With the incorporation, Acme became a dependent district of Wellington and the two entities share the same governing boards with the Wellington Council acting as the Board of Supervisors for Acme.

The Code of Ethics (Chapter 112, Part III, Florida Statutes – Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees), was created to help:

• Prevent conflicts between public duty and private interests
• Ensure that public sector employees and officers will not use government office for private gain

All special district local officers and special district employees must comply with Florida’s ethics laws.
Lobbyists wishing to lobby a Water Management District must register with the district prior to undertaking any lobbying activities. For more information, see Section 112.3261, Florida Statutes – Lobbying before water management districts; registration and reporting.
This section covers ethics laws and related forms and filings, which are available on the Florida Commission on Ethics web site (look for the “forms” link).

Ethics Disclosures

Lobbyist – For purposes of ethics disclosures, a lobbyist is any natural person who, for compensation, seeks or has sought during the past 12 months to:

• Influence the governmental decision-making of a special district local officer, procurement employee, or their special district, or,
• Seeks or sought to encourage the passage, defeat, or modification of any proposal or recommendation by a special district local officer, procurement employee, or their special district

The following public officers and employees must file ethics disclosures:

• A person elected to a special district’s governing body
• A person appointed to complete an unexpired term
• A person appointed to a special district’s governing body
• A person seeking nomination or election to a special district’s governing body
• A special district’s chief administrative employee
• A fire chief of a fire control special district
• A special district purchasing agent making purchases more than $20,000

Each January, the Commission on Ethics mails surveys to all counties, municipalities, and special districts to find out who must file Statement of Financial Interests (Form 1), the limited disclosure form. Then, the Commission on Ethics provides a list of those who must file this form to all County Supervisors of Elections. All special district local officers and specified employees (the chief administrative employee and any purchasing agent making purchases more than $20,000) must file this form. They may also need to file additional disclosures, depending upon their position, businesses, or interests. Form 1 describes this in more detail. Therefore, all special district officers and specified employees must review Form 1 carefully.

Information from the Florida Special District Handbook – Ethics Laws and Disclosures.

http://www.floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/assistance-for-governments-and-organizations/special-district-accountability-program/florida-special-district-handbook-online/ethics-laws-and-disclosures

Additional information: www.ethics.state.fl.us – Select “Ethics Laws” for additional information

Code of Ethics:

http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Publications/GuideBookletInternet.pdf