North Dakota Ethics Commission looks to speed up complaint process

BISMARCK — The group in charge of making sure North Dakota’s government leaders and elected officials are ethically fulfilling their duties is looking for input about changes to its complaint process.

The Ethics Commission was formed in 2019 after North Dakota voters approved a constitutional ballot measure to establish an entity responsible for holding government officials accountable and ensuring transparency in their operations. It's comprised of three staffers, including Executive Director Rebecca Binstock, and four commissioners.

Part of the group’s duties involves fielding complaints from members of the public who believe their state and local leaders committed an ethical violation.

Violations within the commission’s jurisdiction are mostly tied to elections, corruption and lobb