(ANOKA) – Fourth District Anoka County Commissioner Mandy Meisner will host a virtual town hall on in early March to discuss whether the county board should have a code of ethics in place.
It currently does not.
“Elected officials–we have positions of power and authority, and so, with that, I believe that we should have higher standards of conduct and behavior,” said Meisner. “That really speaks to accountability, so I am willing to be accountable to the public and I hope my colleagues will join me.”
Anoka County Commissioiner Mandy Meisner
Meisner has led the charge recently in the wake of reports her fellow commissioner, Matt Look, has engaged in behavior and communication with constituents of his that some consider threatening and even harassment. Look denies any wrongdoing. Meisner introduced discussion about a possible code of ethics at a recent county board work session, but it didn’t get very far.
On Thursday, March 4, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Meisner will host the virtual discussion along with Hamline University Political Science Professor David Schultz and local business leaders. It will include Q&A and Meisner will share reflections and input she’s been gathering for weeks leading up to the event with the hopes that the ideas shared can be passed along to her fellow county board members.
“I think that we can do better,” said Meisner. “Other counties in the state have adopted their own codes of ethics. This is a choice that every county board gets to decide and I think we can absolutely do better.”
An Anoka County spokesperson told North Metro TV News that county employees don’t have to adhere to a specific Code of Ethics, but that some employees may have to abide by more stringent expectations or rules based on the nature of their position or department.
