Sutherland Institute to Hold Session on Ethics Fundamentals

12.02.2008 by KCPW

(KCPW News) While ethics reform is being pushed by many legislators, the Sutherland Institute is seeking to remind public officials of basic ethics principles. The Institute's Transcend Series will focus on the Challenges of Integrity in Public Service. Series coordinator, Stan Rasmussen, says the session intends to prevent ethics problems before they happen by focusing on fundamentals.

"This is not a remedial program, this is not a fix it program. People won't get a lecture, what they will get is an opportunity to identify and get more familiar with some fundamental principles, and then have an opportunity to discuss, what does this look like in practice, particularly for people who are in an elected position or appointed position or otherwise serving in community leadership roles," Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen says ethics problems are becoming more prevalent in contemporary life, and he feels all people need to be more conscious and careful about what they do. He says the session is not meant to fix or discuss outstanding ethics problems, or help the legislature move toward ethics reform.

"It is interesting timing, but we are not doing it because of the more recent increase focus on ethics reform. I think those who are paying attention to matters of ethics reform will find this very useful … what we are going to talk about are fundamental principles of ethics and integrity, how that looks, what that looks like in a public service setting," Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen says the session will also focus on priorities. He says situations may have a right and a wrong, but others have two choices that are both right and in that case people need to evaluate the choices more closely. Dr. Quinn McKay author of The Bottom Line on Integrity will speak at the session which begins tomorrow morning at 8:30 at the Crane Building, 307 West 200 South. To register click here.