Official gets ethics advice on votes involving son's firm

The 12-page opinion, issued Thursday, is a written version of the guidance given to Woodbury orally during an Ethics Commission hearing Nov. 19 in Reno.

The commission found that when the law firm employing attorney Rodney Woodbury appears before the commission, Commissioner Woodbury must disclose sufficient information concerning his commitment to his son to make the public aware of the relationship.

After making the disclosure, he then must determine whether his judgment on an issue would be affected by his son's connection to a matter. If his judgment would be affected on an issue, the commissioner would have to abstain from voting and could not advocate for or against the issue.

The commission said in its opinion: "Abstention in all such cases would be a safe harbor for public officers and employees. However, the public (and an elected official's constituents) have an interest in matters which come before such officers and employees. Abstention deprives the public and that official's constituents of a voice in governmental affairs."

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