Stewart Asks Charles County Ethics Commission To Discuss Publishing Findings

LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Ethics Commission handled seven ethics inquiries and complaints over the past year while continuing its oversight of ethics matters, financial disclosures and potential conflicts of interest in county government.

During its annual update to the Charles County Board of Commissioners on June 24, commissioners also asked the Ethics Commission to discuss whether future ethics findings should be made public.

During its June 24 annual update, Ethics Commission Chair Shara Handler said the commission met five times in 2025 to review ethics issues, financial disclosures and complaints involving county officials and employees. Members reviewed seven ethics inquiries and complaints during the year, including three carried over from 2024 and four new cases. No advisory opinions were issued.

The commission also reviewed annual financial disclosure forms submitted by 78 current county employees, one former employee and 43 members of county boards and commissions. The forms are used to help ensure public officials disclose financial interests that could create potential conflicts of interest.

Commissioner Amanda Stewart also revisited an earlier discussion about whether Ethics Commission findings should be made public. She asked County Attorney Wes Adams, who serves as legal counsel to the commission, whether the issue had been discussed since the Board raised the idea.

“Have you had the opportunity to discuss with the Ethics Commission our decision on publishing any findings?” Stewart asked.

Adams said the commission has not yet considered the matter.

“Not yet. We have not had a meeting since that,” Adams replied.

Stewart then asked Adams to add the topic to a future Ethics Commission agenda for discussion.

Adams agreed.

Publishing ethics findings could give residents more insight into how ethics complaints are handled and resolved, while any future policy would also need to balance transparency with legal and privacy requirements. No action was taken during the meeting, and any potential changes would first be discussed by the Ethics Commission before returning to the Board of Commissioners.

Established after Maryland required local governments to adopt local ethics laws, the Charles County Ethics Commission was first created by the Board of County Commissioners in July 1982. The five-member commission, which also includes one alternate member, is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the county’s ethics code, advising public officials and employees on ethics matters, hearing ethics complaints, and overseeing financial disclosure and lobbying requirements intended to help prevent conflicts of interest and promote public trust in county government.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 27.

Watch the full June 24 Charles County Board of Commissioners meeting on CCGTV here.

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