Ethics Opinion

26-001-E 26001.pdf

Summary

A county supervisor may vote to approve the payment of claims which will not benefit his employer but may benefit a related company. Based upon the particular facts provided, the supervisor will not have a prohibited interest in the fuel purchases as proscribed in Section 109, Miss. Const. of 1890, and Section 25-4-105(2), Miss. Code of 1972. Nor will the supervisor’s employer be a vendor to the county as prohibited in Section 25-4-105(3)(a). Moreover, the supervisor’s employer will not receive a pecuniary benefit as restricted under Section 25-4-105(1). Nevertheless, the supervisor should recuse himself from approval of fuel claims to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Subject(s)