THE VIRGINIA WAY FORWARD

SUMMARY REPORT
JUNE 8, 2016

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT GROUP VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

L. DOUGLAS WILDER SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS P.O. BOX 843024
1014 W. FRANKLIN STREET RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23284 804.828.8845 WWW.PMG.VCU.EDU

BACKGROUND
On June 8, 2016 representatives of government, government affiliated organizations, and businesses
engaged with government attended a one-day program sponsored by The Skidmore Center for Ethics
and Public Policy and Virginia FREE. The goal was to provide a forum for leaders from multiple sectors to
come together and participate in an interactive dialogue that would lay the groundwork for making Virginia a national leader in the ethical engagement between business and politics.
The days activities were designed to build on existing strengths and use recent history as an opportunity
for discussion and reflection. It was also hoped that we would be able to provide the right environment
for participants to work together to understand and establish foundations for future conversations. The
overarching goal was that this and future conversations will lead to greater consensus about shared
principles related to ethics in business and government, best practices, and steps to promote a national
conversation. The intent is for these dialogues to advance the quality of the relationship between business and government in an honest and non-partisan manner, promoting both the economic and political
future of the country. Clearly, there was a great deal of energy and enthusiasm for the topic. The discussions were lively and delved deeply into the key issues.
The event was sponsored by McGuire Woods Consulting and Virginia FREE. Dr. James M. Burke and Ms.
Linda Pierce of the Performance Management Group within the Center for Public Policy in the L. Douglas
Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs of Virginia Commonwealth University facilitated the session and prepared this report.
OPENING COMMENTS AND THEMES FROM THE REFLECTION ACTIVITIES
Chris Saxman of Virginia FREE welcomed the attendees, presented an overview of the session, and introduced the facilitators. Jim and Linda then began an introductory activity, asking each participant to
reflect on why it is important for him/her to be a part of this conversation. One by one each participant
recorded their responses on large sticky sheets and then read their response to the group as they introduced themselves.
A summary of the core themes from the participants responses is listed below with the complete list
contained in the Appendix.
Question: What Is Motivating You to Participate in This Conversation?
Core Themes:

Improve ethics in Virginia and the image of the commonwealth

Restore faith in government and enhance public trust

Gain a perspective on business-related concerns

Listen to an hear others perspectives

Restore Virginias status as a leader in political ethics

Avoid doing something wrong (by better understanding laws and definitions)

Elevate the topic of ethics and its importance

During a group debrief and open dialogue many participants commented on the similarity of motivators
for attending the session and engaging in dialogue on ethics. The discussion generated energy, consensus, and commitment to promoting dialogue, policy, and practice that exemplifies Virginia as a leader in
governing with a high standard for ethical practice.

ETHICS DEFINED
Jim and Linda then introduced an activity designed to understand the various interpretations of the
term ethics what ethical practice looks like operationally. Each participant was asked to consider
how he/she would define ethics. The key themes of the responses are presented below and the entire list is contained in the Appendix.
Question: What Do We Mean by Ethics?
Core Themes:

The pursuit of truth

Instilling morals (in those affiliated with government and business)

Transparency in conducting governance, lobbying, and business

Being held accountable for ethical actions

Communication between all stakeholders

Honesty and integrity of actions

Open access to data and information

Mutual respect among stakeholders

The floor was then opened for a final general discussion about the responses and what The Virginia
Way Forward should be. Participants voiced excitement about continuing conversations regarding ethics and expressed a desire, as a next step, to continue the momentum going and advance the concepts
discussed. The participants were in agreement about moving toward a consensus based written framework to guide the commonwealths ethical motto and practice.

Final Comments and Suggested Next Steps

1. Excellent energy and dialogue. Throughout the event, there was a consistently high level of energy around the topics discussed and, at the end, a strong interest in continuing the dialogue
and clarifying what the Virginia Way means in practical terms.

2. Keep the focus on ethics and expand the audience even further. There was clear agreement
on the need to keep the focus on ethics and to grow the audience to include more people in
government and who interact with government through commerce.

