Community Forum Focuses on Ethics

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Commissioner Jess Santamaria held his monthly forum at the original Wellington Mall on August 18. The guest speakers were Alan Johnson, executive director of the independent Commission on Ethics, and Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman.

Johnson, who became executive director in May, provided an overview of the powers, responsibilities and jurisdiction of the five-member Ethics Commission. He explained the types of complaints the panel can investigate and how to go about filing a complaint.

“The independent system is already starting to work,” he said. “Basically, this is a movement.”

Merriman spoke on behalf of independent Inspector General Sheryl Steckler, who was unable to attend. Steckler has been on the job since June 28 and has already referred one complaint against a county employee that resulted in criminal charges. Steckler’s office has one full-time investigator. A second full-time investigator will begin toward the end of the month.

Merriman said both Steckler and Johnson “have done an incredible job getting their offices up and running in a very short period of time.”

Commissioner Santamaria said Steckler will be his guest speaker at the next community forum in September.