The Charles County Ethics Commission is a Charles County agency which was established under the provisions of the County Ethics Law, Code of Charles County, Chapter 170. The County Ethics Law was passed by the County Commissioners in 1982 under a requirement of the State legislature of all Maryland counties, cities, towns and boards of education. If any local jurisdiction failed to pass a local law,it automatically would be covered by the State Ethics Law. The original State Ethics Law was passed in 1979.

The Commission is made up of five members. Of these members, one member shall be appointed by the Charles County Bar Association, who shall be a member of the Association. The County Commissioners of Charles County shall appoint the remaining four members. The Commission elects its own Chairman. This Board is staffed by an attorney from the County Attorney's Office, who also serves as the legal adviser, and a legal assistant, who acts as Clerk.

• Charles County Code Chapter 170 (Ethics Code)
• Bill No. 2011-08
• Ethics Commission Complaint Form
• Financial Disclosure Forms:
  • Form 1 (County Elected Officials, Candidate for County Office, County Administrator, County Attorney, County Department Heads, Board of Appeals, Board of Electrical Examiners, and Board of License Commissioners, Planning Commission and Housing Authority Board) 
  • Form 2 (Qualifying Employees & Appointed Members of Boards and Commissions, other than those required by Financial Disclosure Statement – Form 1)
  • Form 3 (Recertification of Financial Disclosure Form)
• Rules and Procedures
• Lobbying Registration Information & Forms

Contact Name: County Attorney’s Office
Phone: 301-645-0555
Email: ethicscommission@charlescounty.org

Mission Statement

"It is the mission of the Charles County Ethics Commission to ensure Charles County officials and employees are knowledgeable about and comply with the Code of Ethics. This is accomplished by:

• Providing Ethics Code education to county officials and employees;
• Providing advisory opinions regarding the applicability of the code; and
• Investigation of alleged violations of the Ethics Code".

Duties and Responsibilities

The basic duties and responsibilities of the Charles County Ethics Commission are:

1. To respond to inquiries, requests for exemptions and complaints of violations;
2. To make recommendations to the County Commissioners for amendments to the Ethics Ordinance;
3. To devise, receive and review annual financial statements and other forms generated by the Ordinance;

To conduct public information programs as to the purpose and application of the Ethics Code for the Charles County officials and employees and for the general public.

Commission Members

• Shara Hendler, Chair 
• Christopher Nickerson, Vice Chair
• Cecelia Miller
• Maxine Somerville
• Angel Riley
• Tanika Whittington 
• Sarah Hazeltine
• Wes Adams, Attorney
• Linda Price, Charles County Government Staff
• Melody Weschler, Charles County Government Staff