§ 2-192. Standards governing ethics in government.

(a)

Purpose and intent. It shall be the sole purpose of this section to establish specific, reasonable, and uniform ethical standards to be followed by all elected officials in the County as a means of protecting the rights and the property of the good citizens of the County. It is not the intent of this section to keep an elected official from acting in any legal manner, or accepting remuneration set forth in the statutes of the State and intended as compensation for their services in their capacity as an elected official.

(b)

Definitions.

Elected official means each and every person elected by the voters of the County, or otherwise serving in any of the following offices: County Judge, County Sheriff, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, County Assessor, County Treasurer, County Collector, County Coroner, and Justice of the Peace.

Family member means the spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, child, and/or step-child of an elected official.

Profit means to benefit financially or personally.

(c)

Standards. The following are the standards that shall govern the behavior of every elected official in certain circumstances:

(1)

Contracts.

a.

No elected official shall profit directly or indirectly from contracts with the county except as allowed by law.

b.

No family member shall profit directly from contracts with the County.

c.

No contracts shall be entered into by elected officials when said contract fails to set forth specifically the products or services to be provided under the contract. This includes human service contracts. Said contracts shall provide products or services to the population which would not otherwise be provided by the County in the normal course of business.

d.

No contract shall be let that has not first been offered for competitive bidding pursuant to law.

e.

No contract shall be entered into or renewed without first being reviewed by the County Attorney for adherence to the standards set forth in this section. Every contract shall include a signature line for the County Attorney. Once affixed to the contract, said signature shall be evidence only of the County Attorney's review in accordance with this subsection.

f.

No elected official shall profit directly or indirectly from contracts with the County for a period one (1) year from the date of leaving office, except by a majority vote of the Quorum Court.

g.

No family member shall profit directly from contracts with the County for a period of one (1) year from the date the elected official leaves office.

h.

No contract may be entered into with a third party that employs or otherwise profits any elected official or family member of an elected official.

i.

Any contract entered into in violation of these standards shall be void ab initio.

(2)

Felony conviction while in office.

a.

No elected official shall remain in office if convicted of a felony while serving as an elected official. Their term in office shall terminate immediately upon conviction and the office shall be filled according to State law, as soon as is practically possible.

(3)

Employment after leaving office.

a.

No elected official shall be given employment with the County for a period of one (1) year from the date of leaving office except by a majority vote of the Quorum Court.

b.

If an elected official is employed in violation of this section, said elected official shall be liable to the County for any and all monies paid, including any benefits and parts of benefits; and, for attorneys fees and any costs incurred in the process of enforcing this section. Said employment shall be void ab initio.

(d)

This section may be enforced by any remedy available at law or equity.

(Ord. No. 99-3, Arts. 1—4, 2-11-99)