Detroit’s Ethics System Under Fire as Mary Sheffield Faces First Test as Mayor-elect
Government ethics experts said the board should have advised Sheffield to disclose her relationship with McKinney to maintain public confidence in the contracting process.
“The board interpreted the law really narrowly,” said Davina Hurt, director of the Government Ethics Program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. “All ethicists understand the spirit of the law is to preserve public trust and avoid even the appearance of impropriety."
Davina Hurt, director, government ethics, quoted by Detroit Free Press (article behind paywall).
Nov 19, 2025