A new award designed to honor San Diegans with high ethical standards was inaugurated by local politicians and award committee members Feb. 10 in front of the County Administration Building.

The Richard P. Geyser President’s Ethics Award, established last year in memory of Geyser by his longtime partner, Philip Flick, seeks to honor local individuals who practice and encourage high ethical standards personally and professionally. Geyser was a founding member and the first president of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, which administers the award.

“There is no better time to talk about ethics, and there is no better place than San Diego,” said Congressmember Bob Filner, who serves on the Geyser Award’s honorary committee.

“Clearly, the nation has been aroused on these issues. Congress is wrestling with new rules and new laws. But I will tell you, it doesn’t matter what the laws say, if the person is unethical, they’ll find around them,” Filner added. “… And, of course, San Diego has been, unfortunately, recognized around the world now as a centerpiece for where we need ethical improvement. So the focus that there are ethical people in San Diego, who do put the public interest first, is very important for us to do.”

County Supervisor Ron Roberts, Jo Anne Sawyerknoll, director of ethics and integrity for Mayor Jerry Sanders, and Deputy District Attorney David Rubin, representing District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, also spoke at the Feb. 10 award inauguration.

Rubin said, “It’s not just abstract for my office. Obviously ethical lapses play a big part in a lot of the criminal behavior we see at the white-collar level. By promoting the highest standards of integrity and honesty and ethics through the Richard Geyser President’s Ethics Award, we can, in a way, help prevent crime.”

He added, “And just on a personal note, anyone who knew Dick Geyser knows that he embodied all of that – ethics, integrity and honesty – and what a wonderful way to honor his memory.”

Filner, Roberts and Dumanis recently kicked off their re-election campaigns, and Rubin is running for a San Diego judge seat.

One person will receive the Geyser Award each year, chosen from a pool of finalists by a panel of judges consisting of local professionals. The award recipient will have the opportunity to recommend to the award fund committee a San Diego nonprofit organization to receive a $5,000 Human Dignity Foundation grant.

The awardee and the other finalists will be honored each year at the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation’s annual gala, scheduled to take place this year on June 24.

According to their mission statement, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization that seeks to improve quality of life and enact positive social change within San Diego’s GLBT community.

The deadline for nominations is March 31. For award guidelines or to obtain a nomination form, contact the Human Dignity Foundation at (619) 291-3383 or visit www.sdhdf.org.