Dear Friends & Colleagues,

October brings us another edition of Ethical Governance Day; we are reminded that one of the most important things we can do for our community is to prepare the people who are going to take on leadership roles at some point in the future. This year's event offers a motivating chance to recommit to both the present and the future, bringing together people from across Miami-Dade County who share the values of integrity, accountability, and public service.

The spirit of community cooperation that gives this initiative its special significance is captured by Ethical Governance Day. Through the generosity of public officials and civic leaders, students can learn about the duties and challenges of public service. The exchanges provide more than instruction on government; they help young people see their place in the world they will one day lead. We are especially grateful to Miami-Dade County Public Schools and everyone who helps make this tradition possible.

The same dedication to strengthening public institutions is evident in our recent activities. This month the Commission marked the launch of its new Advisory Board Member Financial Disclosure Portal, which was developed in cooperation with the County's Communications, Information and Technology Department and the Clerk of the Board. The new platform makes financial-disclosure reporting easier, improves access to filing information, and reduces the administrative workload for people who serve on County advisory boards. We thank the County partners and Commission staff for taking this initiative from concept to implementation. It is a pleasant example of how collaboration and innovation can make government more accessible, responsive, and accountable.

The Commission also plans to take advantage of the opportunity to engage with newly elected and returning public officials following the upcoming local elections. Together with our ongoing ethics education and community outreach, these initiatives reflect our responsibility to ensure that those entering public service understand the standards and expectations that accompany the public's trust. Likewise, our continued work to enforce ethics standards and expand preventive services demonstrates how the Commission's various responsibilities support our broader mission. Yet all of these efforts depend on the strong working partnerships that have enabled the agency to continue advancing public trust across each service area.

Ultimately, Ethical Governance Day reminds us that the future of good government is shaped not only by the institutions we create, but also by the people who sustain them, both now and in the future. We congratulate the students, educators, volunteers, and community partners who share this commitment and thank them for helping advance the principles that strengthen public trust throughout Miami-Dade County.

Sincerely,

Ignacio J. Vázquez, Jr.

Executive Director

Commissioners

Dr. Judith Bernier, Chair

Wifredo Gort,

Vice Chair

Nelson C. Bellido Esq.

Dava J. Tunis, Esq.

Christina M. Frohock, Esq.

Executive Director

Ignacio J. Vazquez, Jr. Esq.

General Counsel

Loressa Felix, Esq.

Advocate

Radia Turay, Esq.

Any person who withdraws as a lobbyist for a particular client must immediately file a completed Miami-Dade County Notice of Withdrawal Form with the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners.

Even after withdrawing, the lobbyist remains legally responsible for filing their annual expenditure statement on or before July 1st for the preceding calendar year, regardless of their level of activity or expenses.

Section 2-11.1.1(D)(2) of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, provides that any candidate for public office in Miami-Dade County may voluntarily agree at any time to abide by the voluntary Statement of Fair Campaign Practices. By making that commitment, the candidate acknowledges that the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has the authority to determine whether the candidate has violated the Statement and, if so, to impose any appropriate penalty.

Among the many voluntary statements listed, the Fair Practices Campaign statement provides that, as a candidate for public office in Miami-Dade County, one believes that political issues can be freely debated without appealing to racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, or other prejudices. It recognizes that such negative appeals serve only to divide the community and create long-term moral, social, and economic problems.

The Ethics Commission encourages all candidates for elected office to adhere to the statements contained in the Voluntary Statement of Fair Campaign Practices. To view the statement in its entirety, click here.

• If you lobby Miami-Dade County, your lobbyist registration must be renewed annually with the Clerk of the Board of Miami-Dade County’s Lobbyist Registration Office at: https://miamidade.gocivix.com/

• If you lobby City of Miami, City of Coral Gables, or City of Doral, your lobbyist registration must be renewed with the Clerk’s Office of that municipality.

• You must send your Lobbyist Ethics Training Certificate to the Clerk’s Office of Miami-Dade County and/or the municipality.

• Your Lobbyist Ethics Training Certificate is valid for two years starting from the last completion date.

• For Jackson Health System representatives: You must send a copy of your Lobbyist Ethics Training Certificate to vendor-coordinator@jhsmiami.org.

INQ 26-80 - A potential rehire by the Board and Code Administration Division Director at RER would have no conflict in his potential outside employment providing expert testimony in the areas of building code application and enforcement as long as his services are provided outside of Miami-Dade County and Miami-Dade County is not a party, not involved, and not affected by the litigation. Likewise, the prospective hire could pursue training, consulting, and private provider services with private clients outside of Miami-Dade County and under tightly controlled conditions monitored by his supervisor. However, any client he engages in shall not transact any business in the County.

INQ 26-81 - An Assistant Director 2 has no prohibited conflict of interest between her County position and her outside employment because her County duties do not overlap with her private work, the outside work will take place on her own time, her outside work will occur outside Miami-Dade County, and she will not use County resources or access nonpublic information for private benefit. Requestor was cautioned that should an outside client apply for a HCD program, she is required to recuse herself from the application process.

INQ 26-82 - A municipal Commissioner has no prohibited conflict of interest that would prevent a non-profit the Commissioner founded and serves as president, from renewing its contract with the municipality because the County Ethics Code does not prohibit non-profits from contracting with municipalities, as long as he is not involved in the contract in any way. The work conducted by the Commissioner for the non-profit is outside employment; however, it is unlikely that his work for the non-profit would impair his independence of judgment in the performance of his Commission duties. He is not directly or indirectly compensated by the contract funds that the non-profit receives, and he will not be signing any contracts, answering emails, or interacting with Town employees during his work for the non-profit.

INQ 26-83 – A selection committee member for Water Treatment Plants Design and Related Engineering Services does not have a voting conflict of interest as a member of a selection committee because she will not be directly affected by the vote, nor does she or any of her immediate family members have any enumerated relationship with any entity affected by the vote.

Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics & Public Trust

Phone: 305-579-2594

Email: ethics@miamidade.gov

Website: www.ethics.miamidade.gov

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