Williams hits on ethics and government reform in policy paper

In a policy paper released Monday, State Sen. Anthony Williams said if elected mayor he would build upon the ethics reforms instituted by Mayor Nutter but also take new steps to improve campaign finance and government accountability.

Williams said the use of new technology would be key to achieving many of his goals, saying cities across the country are implementing technology "in ways that dramatically reduce costs, improve performance and provide data that closes the information chasm between government and its citizens."

"Full and proactive transparency is the hallmark of a citizen-centered approach to governance, and will be the modus operandi of a Williams Administration," he said

Here are some highlights from the three-section paper, titled "A City-Centered, Transparent and Ethical One Philadelphia."

A Transparent, Citizen-Centered Government: Williams said residents do not have the ability to search city expenditures down to the penny, and he would seek to build credibility with Philadelphians by making budgetary information more easily accessible.

He also said he would explore the use of manned and unmanned city service kiosks that would be placed in schools, libraries and recreation centers and allow citizens to conduct city business without having to travel to government offices. He said citizens should be able to complete all city-related business online, with every paper form having an online equivalent.

Enhancing Integrity and Ethical Government: Williams said he would use an executive order to reauthorize the city's chief integrity officer and inspector general positions and push for an amendment to the City Charter to make the inspector general a permanent post. He said he would ban nepotism in city government and also, by executive order, ban executive and administrative branch employees from employment with companies that do business with the city.

He said he would work to implement a whistleblower policy that further protects city employees who report wrongdoing.

Campaign Finance Reform: Williams said he would seek to change contribution limits from calendar year to election cycle, a reform he said was recommended in a 2009 report by the city's Task Force on Campaign Finance and Ethics. He said the current structure hurts challengers and structuring the limits by election cycle would keep incumbents from stockpiling resources during their first three years in office.

He also said he would improve the city's campaign finance database so it is more accessible to the public.

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