Ethics Commission Faces Dilemma Over Candidate Donations

During a recent government meeting, members discussed the conflicting advisory opinions from the Howard County Ethics Commission and the Baltimore City Board of Ethics regarding whether commission members can make direct donations to candidates eligible for support funding. The Baltimore City Board of Ethics indicated that such donations are permissible as long as the members are not actively working for a campaign. In contrast, the Howard County Ethics Commission expressed concerns, suggesting that such actions could either represent a conflict of interest or create the appearance of one.

The discussion raised the question of whether the commission should seek its own advisory opinion from the Baltimore County Ethics Commission to clarify the matter. It was noted that while the state has a uniform ethics code, individual counties have the authority to interpret and implement their own regulations, leading to varying practices across jurisdictions. For instance, Montgomery County allows such donations under specific conditions, while other areas have different stipulations.

One member emphasized the importance of obtaining a formal advisory opinion to establish clear guidelines for future conduct, arguing that it would not only benefit the commission but also set a precedent for ethical standards in electoral funding. The proposal to pursue this advisory opinion was met with general support, with plans to coordinate the request pending majority approval from the commission members.