020720 MSEO, ETH 20-002-E

• Case Date: February 07, 2020
• Court: Mississippi

ETH 20-002-E Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 20-002-E Mississippi Ethics Commission Mississippi Ethics Opinion February 7, 2020          Tom Hood Executive Director and Chief Counsel          Ben H. Stone, Chairman Gulfport          Paul V. Breazeale, Vice Chairman Jackson          Dana S. Stringer, Secretary Brandon          Sean A. Milner Clinton          Ron Crowe Brandon          Stephen W. Burrow Pascagoula          Bobby Waites Brandon          Spencer M. Ritchie Jackson          Question Presented: May a city contract with a business which employs a member of the city council?          Brief Answer: No. The council member would have an interest in the contract in violation of Section 109, Miss. Const. of 1890, and 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, authorized by any law passed or order made by any board of which he may be or may have been a member, during the term for which he shall have been

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