Her Excellency, Governor M. Jodi Rell, has officially proclaimed September 26, 2008 as Ethics Day in the State of Connecticut. Government ethics matters, not just on this day, but every day. Why? It matters not because state employees, public officials and lobbyists are bad, but because they’re human. As Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board member Michael Rion stated, "Ethical dilemmas often arise as the unintended consequences of well-intentioned actions, not from unethical motives."
The mission of the Office of State Ethics is to ensure honesty, integrity and accountability in state government by educating the regulated community and, when necessary, interpreting and enforcing the State of Connecticut Codes of Ethics. The 2008 Ethics Matters Conference for Public Officials and State Employees is one vehicle for providing information they need to comply with the ethics code. I encourage you to attend to learn more about our agency and how we can help you to understand and obey the law.
I am pleased to announce the participation of Governor Rell, who will start the afternoon program on a high note. A dynamic, engaging keynote speaker – Seton Hall Law School Professor and Chairperson of the New Jersey State Ethics Commission, Paula Franzese – promises to energize and inspire.
The program continues with four breakout sessions. Our goal is to provide all attendees with intriguing options including a hands-on session for agency liaisons, a legal update with time for audience questions, a case study-driven enforcement overview, and, finally, a unique session for members of the media. A full event agenda and registration are available online.
