Metro Council Will Have to Disclose More Info to State

For the first time, local elected officials will have to turn in financial disclosures forms to the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

Legislation enacted last year required local governments to set up their own ethics rules and disclosures. But there are differences between the state’s disclosure requirements and Metro’s, for instance. The state requires that elected officials report their spouses’ jobs and financial information – details that Metro council members stripped out of their proposal last year.

Councilman David Briley was one of the sponsors of Metro’s ethics bill. He wanted to keep the spousal disclosure requirements.

“The bottom line for me was including spouses and minor children living with the elected official gives the community a clear indication of any conflict of interest that the elected official might have.”

The bill was ultimately passed without those requirements. Councilman Charlie Tygard sponsored the amendment which removed them.

“We’re putting so many obstacles in place that I’m concerned eventually that it may discourage people from running. Especially if one spouse where confidentiality of client lists and who you represent and what not is splattered all over the page.”

The deadline for forms to be submitted to the Tennessee Ethics Commission is January 31st.