The Voice of Ethics

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

When Cubs fever swept Chicago in 2016, so did elected officials hoping to score World Series tickets at face value. Susan sits down with Chicago Board of Ethics Executive Director Steve Berlin to unpack how even access can throw an ethics curveball. June 2026 Episode Transcript – Take Me Out to the Ballgame [https://ethics.ohio.gov/education/podcast/transcripts/OhioEthicsCommission_VoiceOfEthics26-06A_Ballgame_transcript.pdf]   Referenced and relevant materials  Chicago Board of Ethics Advisory Opinion Case No. 16032.A [https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/ethics/general/Deck%20Chairs/LXIV/16032.A.pdf] Advisory Opinion No. 2020-03 [https://ethics.ohio.gov/advice/opinions/2020-03.pdf] Gifts and Other Things of Value Fact Sheet [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/factsheets/GiftsandOtherThingsofValue.pdf] Advisory Opinion No. 96-003 [https://ethics.ohio.gov/advice/opinions/96-003.pdf] (pages 7 – 9)   Stories? Show ideas? We're listening! E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov [susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov]

Reverse Nepotism

The Ethics Law doesn't just stop you from helping family members with your public position — it stops you from hurting them too. Susan, Molly Bruns, and David Sturman explore cases where blood was thicker than recusal.   May 2026 Episode Transcript – Reverse Nepotism [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/podcasttranscripts/OhioEthicsCommission_VoiceOfEthics26-05B_ReverseNepotism_transcript.pdf]   Referenced and relevant materials Advisory Opinion No. 2025-01 [https://ethics.ohio.gov/advice/opinions/2025-01.pdf] Informal Opinion 1989-INF-0406-1 [https://ethics.ohio.gov/advice/informal/1989-INF-0406-1.pdf]   Stories? Show ideas? We're listening! E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov [susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov]

Side Hustle Main Event

A jail superintendent's private bathroom renovation. A county official moonlighting as an Amazon delivery driver — in his county vehicle, on county time, badge dangling. Susan and Nick unpack Advisory Opinion 96-004, the Ethics Commission's go-to guide for keeping your public role and your outside business in separate corners. May 2026 Episode Transcript - Side Hustle Main Event [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/podcasttranscripts/OhioEthicsCommission_VoiceOfEthics26-05A_OutsideBusiness_transcript.pdf]   Referenced and relevant materials Advisory Opinion No. 96-004 [https://ethics.ohio.gov/advice/opinions/96-004.pdf] Conflicts of Interest Fact Sheet [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/factsheets/ConflictsofInterest.pdf]   Stories? Show ideas? We're listening! E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov [susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov]

Earned, Not Gifted: Summer Job Edition

Summer is almost here! But before you help your kid land that lifeguard job at the city pool dive into this 50-SPF (Safeguard Public Fairness) episode on summer hiring and avoid getting burned by the Ethics Law.   April 2026 Episode Transcript – Earned, Not Gifted: Summer Job Edition [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/podcasttranscripts/OhioEthicsCommission_VoiceOfEthics26-04B_SummerHires_transcript.pdf]   Referenced and relevant materials Advisory Opinion No. 2025-01 [https://ethics.ohio.gov/advice/opinions/2025-01.pdf] Public Jobs and Family Members Fact Sheet [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/factsheets/PublicContracts.pdf#page=19]   Stories? Show ideas? We're listening! E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov [susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov]

Smooth Asphalt, Slippery Ethics

How much do you love when a solicitor knocks on your door? What if the sales pitch was free driveway paving? This township administrator overseeing a 1.5 million-dollar road budget opened the door to a potentially sticky situation.   April 2026 Episode Transcript – Smooth Asphalt, Slippery Ethics [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/podcasttranscripts/OhioEthicsCommission_VoiceOfEthics26-04A_Driveway_transcript.pdf]   Referenced and relevant materials The Private Sector Fact Sheet [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/factsheets/ThePrivateSector.pdf] Gifts and Other Things of Value Fact Sheet [https://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicslaw/factsheets/GiftsandOtherThingsofValue.pdf]   Stories? Show ideas? We're listening! E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov [susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov]