Civic Ethics Alliance

Restoring Public Trust Through Independent Accountability

A supporter, with GREAT knowledge of government operations, submitted the following…

“There’s a component that needs to be added to the Republic Project. I call it a “Government Ethics Audit”

“Every one of these I’ve done has shown immense government DIRT and a LACK OF ETHICS. When I announced to a Mayor that a privately funded Ethics audit of his administration is underway, he essentially needed a diaper change, if you know what I mean. Just knowing they are being carefully watched and investigated makes them mess their pants. The notion of being Audited REALLY changes behavior just by taking the time (with expertise) to look under the hood.”

I thought… that is a brilliant and high-impact addition, both strategically and psychologically. The following document is over 120 pages, produced in 6 hours, an entirely new arm of the project, and it came from a single idea brought forward by someone who was willing to back his words with action. The Civic Ethics Alliance is just one example of what’s possible when smart people step up, speak up, and take action.

Much of it is redacted for strategic and security purposes, but the full version can be accessed by signing the NDA and joining us as a committed volunteer, staff member, expert or strategic advisor, a leader, Board of Director member, or pledge financial support at founding levels. Tier 2 gives you access to the full 200+ page granular internal documentation containing operational architecture, investigative frameworks, and scoring methods. Tier 2 is where momentum meets meaning.

Things are moving fast and Utah isn’t going to fix itself. The time for thinkers has passed. It’s time for movers

This same structure can be used for a Citizen’s Audit of Voter Rolls with the goal of verify the accuracy, legality, and integrity of voter registration databases at the county and state level, ensuring that voter rolls are free from fraud, bloat, ineligible registrations, or procedural misconduct. Anyone interested?

By the way…. that supporter, Travis M. Seegmiller, J.D., now heads up the Civic Ethics Alliance. Thank you Travis.

We’ll be posting the full breakdown soon for those who’ve signed the NDA and committed your involvement.

Thanks for looking, Ed Wallace – Founder of the Republic Project
Here’s the write-up that introduces the Government Ethics Audit:

Civic Ethics Alliance – Official Landing Page

“We track every dollar. We expose every lie. We reform every system we touch.”

Comprehensive Table of Contents with Section Summaries

This doc now serves as the central spine of our audit system. We can build out from here.

Government Ethics Audits

Investigating the Unethical. Empowering the Ethical. One Audit at a Time

One of the most effective ways to hold public officials accountable is also the simplest: let them know they’re being watched, not by the media, not by party insiders, but by an independent, citizen-led ethics audit team with no ties to the political establishment.
The Republic Project will offer targeted Government Ethics Audits at the city, county, and state levels, deploying legal, investigative, and forensic research professionals to review records, analyze contracts, expose conflicts of interest, and evaluate the ethical behavior of elected and appointed officials. These audits will be independent, transparent, and released to the public.

But the real power is psychological. As one former lawmaker put it:

“When a mayor hears there’s a private ethics audit underway, they essentially need a diaper change.”

Knowing that a community is funding an ethics audit, and that professionals are digging into what AI can’t yet expose, is often enough to alter behavior, stall shady deals, or send corrupt officials scrambling.

These audits are not just oversight tools… they’re deterrents. They change conduct before a single word is published.

🔹 Key Benefits:

Highly targeted and community-driven
Triggers behavior change in real time
Uncovers what automation or legislation tracking might miss
Provides citizen-led accountability in small towns and major cities
Creates a new revenue stream for The Republic Project through mission-aligned services
Concerned citizens, whistleblowers, and local coalitions will be able to commission audits directly through the Project, bringing professional-grade investigative muscle to bear where traditional institutions have failed.

I. Overview & Mission

Purpose: The philosophical, constitutional, and moral foundation for the Civic Ethics Alliance™ and The Republic Project.
Includes: Mission statements, core values, background, FAQ’s and public purpose language.
Audience: Everyone: donors, media, team members, the public
Key Question: “What are we fighting for, and why does it matter?”

Includes:

The mission and core purpose: Restoring ethical governance through truth, accountability, and transparency
Foundational beliefs: original intent of the Constitution, proper role of government, civic duty
Explanation of how CEA fits under The Republic Project nonprofit (mission arm) and Republic Stratagems, LLC (execution arm)
Taglines and identity phrases (e.g., “Investigating the Unethical. Empowering the Ethical.”)
Tone setting for public trust: nonpartisan, principled, citizen-led

Introduction

Purpose of Document:

The Civic Ethics Alliance™ was created as a nonpartisan investigative initiative under The Republic Project. It serves as a public-facing watchdog to expose unethical behavior and constitutional violations in local government, using proactive audits as its core accountability tool.

