Ethics Commission Returns Opinion On Northport Council Candidate Vote

NORTHPORT, AL — The Alabama Ethics Commission has returned an informal opinion regarding a perceived conflict of interest in the City of Northport's process to choose a new District 3 council member.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

As Patch previously reported, questions were raised on social media earlier this week relating to District 1 Councilwoman Christy Bobo, who works as an asset intelligence business development consultant at Randall-Reilly. This is the same company that employs District 3 candidate Karl D. Wiggins, who works as its vice president of information technology.

Indeed, this prompted some to question any potential conflicts of interest in the decision making process, which led Northport City Attorney Ron Davis to seek an interpretation of the state's ethics laws.

The Ethics Commission, in a response to the formal inquiry by Davis, said there is nothing in the Ethics Act that would prohibit Bobo from voting for Wiggins to fill the vacant position on the City Council, provided she is not receiving anything for the purpose of corruptly influencing her official action.

"The Ethics Act prohibits public officials from using their official positions to obtain personal gain
for themselves, a family member, or a business with which they are associated," Ethics Commission Assistant General Counsel Brian Paterson wrote. "Public officials may also not solicit or receive anything for the purpose of corruptly influencing an official action. Further, no member of any county or municipal agency, board, or commission shall vote or participate in any matter in which the member or family member of the member has any financial gain or interest."

Paterson went on to say that, based on the facts provided, there is no indication that Bobo or any business with which she is associated would obtain personal gain from voting for Wiggins or that she or her family members have any financial gain or interest that would be affected by the vote.

"Therefore, provided she has not otherwise solicited or received something for the purpose of corruptly influencing her official action, there is nothing in the Ethics Act that would prohibit her from voting for Mr. Wiggins to fill the vacant position on the City Council should she desire to do so," Paterson wrote.

A total of seven candidates have applied for the open District 3 seat and each applicant interviewed with members of the Council and city officials on Friday.

The Council has until the last Monday of the month — Feb. 27 — to fill the seat, which marks 60 days from when the vacancy opened following the abrupt resignation of former Mayor Bobby Herndon.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.