Ethics training
to start for city

Six Council members
introduce the bill to start training
on standards of conduct

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

The city's 1,500 managers will soon be undergoing ethics training under a bill introduced by six members of the City Council.

The program, which would also apply to the mayor and Council members, would include training on standards of conduct, actions to take to avoid violations, and remedies for when violations are discovered. Other programs would be on actions to take when asked by a supervisor to violate a standard of conduct, and requirements regarding financial and gift disclosure statements.

"The public has every right to expect city officials to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, and this program is intended to show the Council's commitment to that," said Councilman Steve Holmes, lead author of the bill signed by five other Council members.

Councilman Duke Bainum agreed. "Everyone's core values, hopefully, were developed when we were young," he said. "But it certainly can't hurt to be reminded of the particulars of the law."

The bill comes on the heels of Councilwoman Rene Mansho's acknowledgment that she violated ethical standards when she had aides do campaign work on city time. On the advice of the city Ethics Commission, Mansho was ordered to pay $40,000 in compensation and stripped of all her leadership responsibilities by her colleagues. She is paying the Campaign Spending Commission an additional $40,000 after acknowledging using her election account to pay for noncampaign expenses.

Mansho is not one of the six who signed the ethics bill.

"We can't overemphasize the importance of maintaining and assuring the highest standards of ethical conduct," said Councilman John Henry Felix.

The bill charges the city Ethics Commission with formulating the program. All existing city managers are to be trained within a year. New employees would need to be trained within six months of hire. The bill leaves it up to the commission to determine the need for refresher courses. Holmes estimated the program would cost no more than $2,000.

Chuck Totto, executive director for the commission, said he endorses the program.

"We appreciate the Council taking the ethics issue so seriously," Totto said. He said training may help prevent unintentional breaches.

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City & County of Honolulu