About the Council

The Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council was established by law to encourage and facilitate compliance with the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act, the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act, "the Acts," and the lobbying laws of the Commonwealth.

Among other duties, the Council is tasked with providing training and guidance, issuing formal advisory opinions to those required to comply with the above laws, and facilitating the timely and accurate electronic filing of disclosure reports. The Council also submits an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor on its findings and makes recommendations to changes in law.

The Council shall hold meetings upon the call of the chair or whenever the majority of the members requests a meeting.

Check the Meetings page to see the dates and times for upcoming meetings or to review the minutes from previous meetings.

Annual Reports

The Council is required to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year on its activities and findings regarding the law it is charged to administer, including recommendations for changes in the laws.

The most recent report can be found here. 

Governing Statutes

Members

The Council is made up of nine members. Legislative members and executive branch employees serve terms concurrent with their term of office and non-legislative members serve four year terms. The Speaker of the House of Delegates appoints two legislative members (one from each of the two majority parties represented in the House) and one former judge. The Senate Committee on Rules appoints two legislative members (one from each of the two majority parties represented in the Senate) and one former judge. The Governor appoints a current or former executive branch employee, one from a list of nominees submitted by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO), and one from a list of nominees submitted by the Virginia Municipal League (VML). Legislative members can be reappointed to successive terms.

Speaker of the House Appointees

  • Delegate M. Keith Hodges
  • Delegate Vivian E. Watts
  • The Honorable Westbrook J. Parker

  • Senate Committee on Rules Appointees

  • Senator Richard H. Stuart
    The Honorable Malfourd W. Trumbo, Chair

  • Gubernatorial Appointees
    John C. Blair
    Denise B. Burch
    Adam Kinsman

  • Staff Contact

    G. Stewart Petoe
    Executive Director
    Email: spetoe@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1845

    Rebekah Stefanski
    Senior Attorney
    Email: rstefanski@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1846

    Matthew Hawkins
    Staff Attorney
    Email: mhawkins@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1852

    Elizabeth Sundberg
    Filing Manager
    Email: esundberg@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1848

    Valerie Mizzell
    Filing Coordinator
    Email: vmizzell@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1847

    Jake Mullican
    Filing Associate
    Email: jmullican@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1836

    General Staff Contact
    Email: ethics@dls.virginia.gov
    Phone: 804.698.1810

    Mailing Address:
    Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council
    201 North 9th Street, 4th Floor
    Richmond, Virginia 23219