Maintaining ethical behavior and having integrity are two important aspects of public leadership. If public servants aren't expected to meet these basic standards, then institutional trust in the government will decrease. As an aspiring local government leader, I subscribe to the Texas & International City Management Association's (ICMA/TCMA) outlined ethics. I also make sure to follow my own personal ethics, including respecting everyone, intentional follow-up, and having open dialogues. Continued commitment to public and personal ideals in local government helps ensure quality leadership.

ICMA and TCMA provide clear guidelines for their members to follow. These are beneficial in providing professional managers and employees to follow consistent, politically neutral principles. I will be entering the local government workforce as a part of the ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. My fellowship will be working with the City of Concord, New Hampshire and I will be working in the City Manager's office. A part of this fellowship experience includes mentorship with the city leaders and involvement with national and regional conferences. During this experience, I am sure I will learn more in-depth about each tenet with formal and informal interactions with city staff and the public. In this initial job and further into my career, I will be sure to follow the ideals of the tenets outlined by the professional organizations I am a part of. A full list of ethical tenets for ICMA/TCMA is provided at the bottom of this page.

I also make sure to follow my own personal and moral codes. Values and actions such as treating all citizens with respect, following through on commitments, and creating an inclusive atmosphere are of the utmost importance to me. In my recent internship, I learned about the importance of active listening and treating everyone with dignity and respect. This was exemplified to me when the City Manager had me sit in on multiple meetings with citizens. He was quick to listen and slow to speak and sought opportunities for common ground. This was impactful to me in showing how public servants should lead and be open to talking with citizens. I also find it highly important to be intentional even in the tiny details of public employment. Following up with people who have contacted you and creating open dialogue shows people you care about their problems and seek to represent their concerns. Finally, ensuring an inclusive atmosphere where people are free to speak their mind is important, though difficult at times. Key elements of public hearings include citizen feedback. I have found that a willingness to at least listen to everyone goes a long way in people's eyes. Even those with the strongest opinions are more willing to come to the table to compromise if an initiative is taken to proactively engage the public.

Professional organizations that ensure public accountability and following solid ethical principles are integral to be a good public servant. The Texas & International City Management Association(s) provide a template of twelve tenets to follow. Key elements of those include open communication, public discourse, and commitment to political neutrality. The professionalization of local government management has lead to increased quality of public servants. Though these ideals are incredibly helpful, leaders also need to hold close to their own moral principles too. Some of the ethics I personally follow include treating all people with dignity and respect, following up with conversations and commitments, and creating an open an inclusive environment of dialogue.