Baltimore City Council passes new, tighter ethics rules after Pugh scandal

The Baltimore City Council unanimously passed Monday new, tighter ethics regulations in the aftermath of the self-dealing scandal and resignation of former Democratic Mayor Catherine Pugh.

The council voted to pass 15-0 to back legislation from Democratic City Councilman Ryan Dorsey to require people filing financial disclosure forms to list all directorships they hold, not just those at entities that do business with the city. Pugh didn’t mention her role as a University of Maryland Medical System board member on forms she filed while mayor, although she disclosed it when she sought the office.

Pugh resigned from office in May after collecting some $800,000 to produce her self-published “Healthy Holly” children’s books. The medical system, which she helped oversee as a board member, paid her $500,000. Pugh also accepted payments from other entities that she approved to do business with the city, including Kaiser Permanente and Associated Black Charities.

After The Baltimore Sun uncovered the UMMS payments, Pugh amended several years of disclosure forms with the state, as she served as a state senator during a period when such deals were made, to list payments she received.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-ci-council-ethics-20190819-c3j5z4qir5feniamqm57waggyq-story.html