At its February 25 meeting, the ICMA Executive Board voted to publicly censure Lehman Walker, city manager of University City, Missouri, and barred him from rejoining ICMA.

While working for another local government, Walker communicated with a University City council member and mayoral candidate about city business; made comments criticizing the University City manager’s performance; and did not inform the University City manager about the discussions. Walker also sent his résumé to the mayoral candidate shortly before the election. Finally, Walker failed to fulfill his ethical obligation to serve a two-year tenure by resigning from his position after working for only nine months in order to return to University City as its city manager. The board concluded that Walker’s conduct violated Tenets 2, 3, and 4 of the ICMA Code of Ethics.

ICMA members should not have ongoing communications about local government matters with elected officials in another local government when there is an incumbent manager. In order not to undermine a colleague, ICMA members should inform their colleagues about such communications and then cease further interactions. Members should not initiate the conversations either. Furthermore, unless they experience extenuating circumstances, ICMA members should remain with a local government for a minimum of two years in order to provide a professional service to that community.

Members who have questions about their ethical obligations under the ICMA Code of Ethics or who are seeking confidential advice are encouraged to contact Martha Perego, ICMA director of ethics,at 202-962-3668, mperego@icma.org; or Jared Dailey, program manager, at 202-962-3557, jdailey@icma.org.