Two New Ethics Commission Members named for Unified Government

Published on August 10, 2023

Two new Ethics Commissioners have been selected by the Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel and will be sworn in on August 10, 2023 at the Ethics Commission monthly meeting. Members of the Ethics Commission are unpaid and must be a Wyandotte County resident of good moral standing and reputation.

The purpose of the Ethics Commission is to recommend ways to improve the Unified Government’s Ethics Code, to review and report on any and all violations of the Code of Ethics, to render advisory opinions on questions of ethics, conflicts of interest and the applicability of the Code of Ethics. The appointees are Wyandotte County residents who will serve a four-year term.

Introducing Our Newest Members

The new members of the Ethics Commission are:

Adrianne E. Ford, earned a doctoral degree in philosophy from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine College, and a bachelor’s degree in human development from University of Saint Mary. Ms. Ford is an Associate Professor at the University of Saint Mary. She teaches Bible study to USM students and is currently a member of three Faculty Senate Committees—Faculty Development, Honors and Graduate Council. Ms. Ford is excited to combine her passion of evaluating and championing ethics while working on the Commission for the betterment of Wyandotte County.

Joseph I. Wittman, a resident of Wyandotte County since 2017, has been involved with ethics issues and education for the past 30+ years. He earned doctoral degree in law from Washburn University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kansas. Mr. Wittman is a practicing attorney as well as a judge pro tem in Topeka municipal court.  Continued ethics training is a requirement of Mr. Wittman’s private law practice and believes his professional experience would make him an asset to the Unified Government Ethics Commission.

The new commissioners were selected to serve on the Ethics Commission for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas by an Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel. The Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel is comprised of Robert P. Burns, Chief Judge of the Wyandotte County District Court; Mark A. Dupree Sr., District Attorney of Wyandotte County, and Thomas L. Wiss, Legislative Auditor of Wyandotte County. Ruth Benien, Ethics Administrator of the Unified Government, serves as staff to the Ethics Commission.