I have been a resident of Marshfield for a significant part of my life, and I care deeply about our community and its progress. Like many of you, I am a believer in the power of transparent governance that truly reflects the values and the interests of its constituents.

This petition calls for the implementation of an ethics oath for all elected non-partisan officials in Marshfield. This oath should essentially serve as a commitment, compelling these officials to uphold moral and ethical standards while making decisions for our town. It's a simple yet significant step to ensure that every decision is made keeping Marshfield's best interest at its core.

Furthermore, to increase transparency, this petition calls for another necessary change - clear recording and reporting of all campaign donations and endorsements. These records should be filed with city clerk within each individual's campaign papers. Although campaign finance laws mandate disclosures like this in many places, Marshfield needs to adopt this practice immediately. This is not just about holding politicians accountable, it is also about knowing who we are voting for.

With the advent of dark money in politics, the Center for Public Integrity reported that at least 15 states have Loopholes "Literally, you could have millions of dollars flow in and out of an election and nobody would know," said Sarah Brune, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. [1]

Let's empower ourselves as citizens and voters. It's time to press for transparency and ethics in our local government. Sign this petition to support these much-needed reforms in Marshfield.

(Source: Center for Public Integrity)