Former Commissioner Michael S. Kridel honored for 13 years on Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics

The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics held a brief presentation honoring former Commissioner Michael S. Kridel for 13 years of service.

Deputy Chief Commissioner Alan Bliss opened the tribute by thanking Kridel "for your 13 years of dedicated service to the Commission on Ethics," and presenting commemorative Lady Justice bookends and a memory book. Bliss identified himself as deputy chief commissioner and said the gifts were a small reminder of Kridel’s service.

Kridel accepted the recognition and reflected on his time with the commission, describing how his background — including accounting training and time in law enforcement — shaped his approach to public ethics. "Most people don't know what their values are," Kridel said, urging officials to identify and live by core values in public service.

Other speakers praised Kridel’s contributions. An attendee speaking on behalf of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners credited Kridel with making required ethics training engaging and effective, saying Kridel kept mandatory continuing-education sessions lively. Inspector General John Carey thanked Kridel for sharpening the office’s work and said Kridel’s questioning had made him a better inspector general.

Commissioners and colleagues described Kridel as a role model for ethical standards and expressed confidence in the commission’s staff and incoming membership. The public record in the transcript does not list subsequent formal actions tied to the ceremony; the presentation preceded routine business and a subsequent executive session.