On Public Service Values
Farewell Remarks to the Staff of the Federal Election Commission, Delivered on February 23, 2017
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t want to say a lot. Instead, as Tuesday is my last day, I would love to speak personally to each and every one of you about how much you’ve done for this agency, how much you do every single day, and how much I appreciate you. Every day, you come to your jobs imbued with public service values. And that is so important, and so important to this country.
What I really want to do, and this is all making me teary, you can tell, because it is truly bittersweet — but I want to talk about those public service values that I’ve seen in you all, and just tell you what they are, and how they resonate with the people here at the FEC.
They are to pursue the public interest with accountability, transparency, and honesty; to serve professionally with competence, efficiency, and objectivity; to act ethically, so as to uphold the public trust; and to demonstrate respect, equity, and fairness in dealing with fellow citizens, and fellow public servants.
And I am happy to report that every one of you — whether I meet you in the elevator, or I see you present at the table, or have had an opportunity to talk to you individually — you all uphold those values. So I’m very proud to have been here at the FEC.
Thank you.
