Members of Dunwoody City Council voted unanimously June 25 to dismiss a ethics complaint against Councilwoman Adrian Bonser.
The city’s Board of Ethics on June 12 found Bonser violated the city’s ethics code by sending a “discourteous” message during an email exchange with a constituent. The board voted to recommend that the council consider publicly reprimanding Bonser.
On June 25, Bonser left the council bench and sat in the audience as her fellow council members deliberated about what to do with her case. Several council members said they thought Bonser’s actions did not rise to the level of a breach of the city ethics code.
“In my view, there is a difference between unprofessional conduct and unethical conduct,” Councilman Terry Nall said in recommending the dismissal of the complaint.
Councilwoman Lynn Deutsch said the council should review the city ethics code after the case against Bonser. “I’d like us to take a look at the ethics code so that we’re careful as to what we call an ethics violation,” she said.
After the vote, Bonser thanked the council for its decision. “This isn’t just for me. This is for all the council,” she said.