3. Expand the link to business. Many people discussed business-related concerns and perspectives. Ongoing discussions regarding the intersection between business and government and
the transparent and ethical conduct of that relationship are central to Virginia FREEs mission.
One legislator commented that understanding the perspective of business is very important to
him. Another participant noted that it is critical to advance the quality of the relationship between government and business. We recommend that Virginia FREE host some focused dialogues that bring business and government together to establish a framework for managing this
sometimes thorny ethical terrain.

4. Special session for lobbyists. Some lobbyists present indicated that there would be tremendous
value in bringing their colleagues together for a similar event. Some reported that they have a
more informal set of ethical understandings, but would like to see this formalized more so and
ensure that their colleagues lived up to the unspoken mores.

5. Proceed with discussions on a Virginia Way Award. The Executive Committee of Virginia
FREE seems ready to establish a Virginia Way Award to acknowledge those who are leading in
a way that is consistent with the emerging sense of what the Virginia Way means. It could
help to solidify the concept of such a way by pointing to the people who demonstrate the Virginia Way through their actions. Stories, as well all know, can be more powerful that academic
definitions.

Appendix
Agenda

The Virginia Way Forward

JUNE 8, 2016
This highly interactive dialogue will lay the groundwork for making Virginia a national leader in the ethical engagement between business and politics. Building on existing strengths and using recent history as an opportunity,
participants will establish the foundations for future conversations where they will be able to come to greater consensus about shared principles related to ethics in business and government, best practices, and steps to promote
a national conversation. The overarching goal of these dialogues is to advance the quality of the relationship between business and government in an honest and non-partisan manner, promoting both the economic and political future of the country.
Facilitated by James M. Burke and Linda Pierce of VCUs Performance Management Group, Center for Public Policy
in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
8:30 A.M.

Registration and Coffee

9:00 A.M.

Welcome

9:15 A.M.

What Is Motivating You to Participate in this Conversation?

10:00 A.M.

What Do We Mean by Ethics?

10:30 A.M.

Break

10:45 A.M.

What Should The Virginia Way Look Like?

11:30 A.M.

Next Steps

11:45 A.M.

Break

12:00 P.M.

Lunch w/ Special Guests Congressmen Tom Davis and Martin Frost

1:30 P.M.

Close

Participant Responses: What Is Motivating You to Participate in this Conversation?

The opportunity to learn about a topic under fire and how to combat it with how I accomplish
my work

Hope to improve ethics in Virginia and its image and avoid further leg.

Support for Virginia FREE

o

Opportunity to engage community to move Virginia government in better direction

Trust

Cooperation

Collegiality

Can we suspend our goals for the pursuit of the greater good?
o

Goals and self-interests seem to be inspiring some to be biasedand bias can lead to
questionable interpretation

Interest in restoring the faith in government

Improve ethical climate and public discourse in government

Personal ethics for both lobbyists and policy makers

No difference (between honesty, truth integrity)

Restore public trust

To get a perspective on business-related concerns as a legislator

I wanted to observe/participate in the process of governing with those who are doing it every
day

Motivation to participate
o

Chris Saxmen and Virginia FREE

To learn something

I would like to help take the Commonwealth to a better place with public policy development
and the ethics around it

Im here today to improve my understanding of ethics applied to judicial profession. I am an

administrative law judge who last took an ethics course over 10 years ago. Ethics cases have become more complex for judges as well as prosecutors in government

Hear others perspectives on challenges they face

Contribute to the conversation on the role of laws/regulations or behaviorwith elected officials or others.

I am curious to know what others are thinking about the topic as I get more involved in government and politics. (Too many in government have found themselves in sticky situations with
very few black and white guidelines, it seems.)

Help restore Virginias status as a leader in political ethics. Hear from national and state leaders

Update on subject

Reconfirm doing the right thing

I wanted to better understand the complicated relationship between business and ethics so that
I can communicate it and teach it to others

Ethics is a complicated and often misunderstood topic to the general public and we should engage in these conversations so we can better educate them.

