What We Do
The State Ethics Commission is responsible for interpreting and administering the State Government Ethics Act, including issuing formal advisory opinions, administering the financial disclosure process (Statement of Economic Interest or “SEI” filings), providing education for individuals covered by the Ethics Act, and investigating complaints alleging a violation of the Ethics Act or Lobbying Law. The Commission also interprets all provisions of the Lobbying Law and shares enforcement authority over the Lobbying Law with the Secretary of State’s office.
More information about the Commission's jurisdiction.
Who We Are
The State Ethics Commission
The State Ethics Commission consists of eight members, four Republicans and four Democrats. Four members are appointed by the Governor and four members are appointed by the General Assembly, two upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and two upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House.
| Name | Term Expires | Appointed by | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| William H. Freeman, Chair (D) | 12/31/25 | Governor | Forsyth |
| James L. Baker (R), Vice-Chair | 12/31/27 | Governor | Madison |
| Vacant (R) | 12/31/26 | President Pro Tempore | |
| Thomas J. Keith (R) | 12/31/25 | Governor | Forsyth |
| R. Lee Farmer (D) | 12/31/28 | Senate President Pro Tempore | Caswell |
| Renee Robinson (D) | 12/31/27 | Governor | Wake |
| Vacant (D) | 12/31/28 | Speaker of the House | |
| Lawrence Yarborough (R) | 12/31/26 | Speaker of the House | Person |
Commission Staff
| Name | Duties |
|---|---|
| Kathleen S. Edwards | Executive Director, Advisory Opinions |
| Aaron Harris | Compliance Analyst, SEI Unit |
| Jameson Marks | Counsel, Investigations |
| Tracey Powell | Reception, Education Assistant |
| Angela Pryor | Compliance Analyst, SEI Unit |
| Mary Roerden | Manager, SEI Unit |
| Susanne Sing | Compliance Analyst, SEI Unit (MPO/RPO) |
| David Smyth | Counsel, Education |
| Jane Steffens | Sr. Compliance Analyst, SEI Unit |
| Katie Stephan | Paralegal, Investigations |
Commission Meetings
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the State Ethics Commission will be held on August 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Please check back in August for more details.
Office Location
The Commission's offices are located at the Capehart-Crocker House.