020521 MSEO, ETH 21-002-E

• Case Date: February 05, 2021
• Court: Mississippi

ETH 21-002-E Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 21-002-E Mississippi Ethics Commission Mississippi Ethics Opinion February 5, 2021          Tom Hood Executive Director and Chief Counsel          Ben H. Stone, Chairman Gulfport          Dana S. Stringer, Vice-Chair Brandon          Sean A. Milner, Secretary Clinton          Ron Crowe Brandon          Stephen W. Burrow Pascagoula          Bobby Waites Brandon          Spencer M. Ritchie Jackson          Maxwell J. Luter Tylertown          Question Presented: May a business which employs a member of the city council contract with the city convention commission?          Brief Answer: No. In this particular municipality the city council approves the annual budget of the city convention commission. The approval of the budget would authorize contracts with the convention commission, which would be prohibited under Section 109, Miss. Constitution of 1890, or Section 25-4-105(2), Miss. Code of 1972.          The Mississippi Ethics Commission issued this opinion on the date shown above in accordance with Section 25-4-17(i), Mississippi Code of 1972, as reflected upon its minutes of even date. The Commission is empowered to interpret and opine only upon Article IV, Section 109, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, and Article 3, Chapter 4, Title 25, Mississippi Code of 1972. This opinion does not interpret or offer protection from liability for any other laws, rules or regulations. The Commission based this opinion solely on the facts and circumstances provided by the requestor as restated herein. The protection from liability provided under Section 25-4-17(i) is limited to the individual who requested this opinion and to the accuracy and completeness of these facts.          I. LAW          The pertinent Ethics in Government Laws to be considered here are as follows: Section 109, Miss. Const. of 1890.

No public officer or member of the legislature shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with the state, or any district, county, city, or town thereof,

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