Frequently Asked Questions

A County Commissioner Shall Obey the Law.

County commissioners shall support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of North Carolina and the laws enacted by the Congress of the United States and the North Carolina General Assembly pursuant thereto.

A County Commissioner Shall Uphold the Integrity and Independence of His Office.

County commissioners shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fortitude in all their public activities in order to inspire public confidence and trust in county government. County commissioners shall participate in establishing, maintaining and enforcing, and shall themselves observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of their office may be preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further these objectives.

A County Commissioner Shall Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All of His or Her Activities

1. It is essential that county government attract those citizens best qualified and willing to serve. County commissioners have legitimate interests—economic, professional and vocational—of a private nature. County commissioners shall not be denied, and shall not deny to other county commissioners or citizens, the opportunity to acquire, retain and pursue private interests, economic or otherwise, except when conflicts with their responsibility to the public cannot be avoided. County commissioners must exercise their best judgment to determine when this is the case.
2. County Commissioners shall respect and comply with the law and shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of the office of county commissioner and of county government.
3. County commissioners shall not allow family, social, or other relationships to unduly influence their conduct or judgment and shall not lend the prestige of the office of county commissioner to advance the private interests of others; nor shall they convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence them.

A County Commissioner Shall Perform the Duties of the Office Diligently.

County Commissioners shall, while performing the duties of the office as prescribed by law, give precedence to these duties over other activities. In the performance of these duties, the following standards shall apply:

1. Legislative Responsibilities.
   1. County commissioners shall actively pursue policy goals they believe to be in the best interests of their constituents within the parameters of orderly decision-making, rules of the Board of County Commissioners, and open government.
   2. County commissioners shall respect the legitimacy of the goals and interests of other county commissioners and shall respect the rights of others to pursue goals and policies different from their own.
2. Adjudicative Responsibilities.
   1. County commissioners shall be faithful to the general and local laws pertaining to the office and shall strive for professional competence in them. They shall be unswayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism.
   2. County commissioners shall demand and contribute to the maintenance of order and decorum in proceedings before the board of county commissioners.
   3. County commissioners shall be honest, patient, dignified and courteous to those with whom they deal in their official capacity, and shall require similar conduct of their staff and others subject to their direction and control.
   4. County commissioners shall accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding before the commission full right to be heard according to law.
   5. County commissioners shall dispose promptly of the business of the county for which they are responsible.
3. Administrative Responsibilities.
   1. County commissioners shall clearly distinguish legislative, adjudicatory and administrative responsibilities and shall refrain from inappropriate interference in the impartial administration of county affairs by county employees. Commissioners shall diligently discharge those administrative responsibilities that are appropriate, shall maintain professional competence in the administration of these duties and shall facilitate the diligent discharge of the administrative responsibilities of fellow commissioners and other county officials.
   2. County commissioners shall conserve the resources of the county in their charge. They shall employ county equipment, property, funds and personnel only in legally permissible pursuits and in a manner that exemplifies excellent stewardship.
   3. County commissioners shall require county employees subject to their direction and control to observe the standards of fidelity and diligence that apply to commissioners, as well as those appropriate for employees.
   4. County commissioners shall take or initiate appropriate disciplinary measures against a county employee for improper conduct of which the commissioner may become aware.
   5. County commissioners shall not employ or recommend the appointment of unnecessary employees, and shall exercise the power of employment only on the basis of merit, avoid favoritism and refrain from illegal discrimination and nepotism. They shall not approve compensation of employees beyond the fair value of services rendered.

A County Commissioner Shall Conduct the Affairs of the Board of County Commissioners in an Open and Public Manner.

County commissioners must be aware of the letter and intent of the State’s Open Meetings Law, and they must conduct the affairs of the Board of County Commissioners consistent with the letter and spirit of that law and consistent with the need to inspire and maintain public confidence in the integrity and fairness of county government and the office of county commissioner.

Consistent with this goal of preserving public trust, county commissioners shall be aware of the need for discretion in deliberations when the lack of discretion would pose a threat to the resources of the county, to the reputation of current or potential county employees, to orderly and responsible decision making, to the integrity of other governmental processes, or to other legitimate interests of the county.

A County Commissioner Shall Regulate His or Her Extra-Governmental Activities to Minimize the Risk of Conflict with His or Her Official Duties.

1. County commissioners shall inform themselves concerning campaign finance, conflict of interest, and other appropriate state and federal laws, and shall scrupulously comply with the provisions of such laws.
2. County commissioners shall refrain from financial and business dealings that tend to reflect adversely on the Board or on county government or to interfere with the proper performance of official duties.
3. County commissioners shall manage their personal financial interests to minimize the number of cases in which they must ask to be excused from voting on matters coming before their Board of Commissioners.
4. Information acquired by county commissioners in their official capacity shall not be used or disclosed in financial dealings or for any other purpose not related to official duties.

A County Commissioner Shall Refrain from Political Activity Inappropriate for His or Her Office.

1. County commissioners have a civic responsibility to support good government by every available means, to continue to inform and educate the citizenry about the affairs and processes of county government, and to make themselves available to citizens of the county, so that they may ascertain and respond to the needs of the community. In doing so, county commissioners may and should join or affiliate with civic organizations whether partisan or non-partisan, may and should attend political meetings, and may and should advocate and support the principles or policies of civic or political organizations consistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States and North Carolina.
    
2. Candidates for the office of county commissioner, including incumbents:
   1. Shall inform themselves concerning the laws of this state with regard to campaigns and relevant disclosure requirements and shall scrupulously comply with the provisions of such laws.
   2. Shall maintain the dignity appropriate to the office, and should encourage members of their families to adhere to the same standards of political conduct that apply to commissioners.
   3. Shall not make pledges or promises of conduct in office that they will not or cannot perform or would be illegal if it were performed.
   4. Shall not misrepresent their identity, qualifications, present position, or other fact, and
   5. Shall avoid pledges or promises of conduct in office other than the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of the office.