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GREENSBORO — Two City Council challengers have called on their colleagues to meet new ethical standards — above and beyond what is required by law.

Nancy Vaughan , who is running for an at-large seat on the City Council, asked her fellow candidates to reveal their economic interests, such as companies in which they own stock and their real estate holdings.

That type of disclosure is required of state officials.

“City Council should be subject to the same high standards of conduct and reporting requirements that apply to state officials,” Vaughan said.

Some candidates, including mayoral hopeful Bill Knight and District 5 incumbent Trudy Wade , said they will disclose their financial interests. But others, including council incumbents, have reservations about voluntarily listing their assets.

George Hartzman , who is running for a seat in District 3, said candidates shouldn’t take campaign contributions from anyone who does business with the city, including developers and contractors.

But some of Hartzman’s colleagues felt it would further complicate the difficult process of fundraising.

“There is a massive amount of people you would be disqualifying,” said Ryan Shell, a candidate for an at-large seat.

Some challengers dismissed both ethics recommendations as campaign ploys.

The City Council primary will be Oct. 6.

City Council members have to follow certain state ethics guidelines while doing the city’s business.

For instance, they must reveal whether they have a business interest in the outcome of a decision and they must abstain from voting in those cases.

But they are not required, under the state’s ethics act, to reveal personal financial information to the public.

State officials, including members of state boards and legislators, are required to comply with that act, which helps them avoid conflicts of public and private interests.

The act requires officials to fill out a lengthy form, where they are asked to disclose their financial interests in companies or debts more than $10,000; nonprofit organizations for which they worked; and other income.

People covered under the act must reveal the information for themselves and family members. Vaughan’s family information is already subject to disclosure because her husband is a legislator.

In March, the City Council voted 8-1 to support legislation that would have extended the ethics act to cover municipal boards. Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small voted no.

Wade, who asked the board to support the legislation, said she has had to submit that financial disclosure for other elected boards on which she has served.

“It’s all part of being open and ethical with the citizens,” Wade said.

Other candidates, when asked by a reporter, said they would be willing to fill out the disclosure form, too. The candidates are mayoral candidate and incumbent Yvonne Johnson ; District 3 candidates Jay Ovittore and Zack Matheny, the incumbent ; District 4 candidate Art Boyett; and at-large candidate Shell.

“That state form is rather weak,” Knight said. “It’s better than nothing.”

But Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat expressed concerns about the requirement to disclose information about family members. And others didn’t like having to respond to what they considered an election tactic.

“I would rather see what the people want,” said Marikay Abuzuaiter , at-large candidate. “If they would like to see the candidates fill out one, let’s do it.”

Councilman Robbie Perkins said: “It’s a campaign ploy. When the state requires it, I’ll do it.”

Hartzman’s concept of voluntary “ethics reform” has met with the same kind of skepticism by other candidates — especially those who planned to raise money during the campaign season.

He got the idea from other cities with similar donation restrictions.

“The people who are doing business with the city are basically funding the political process,” Hartzman said.

North Carolina limits the amount of money that can be donated to a candidate, but not the kind of person who can donate it. In Greensboro, campaign contributions are common from business leaders such as developers or attorneys who have to go before the City Council.

“I just feel like you’re asking for trouble with that,” Boyett said.

Of course, Boyett and others have said it isn’t much of a problem if you don’t raise much money. Some pointed out that it might be hard to raise money if you limited who could contribute.

Candidates like Matheny questioned where such a rule would draw the line at limiting contributions.

Others said the rule Hartzman promotes could create unnecessary loopholes or encourage people who want to influence the process to make surreptitious contributions.

Matheny, who raised more money than any other district candidate when he was elected two years ago, said he is not ashamed of his fundraising efforts and has not been unethical on the council.

“I am not going to sell my soul for a $100 contribution,” Matheny said.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com