Credited Founder:

Travis M. Seegmiller – Former Utah State Representative, Audit Committee Member.
Travis proposed the core concept of the Civic Ethics Alliance and within six hours, the initiative was named, branded, structured, and integrated into The Republic Project. His legal background, legislative experience, and unmatched knowledge of government operations made him the natural choice to lead the project. He now serves as its Coordinator and legal strategist.
Original vision of the Civic Ethics Alliance™
Public trust, oversight goals, nonpartisan watchdog framing
Core messaging: “Expose. Pressure. Reform.”

I. Overview & Mission

The Civic Ethics Alliance™ is a project of The Republic Project, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to exposing unethical government behavior and restoring public trust through constitutional oversight. Our mission is simple: shine light on corruption, abuse, and influence — and empower citizens with tools to hold power accountable.

II. What We Do

We commission independent audits into government operations at the local and state levels. These audits reveal:
Conflicts of interest
Lobbyist influence
Misuse of taxpayer funds
Media manipulation

All findings are documented, sourced, and delivered in public briefings and reports — often in partnership with watchdogs, journalists, and citizen groups.

III. How It Works

The Republic Project (nonprofit) commissions an audit.
Republic Stratagems (LLC) executes the investigation.
All team members are bound by confidentiality and legal protections.
Final reports are returned to the nonprofit for publication.

This structure ensures:

Legal separation and protection
Transparent use of donations
Clear, unbiased findings

IV. Who We Are

Our team includes:

Investigative journalists
Forensic analysts
Legal experts
Civic data engineers
Media integrity researchers (MAGIC Team)

Together, we combine decades of experience with next-generation tools to defend liberty and challenge corruption.

V. Public Impact

Our audits help:

Remove unethical officials
Reform broken systems
Protect citizen rights
Educate the public
Inspire legal and legislative action

We are not just observers — we are builders of accountability.

VI. Join the Movement

You can support the cause in three ways:

Donate: Fund a local ethics audit or investigative series.
Collaborate: Submit tips, join as a local partner, or sponsor a project.
Share: Help us expand the message by sharing our reports.

Visit Republicstratagems.com

To ensure integrity and security during this pre-rollout phase, The Republic Project uses a two-tiered confidentiality system. The password for Tier 1 protected pages is: repro

Civic Ethics Alliance™
A project of The Republic Project (501c3 nonprofit)
Defending the Republic with Oversight, Accountability, and Action.

II. Ethics Audit Concept & Strategic Overview

Purpose: Explain what an “ethics audit” actually is, not just in theory, but in practice, why it matters, and how it s different from traditional government oversight or journalism, and strategically advances systemic reform. Includes: Audit types (fiscal, legal, zoning, etc.), investigative methodology, target categories, and system-wide reform strategy. Audience: Internal strategy team, funders, grantors, external watchdogs
Key Question: “What exactly do we do and how does it create impact?”

Includes:

The working definition of a Government Ethics Audit (investigative review of public behavior, funding, influence, and impact)
Types of audits: zoning manipulation, fiscal abuse, education steering, election vulnerabilities, media influence
How CEA audits differ from journalism, internal compliance reviews, or IG reports
Strategic value of public-facing audits: deterrence, exposure, reform pressure, and civic empowerment
How audits build momentum for broader change (scorecards, policy shifts, watchdog coordination)

Core Audit Documents

What is a Government Ethics Audit?

A Government Ethics Audit is a private, independent investigation into the ethical and procedural conduct of public officials and government entities. These audits assess alignment with constitutional principles, transparency standards, fiscal responsibility, and conflicts of interest. Unlike internal or state-sanctioned audits, these efforts are executed without political interference and made available to the public.

The presence of an audit itself creates psychological pressure and behavioral deterrents, encouraging ethical governance simply by being underway.

Audits result in formal reports, scoring metrics, and, where warranted, recommendations for public, legal, or journalistic follow-up.