Its important for us to acknowledge that the public doesnt trust us

I am here today because, as a businessman who has decided to seek elected service, I thought I
may learn something about the truth I didnt already know. The essence of ethics is the truth.

To learn more about Virginia FREE and support important work Chris is leading. Seeing change is
difficult!

Ethics has been in the forefront of public discussion in recent years as never before

So important to Virginia in every way and important to Virginia FREE

Gather information in order to avoid doing something wrong

Advance the quality of relationship between government and business

Frustrated by current situation; trust has been lost

See the need for reform

Serve on house ethics panel

Elected officials must be held accountable by their constituents

Always good to hear about ethics and reinforce important value

Performance Management Group

Reinforce a core value of my company.

I came today because if the foundation of politics and ethics is not solid everything else built on
it wont be as strong.

Restoring the Virginia Way in future generations.

Elevate the topic of ethics and its importance

To change the perception of the role of government and its actors

Its a timely topic for Virginia and many of us have concerns for the reputation of Virginia. Sad,
but as a lobbyist since 1974it is not fun anymore. Too much concern with politics instead of
policy and being seen as politically correct.

Participant Responses: What is Ethics?

Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

Knowing better and doing it anyway- un-ethical

Ethical legal

Access vs. influence

Moral; principles that govern personal behavior

Cultural differences in ethics (custom)

Legal vs. ethical

Socioeconomic differences

Unethical behavior frowned on by political colleagues

Pursuit of truth over pursuit of winning

New Virginia Way:

o

Transparency

Accountability

Working for the common good

Communication

Elected officials of character

Trust to be honest, do the right thing

Corruptiontaking money/compensation to do something you wouldnt have done

otherwise

Elected officials of high character and expected them to act accordingly

Personal commitment

Standards to provide guidance and a framework for ethical behavior.

Taught/learned (under fire!)

Duty to serve

Not financial gain

Not a career but not enough salary

Honor code in Virginia institutions with increasing influence from new Virginians and those outside of Virginia

Sunshine
o

(rethink) no contribution limits

Core Values

Selflessness

Listening

Admitting mistakes

Gentlemens agreement that the greater good action for the commonwealth carries the day
o

Sacrifice

Leadership courage

Accept short term prize for long term gain

Look for and encourage teamwork

Strength in numbers

Ethics are driven internally to individuals

Ethics are learned

Interpersonal relationships influence our sense of what is ethical

Ethics are different than rules

Transparency
o

Monetary contributions

Honesty
o

Tell the truth

Dont mislead

Consistency in working with others- colleagues, competitions, opponents

Courtesy and respect

Maintain confidences

Where is the line?

Right vs. Wrong

Gray area

Ethical vs. legal

10

Trustworthiness/perception

Personal decision

Media influence

Judgement

Personal

More transparency and access to data is important

Everybody has a lobbyist

Basis law; constitution

Reputation for greater good

Mutual respect, honesty, collaboration, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency

Issues over party

Citizen legislature brings characteristics

Morals are instilled ethics in what one does

Everyone has the right to representation

Your word is your bond

Was: self-regulating, classified: disclosed. Collegial

Related conversation has ended due to partisan and ethical restrictions - cant accept a ride to
a meeting

Should be: transparent, accessible

Schapiro rule- do I want my action to land in Jeffs column?

Accountability

Creates a structure that is self-policy

Ethics: moral principles that guide/ govern personal behavior

o

Knowing better and doing it anyway equals unethical

Cultural differences
o

ethics equals customs

Legal/illegal vs. ethical/unethical

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

11

Legislate ethics as far as you can- still might be a gap between law and behavior-decided by voters

Access vs. influence

Transparency

Accountability

Working for common good

Communication

Elect officials of character

o

Trust them to be honest and do the right thing

Unethical behavior frowned on by colleagues

Pursuit of truth

Personal and cultural behavior to do the right thing even when no one is looking and there is no
bright line right answer

Reach across aisle

Work to common good

Ask-further your own or public agenda

Voluntary-unwritten code of conduct/ self-policing

12