Three new Ethics Commissioners have been selected by the Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel and will be sworn in on Aug. 6, 2015, at the ethics commission monthly meeting.
The appointees are Wyandotte County residents who will serve a four-year term. The new commissioners were selected to serve on the Ethics Commission for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County-Kansas City, Kan., by an Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel.
The new members of the Ethics Commission:
David K. Duckers, attorney, from the Law office Horner and Duckers, Chartered. Duckers has resided in Wyandotte County for more than 60 years. He graduated from Bishop Ward High School, graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in accounting, and graduated from Washburn Law School with a juris doctorate. He has practiced law for 41 years.
He has served as the city prosecutor and as the municipal judge for the city of Kansas City, Kan. He has also served as a trustee for the Kansas City Kansas Community College and chairman of the Park Board for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County -KCK.
Jerry Fiscus, retired from the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department after spending 31 years on the police force. He spent the last six years working as a U.S. marshal with the FBI. He has an associate degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College. He spent four years in the Air Force prior to joining the police department. He is active in his neighborhood as a watchdog for problems and notifying the appropriate officials.
Chiquita R. Wilson, currently serving in the Air Force reserves, she has been a resident of Wyandotte County for 34 years. She has worked with Harmon Diabetes Center for more than 20 years. She worked at Allied Signal and is currently an outreach director for her church. Wilson volunteers for Kansas City Literacy Center and various organizations with her church.
Currently serving on the Ethics Commission:
George A. Kemper Sr., is a co-pastor of Ebenezer Christian Fellowship Church. He has more than 28 years in law enforcement and retired in 2009. He is a graduate from Washington High School, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and Carver Baptist Bible College. He received two Distinguished Service Awards, was Selected Officer of the Year in 2002, and has several Commendations for Service to the department and the community. He has been married for 35 years and has four children.
Kemper has been appointed the chairman for the Unified Government Ethic Commission.
Anthony “Tony” Villegas, retired from the Board of Public Utilities after 25 years of service. He was appointed to the Kansas Human Rights Commission by Gov. Sebelius and Brownback for eight years. He was a member of Hispanic Media Association Scholarship Fund 15 years. He has served as commissioner of the Kansas City, Kan., Housing authority eight years, board member of El Centro four years, the second vice president for El Centro four years, board member of Bishop Ward High School six years, and committee member for the Board of Public Utilities United Way campaign. Villegas has resided in Wyandotte County for 50-plus years.
The Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel is composed of R. Wayne Lampson, chief judge of the Wyandotte County District Court; Jerome Gorman, district attorney of Wyandotte County, and Thomas L. Wiss, legislative auditor of Wyandotte County.
Members of the Ethics Commission are unpaid and must be a Wyandotte County resident and be of good moral standing and reputation.
The purpose of the Ethics Commission is to recommend ways to improve the Unified Government’s Ethics Code, to review and report on any and all violations of the Code of Ethics, to render advisory opinions on questions of ethics, conflicts of interest and the applicability of the Code of Ethics.
Ruth Benien, ethics administrator of the Unified Government, serves as staff to the Ethics Commission.