Code of Ethics.

Wilmington City Code § 2-341

in effect

Sec. 2-341. - Code of Ethics. (a) Each city employee, elected official, appointed official and honorary official shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct which will not raise any justifiable suspicion among the public that he or she is engaging in acts which are in violation of his or her public trust and which course of conduct will not reflect unfavorably upon the city and its government. (b) No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official shall have any interest in any private enterprise nor shall he or she incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties in the public interest. No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official shall accept other employment, any compensation, gift, payment of expenses or any other thing of monetary value under circumstances in which such acceptance may result in any of the following: (1) Impairment of independence of judgment in the exercise of official duties; (2) An undertaking to give preferential treatment to any person; (3) The making of a governmental decision outside official channels; or (4) Any adverse effect on the confidence of the public in the integrity of the government of the city. (c) No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official shall acquire a financial interest in any private enterprise which he or she has reason to believe may be directly involved in decisions to be made by him or her in an official capacity on behalf of the city. (d) Reserved. (e) No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official shall use his or her public office to secure unwarranted privileges, private advancement or gain. (f) No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official shall engage in any activity beyond the scope of his or her public position which might reasonably be expected to require or induce him or her to disclose confidential information acquired by him or her by reason of his or her public position. (g) No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official shall, beyond the scope of his or her public position, disclose confidential information gained by reason of his or her public position nor shall he or she otherwise use such information for personal gain or benefit. (h) No city employee, elected official, appointed official or honorary official, in the course of his or her public responsibilities, shall use the granting of sexual favors as a condition, either explicit or implicit, for an individual's favorable treatment by that person or the city. (i) Elected officials are obligated to uphold the fundamental legal principles of our system of government. No elected official shall knowingly fail to uphold those legal principles as set forth in the Constitution of the United States, the state constitution and the city charter, as well as, all applicable provisions of federal, state and local law and court decisions, and any such knowing failure shall constitute malfeasance in office. (Ord. No. 92-073(sub 1), § 1(20-106), 11-5-92; Ord. No. 18-043, § 6, 10-4-18)

Source: City of Wilmington, Delaware, City Code, City Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/de/wilmington/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIWICO_CH2AD_ARTVDEAGCROR_DIV6CIETRE_S2-341COETFetched: 11/6/2026