The Jacksonville Ethics Commission on Friday sent a letter to the governor, pleading with him to ax legislation they say would gut their efforts to root out wrongdoing in the city.

The legislation, if signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, would eliminate the ability for citizens to file anonymous complaints. Plus, the local ethics board couldn’t initiate investigations on its own.

The Jacksonville commission said it joins the Florida Ethics Institute and directors of the Miami-Dade and Naple ethics commissions in opposing CS/SB 7014, which the commission said would “reduce anti-corruption efforts and undermine the investigation process.”

The letter goes on to say that the bill imposes “burdensome requirements on citizens” seeking to file legitimate ethics complaints and “severely constricts” ethics commissions from investigating possible violations, “including those supported by substantial credible information.”

The board’s actions came amid major breaking news surrounding ethics issues in Jacksonville — the trial of two former JEA executives on fraud and conspiracy charges and the disbarment of a former public defender.

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Kirby Oberdorfer, executive director of Jacksonville’s Ethics Department, said nearly 60% of the board’s complaints over the last nine years have been filed anonymously, or 55 of 95 complaints, averaging a little over 10 total complaints per year in that time. That compares with 2,082 complaints filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics over the last nine years, averaging about 231 complaints per year at the state level.

The entire board agrees that the new rules are bad for Jacksonville. Since the governor has not signed the bill, the Ethics Commission chair said there is still time to do something.

“We all agree that we don’t support this bill,” said J.J. Dixon, chair of the commission. “Where we are now, as commissioners, we’ve got to figure out, what do we do about it moving forward?”

Carla Miller, former ethics director for the city, highlighted the need for courage and creativity in the face of backsliding on ethical standards. Aside from shipping off a letter, however, there is not much the commission can do to stave off the changes to local rule. Miller said they just need to keep fighting the good fight.

“I mean, we’re looking at a redrawn battlefield here,” Miller told commissioners at City Hall. “This does not mean the battle is over. This just means we have to keep up. And that’s the hardest time.”

Because of a last-minute amendment to the state legislation, the local ethics office has to act fast. The amended bill, as of Friday, had not yet been transmitted to the governor’s office. Once it is, DeSantis has 15 days to sign it, veto it or allow it to become law with no action.

Lead image: General Counsel Michael Fackler advises the Jacksonville Ethics Commission about its opposition to recently passed ethics legislation. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today