To begin his second full month in office, Mayor James announced the appointment of a seven member Blue Ribbon Commission on Ethics Reform, chaired by Andrea Bough, Attorney at Law.
The Mayor’s Transition Team, yesterday, presented Mayor James with a preliminary review of the City’s ethics codes which will become the starting point for the Blue Ribbon panel. (See attached “Blueprint for Ethics: Sly James Transition Team”) As promised in his inaugural address, the Mayor has given the newly appointed Blue Ribbon Commission 90-days to make its recommendations.
“The City is fortunate to have such a thoughtful and talented cross-section of residents to review and make recommendations about our ethics policies. I have tasked them with returning a report to me 90-days from today. The goal is to create a culture of ethical behavior in City Hall that is beyond question. There should never be any doubt that Kansas City’s elected officials and city employees are performing their duties to the high standards expected by our citizens. I am confident the recommendations of this Blue Ribbon Commission will help improve the confidence our residents have in their government,” said Mayor James.
“I want to thank the Transition Team for their good work in their preliminary review, and thank each of the seven members of my Blue Ribbon Commission on Ethics Reform for agreeing to volunteer their time and efforts to making Kansas City even better,” concluded James.
The Mayor has appointed the following residents of Kansas City, Missouri to his Blue Ribbon Commission on Ethics Reform:
Chairwoman, Andrea Bough. Andrea is currently of counsel with Stinson Morrison Hecker in the firm’s Kansas City office. She led the Mayor’s transition team in reviewing the city’s ethics code and brings considerable public law experience to the commission. Bough graduated cum laude from Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State University, with a bachelor’s degree in political science before graduating with distinction from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Reverend Brian D. Ellison has lived in Kansas City and served as pastor of Parkville Presbyterian Church since 1999. He is currently the clerk of the Permanent Judicial Commission in the 103-church Heartland Presbytery, and has previously served as stated clerk. Reverend Ellison obtained his bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Barbara Glesner Fines is the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and the Ruby M. Hulen Professor of Law at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. Dean Glesner Fines holds a master’s of law degree from Yale University, a Juris Doctorate (cum laude) from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a philosophy degree from Thomas Jefferson College of Grand Valley State University. Dean Glesner Fines currently serves on the City’s Municipal Officials Ethics Commission.
Chris Lester is an experienced Kansas City business and media executive and prize-winning journalist. Lester is a graduate of Iowa State University, with a degree in economics and journalism.
Robert Patrick is the current president of Local 500 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He has served in this position since 2004, and has been active in the union since 1996. Patrick is a board member of the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO. He also serves as a trustee of the Kansas City, Missouri Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan and trustee of the Kansas City, Missouri Employees Health Insurance Board. Patrick is a Park Hill High School graduate.
Leo Prieto is the Community Health Education Outreach Manager at Truman Medical Center. Prieto studied Spanish, social science, secondary Latin American studies, and leadership studies at Kansas State University before receiving his law degree from the University of Kansas.
Erik Stafford is an author, historian, and small business owner. He currently owns and operates the Kansas City Tour Company. Stafford studied at Penn Valley Community College before receiving his bachelor’s degree in history from Central Missouri State University and a master’s degree in business from Webster University’s Kansas City campus.
