
Fax: (360) 586-3955

The Legislative Ethics Board [5] handles ethics issues encountered by legislators and legislative employees. The Board provides educational materials, can issue rules of procedure and advisory opinions, responds to complaints and can impose penalties. In addition to the Board, the House of Representatives and the Senate have designated ethics advisers who are available to assist legislators with questions regarding the Ethics in Public Service Act. The Board has put together an Ethics Manual [6] which provides a summary of the ethics laws and principles that affect the legislative branch.

Mike O'Connell [7] (COGEL member)

Counsel
P.O. Box 40482
Olympia, WA 98504-0482
(360) 786-7540

The Public Disclosure Commission [8] provides public information regarding campaign financing, lobbyist expenditures, and the financial affairs of public officials. They also ensure compliance with disclosure provisions and various campaign finance laws.

Contact person: Vicki Rippie [9] (COGEL member)

Public Disclosure Commission [10]
711 Capitol Way #206
PO Box 40908
Olympia, WA 98504-0908
Phone: (360) 753-1111

Largest Cities:

Seattle [11] (Capital, 563,374 - pop. 2002, U.S. Census Bureau)

The Seattle Elections & Elections Commission [12] interprets, administers and enforces the Seattle Elections Code, Code of Ethics, Election Pamphlet Code and Whistleblower Protection Code.

Wayne Barnett, Executive Director (COGEL member)
Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission [13]
700 5^th Ave, Suite 4010
PO Box 94729
Seattle, Washington 98124-4729
Phone: (206) 684-8500

Spokane [14] (195,629 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)

Spokane's Municipal Code [15] has a chapter reserved for their Code of Ethics (showing temporarily unavailable online); no other information available.

Yakima [16] (71,845 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)

No ethics information available.

Bellingham [17] (67,171 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)

No ethics information available.

Largest Counties:

King County [18] (1,761,411 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)

King County has an extensive ethics program, including a Board of Ethics [19] that serves to educate county employees and managers, and board and commission members of their responsibilities to the public under their Code of Ethics [20]. The Board also recommends changes to the Code, provides advice to employees and officials, and reviews disclosure statements. For contractors, vendors, and customers who are interested in doing business with the county, the Board provides an informational brochure [21]. As part of the Board of Ethics Awareness Campaign, an Ethics Survey [22] was conducted in October of 2004.

Catherine Clemens, Administrator (COGEL member)
King County Board of Ethics [23]
Bank of America Tower
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3460
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-1586

Pierce County(740,957 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)
The Pierce County Council created the Pierce County Ethics Commission [24] as a non-biased resource for the community. The Commission examines ethics issues and makes recommendations for the resolution of complaints. A Hearing Officer investigates alleged ethical violations, which may be submitted via a complaint form [25], and decides if there is probable cause that a violation of the Pierce County Ethics Code [26] has occurred. Pierce County Human Resources provides two ethics training courses [27], "Ethics 1" and "Ethics 2".

Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution [28]
917 Pacific Avenue, Suite 206
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 572-3657

Snohomish County [29] (639,409 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)
No ethics information available.