Council on Governmental Ethics Laws

Staying Steady In Trying Times

As COGEL members, we are charged with administering programs that reinforce good governance. This work does not occur in a vacuum. In today’s world we are experiencing strained national and international relations, low trust in government, and increasing threats against government employees. This panel will talk about challenges members face with a focus on how they are coping and keeping up morale. We will also hear about tools to cope and manage stress around these concerns from a licensed therapist and seek feedback on ways COGEL can help.

Please note: There will be a Q&A section. Attendee cameras and microphones will be off. There will not be breakout rooms.

Panelists

Marissa Krupat

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Marissa Krupat is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with a passion for supporting adults through life's transitions, including relationship challenges, prenatal/postpartum issues, grief and loss, and feelings of anxiety and depression. She is dedicated to creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions and gain insight into how early life experiences shape current patterns and beliefs. Prior to becoming a therapist, Marissa worked at the Los Angeles Unified School District, providing training and development for classified staff and serving as an ethics advisor to help build the public’s trust in public education.

Ethan Watson

JD, City Clerk, City of Albuquerque

Ethan Watson is an Albuquerque native who joined the City in 2018 as the Deputy City Clerk where he centralized and streamlined the City’s process for handling requests for public records under the Inspection of Public Records Act. In 2020, Mr. Watson was confirmed by the City Council as the City Clerk where he continues to improve the City’s IPRA response process, use data and analytics to drive digitization and publication of public records.

Brian Hamilton

General Counsel, Missouri Ethics Commission

Brian Hamilton joined the MEC in 2016 as the Staff Attorney. In 2021, he was promoted to Compliance and Education Manager, overseeing campaign finance, personal financial disclosure, lobbyist reporting, and training. In 2022, he became General Counsel, directing legal operations, providing legal advice and representation to the Commission and its staff.

Jared DeMarinis

State Administrator of Elections, Maryland State Board of Elections

Jared DeMarinis is Maryland's State Administrator of Elections. Previously, he served for 18 years as the Director of Candidacy and Campaign Finance. In that position, he took a proactive approach to election administration in campaign finance making Maryland a model state for the use of new technologies by campaigns, campaign disclosure and enforcement. Jared has also served as an election observer in Estonia, North Macedonia, and Armenia.

Co-Moderators

Candies Pruitt

Staff Counsel, Massachusetts State Ethics Commission

Candies Pruitt is a staff counsel for the Enforcement Division of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission. She has many years experience enforcing the Massachusetts Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure laws, which apply to state, county and municipal elected and non-elected officials. Prior to joining the Ethics Commission, she was an attorney for the City of Somerville and an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Dan Volkosh

Senior Associate Director, University of Minnesota

Dan Volkosh joined the University of Minnesota in 2021 and currently serves as the Senior Associate Director of Data Access and Privacy within the University’s Office of the General Counsel. He primarily responds to the 2,000+ public data requests the University receives each year and he oversees a systemwide policy on records management. Before joining the University, Dan worked in election administration and campaign finance regulation in Colorado. Dan received his BA from St. Bonaventure University and his JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.