Erin LaPere
Member, Ethics Committee
Tenet 3 of the ICMA Code of Ethics: “Demonstrate by word and action the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all public, professional, and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the trust and respect of the elected and appointed officials, employees, and the public.”
Ethical conduct is the bedrock of our profession. The ICMA code of ethics has existed since 1924 and provided the foundation to the success of the city manager form of government. While we periodically update our Code of Ethics to adapt to the dramatic changes seen in the world, technology, and our daily roles over the last century, the core principles of accountability and integrity remain. These principles serve as guideposts to us as professionals and help to ensure that we act in a consistent, equitable manner and provide assurance to the public that our political processes are fair and transparent. Ensuring our local government structure is free of corruption is a core responsibility as leaders of our respective organizations.
What type of organization do you want to lead? Each of us could generate a list of a community’s qualities that would make a local government management role the “ideal job.” Likely, none of us work for this imagined utopia; however, we can each do our part to help our municipality be closer to that ideal. An ethical organization is not created by one person, but requires a commitment to ethical actions at every position/role. Alternatively, our community’s reputation and the reputation of public service generally can be destroyed by one bad actor. This is one of the reasons why it is critical that we emulate, maintain, and reinforce a culture of ethical behavior. Often, we think of ethical conduct in a big, headline-worthy way—corruption, kickbacks, and the like—but it is typically a series of small missteps and poor choices that lead people and organizations astray. However, an organization-wide culture of ethics will help identify and root out those minor infractions because everyone will feel responsibility for upholding those higher standards. An ethical organization will also attract and retain ethical employees, which will serve to reinforce those standards.
As its highest administrative official, we are ultimately responsible for our organization. The fish rots from the head, as the saying goes. So, it is important that we ask ourselves, who do our employees want to work for? Is it me? Taking the time to reflect upon past choices and truly examine our own actions may feel like a luxury in a world where we are constantly bombarded by emergent issues, deadlines, projects, emails, and on and on. It is a necessity. We are all imperfect people and as such, we have made mistakes. Taking the time to acknowledge those shortcomings and striving to improve is a critical piece of supporting our own ethical behavior, the ethics of our organization, and the ethics of our profession. I have found that having a mentor or colleague to talk through decisions, reflect on past choices, and seek out better options for future decisions is invaluable.
Finally, it is important we do not simply fall back on “easy” answers. As we all know, just because something is legal does not mean it is moral, ethical, or the right thing to do. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct. Demonstrate every day, in every action, that behavior which we expect of our organization. We must be leaders.
Erin LaPere
Member, Ethics Committee
Deputy Township Manager, Delta Charter Township
Erin was born and raised in southeast Michigan. She graduated cum laude from Eastern Michigan University in 2006 with a Bachelor of science in English language. She began her public service career in 2006 with the Village of Beverly Hills. During her 14 years there, she held progressively responsible roles and responsibilities. In April 2020, she completed her mater’s of public administration and policy from University of Michigan – Dearborn with High Distinction. She relocated to the mid-Michigan area in January 2021 after she was appointed city manager for the City of Charlotte where she served for two and half years before taking her current role. She has served as deputy township manager for Delta Charter Township since August 2023 and looks forward to a lengthy tenure in the community.
She has two children, a dog, 16 chickens and four pet fish. She enjoys reading and doing jigsaw puzzles. She, her husband, and children love to travel, and they frequently take trips around lower Michigan and the UP to go camping and fishing.