Dana Muscott | Ethics Committee Chair
I am both honored and excited to serve as the Ethics Committee chair for the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) in 2025. This is a role I take with great responsibility, and I look forward to working closely with all of you to continue fostering high ethical standards in local government across our state.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Ethics Committee, many of whom will be continuing their service in 2025. Their ongoing dedication and hard work have been vital to the success of our efforts, and I am grateful for their continued commitment. A special thank you goes to the previous Ethics Committee chair, Juan Ganum, whose leadership in advancing our ethical framework has laid a strong foundation for our continued success. I am incredibly appreciative of the Committee’s tireless efforts, and I look forward to working with them in the year ahead. Additionally, I would like to welcome and express my excitement about working alongside the incoming members. With their fresh perspectives and commitment, I am confident that we will continue to strengthen the integrity and ethical standards of local government and build on the success of those who have come before us.
As we look ahead, one of the most pressing ethical issues we face in local government today is the management of conflicts of interest. Municipal leaders often find themselves in situations where personal interests, financial ties, or relationships might unintentionally impact their decision-making. Ensuring clear policies and transparency is key in addressing this challenge. It is essential that we continue to uphold standards that ensure officials act in the best interests of their communities, free from undue influence.
Another critical issue is maintaining transparency in decision-making. As technology advances and public access to government data increases, citizens expect greater clarity about how decisions are made. The ethical challenge here is not just ensuring the right decisions are made but also communicating those decisions effectively to the public.
Together, we can continue to address these and other ethical challenges head-on. I encourage all of you to share your experiences and insights as we work to promote ethical leadership throughout Michigan’s local governments.
I look forward to working with all of you this year, and once again, I thank Juan Ganum for his invaluable leadership of the Ethics Committee. Here’s to another year of ethical excellence!
Dana Muscott
Chair, Ethics Committee
City Manager, Bay City
City manager for the City of Bay City since 2017, Dana has worked in local government for over 30 years. She began her career in Bay City as city clerk in 2000 and in 2004 was promoted to deputy city manager, where she served for 13 years. In 2014, Dana earned the prestigious Certified Michigan Municipal Clerk status, after obtaining her Master Municipal Clerk status in 2005. She served as president for the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and later was named the 2015 Clerk of the Year by the same organization. She is also a past president of the Bay County Clerks. With a focus on continued education and leadership development, Dana is a graduate of the Great Lakes Bay Region Leadership Institute and Leadership Saginaw County. While attending Saginaw Valley State University, Dana became a Certified Public Manager as well as a graduate of the Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy. She has served as a board member for several organizations, including the Michigan Municipal Executives, Bay Future, Bay County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and more. In addition to these leadership roles, Dana is a member of the Bay City Noon Optimist Club and volunteers with other organizations in her community.