a. Public office and employment are a public trust;

b. The vitality and stability of representative democracy depend upon the public’s confidence in the integrity of its elected and appointed representatives;

c. Whenever the public perceives a conflict between the private interests and the public duties of a government officer or employee, that confidence is imperiled;

d. Governments have the duty both to provide their citizens with standards by which they may determine whether public duties are being faithfully performed, and to apprise their officers and employees of the behavior which is expected of them while conducting their public duties; and

e. It is the purpose of this act to provide a method of assuring that standards of ethical conduct and financial disclosure requirements for local government officers and employees shall be clear, consistent, uniform in their application, and enforceable on a Statewide basis, and to provide local officers or employees with advice and information concerning possible conflicts of interest which might arise in the conduct of their public duties.

L.1991,c.29,s.2.