Ethics Commission issues advisory opinions on in‑office lobbying and post‑employment restrictions

The Florida Commission on Ethics adopted two legally binding advisory opinions at its public meeting: one addressing whether a mayor's private, compensated federal advocacy would violate the in‑office lobbying ban, and another analyzing post‑public‑employment limits for a Department of Corrections assistant warden who has a private‑sector job offer.

On advisory opinion file 28-19, staff recommended and the commission adopted an opinion that Tim Martin, recently elected mayor of Newberry, would not violate the in‑office lobbying ban if, in his private capacity as national development officer for the John Birch Society, he travels periodically to Washington to advocate on policy issues as part of his normal job duties. The staff memorandum explained that the constitutional ban—quoted in the draft as “A public officer shall…