LTC 147-2009 The Commission on Ethics & Public Trust is Offering a Candidate Ethics Forumm MIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC #147-2009 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti H. Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manage
DATE: June 5, 2009
suB~ECT: THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST IS OFFERING A
CANDIDATE ETHICS FORUM
The Commission on Ethics and Public Trust is offering to hold a candidate ethics forum. This is
not a debate. The forum is being offered to all municipalities who are holding elections this
November. The forum is being offered sometime after candidate qualifying which begins at
8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8'h and ends at 5:00 p.m., on Friday, September 1 1 ~h.
If the Mayor and City Commission wish to pursue the ethics forum, please notify the City Clerk
who will place a discussion item on the July 15'h or July 22nd Commission Agenda.
Attached for your perusal are the email invitation and a document that explains the format of
the Candidate Ethics Forum.
JMG/REP
Cc: Hilda Fernandez, Assistant City Manager
Tim Hemstreet, Assistant City Manager
Robert Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Jose Smith, City Attorney
F:\CLER\CLER\FORMS\2009 Ethic and Public Trust.ltc.doc
From: Thompson, Robert A. (COE) [mailto:ROBTHOM@miamidade.gov]
/ Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 4:35 PM
To: Thompson, Priscilla; Parcher, Robert; rgranado@hialeahfl.gov; Sheila Paul Shedd
Subject: Candidates Ethics Forums
Greetings,
Attached is a document that explains the format of our Candidate Ethics Forums. Additionally,
these forums are not the same as a Campaign Skills Seminar.
A moderator is selected for the event and the candidates are mailed letters directly from our
office, once they have qualifed. We are seeking your assistance in
providing us with a location (city hall or a community center) for the event within your
municipality. If ou are interested in holding a Candidate Ethics Forum, please contact
our office as soon as possible to discuss the d look forward to hearing from you and
thanks for your patience understanding.
Robert A. Thompson
Commission on Ethics and Public Trust
Community Outreach Coordinator
19 West Flagler Suite 820 FL, 33130
Phone: (305) 579-2594
Email: robtho~miamidade.gov
Miami-Dade County is a public entity subject to Chapter 119 of the Florida statues concerning public records.
Email messages are covered under such laws and thus subject to disclosure.
All email sent and received is captured by our server and kept as a public record.
Candidate Ethics Forums
The Ethics Commission has sponsored forums for several years in a variety of races,
featuring candidates for County Mayor, County Commission, School Board, and several
municipalities. You can anticipate questions concerning a number of issues, including,
but not limited to:
• General conflicts of interest
• The role of lobbyists and special interests in local government
• Accountability in public procurement
• Public campaign financing
• Ethical leadership considerations
• Ideas to improve public confidence in government
The program will follow this general schedule:
1. Welcome and Introduction of Candidates (Five minutes)
2. Opening Statements (Two minutes per candidate)
3. Questions from the Moderator (Forty-five minutes)
4. Audience Questions (Fifteen minutes)
5. Closing Statements (One minute for each candidate)