Core Audit Focus Areas

Financial Misuse of public funds and unbalanced budgeting
Budget manipulation and debt schemes
Curriculum steering and federal pass-through grants
Zoning and land-use manipulation or development corruption
Regulatory abuse and zoning conflicts
Undisclosed conflicts of interest
Personnel cronyism or administrative abuse
Media influence, coordination, narrative control, or propaganda designed to suppress public dissent

What’s included in an audit

Civic Ethics Commission: Government Ethics Audit Overview

Our Ethics Audits are designed to provide clear, factual, and actionable insight into local and state government operations. Whether initiated by civic organizations or local governments, these audits help restore trust and reinforce ethical governance.

What’s Included:

Financial Oversight Review
Budgetary process transparency
Grant and contract disbursement audit
Procurement integrity
Misuse of public funds or self-dealing risks
Regulatory Fairness Analysis
Are laws and regulations applied fairly?
Favoritism or manipulation in permitting, zoning, or development decisions
Conflict of Interest Evaluation
Mapping relationships between elected officials, donors, contractors
Reviewing disclosures and recusal compliance
Public Records & Transparency Compliance
Email, meeting minutes, and internal memos analyzed for undisclosed activities
GRAMA/FOIA request transparency audit
Administrative Integrity Check
Hiring practices, political favoritism, or undue influence
Internal whistleblower protections

Outcome:

Detailed Report with Documentation
Clear Action Items & Recommendations
Optional Public-Facing Summary for awareness or publication
Follow-up consultation with officials or legal teams

Who Commissions Ethics Audits?

✔ Citizen Coalitions
✔ Local Governments (as internal review)
✔ Watchdog Groups
✔ Legal Teams or Advocacy Partners

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE: Building a Local Government Ethics Audit System

Exposing Corruption. Changing Behavior. Restoring Trust.

This is how we turn raw public data into systematic evidence of unethical or corrupt behavior, and how to integrate MAGIC (media analysis) into the civic audit process.

STEP 1: Collect & Centralize the Data (Database Foundation)

What to Collect: Protected

Tools Needed: Protected

STEP 2: Normalize & Structure the Data

Core Tables (Manually or via Script):
People: Name, Role, Dept, Conflicts, Affiliations
Votes: Who voted, on what, how, who sponsored
Issues/Topics: Ordinances, developments, expenditures
Entities: Developers, vendors, donors, business connections
Media Entries: Articles, headlines, sentiment score

This gives us a living matrix of interactions and influence.

STEP 3: Analyze for Patterns (Weeding Out Corruption)

Red Flag Triggers (can be automated later):

Pattern:

Possible Interpretation: Councilor votes for contracts involving affiliated developer
Conflict of interest: Zoning board approves repeated variances for same entity
Collusion or favoritism :Large funds redirected from core services to PR or consultants
Propaganda or self-dealing :Absences during controversial votes
Tactical avoidance: Vendor receives contract without bid, Cronyism

Tools: Protected

STEP 4: Integrate MAGIC (Media Analysis for Government Influence & Collusion)

This is where The Republic Project’s platform can start running like an intelligence-grade machine.

MAGIC = Media Analysis of Government Influence & Collusion

What to Track:

City Propaganda: Press releases, media partnerships, mayor’s blog
News Articles: Are stories favorable to certain leaders or projects?
Public Polls or Surveys: Who runs them? Are they pushed through media or city channels?
Editorial Bias: Are outlets editorializing in favor of zoning changes or budgets?

Analysis Actions:

Score each media item on:
Tone (Positive/Neutral/Negative)
Target (Mayor, Council, Zoning)
Purpose (Justification, diversion, attack)
Cross-match dates of articles with votes or public backlash

This reveals when propaganda is being used to manufacture consent.

STEP 5: Confirm & Prepare the Evidence (Ethics Dossier)

Once we’ve surfaced a red flag:

Pull all supporting documents (votes, contracts, media, bios)
Generate a summary timeline

Score it on:

Constitutional violation
Ethical breach
Process failure
Cost impact
Optional: Run it through the Civic Ethics Scoring Rubric (we can create one)

STEP 6: What To Do With the Findings

Mission-Based (Nonprofit) Actions:

Publish a Civic Ethics Audit Report
Submit findings to ethics commissions, auditors, or AG’s office
Notify local journalists (selective press drip)
Share with citizens groups, watchdogs, and public forums

Strategic (For-Profit or Coordinated Ops):

Use findings to:

Pressure reform
Block a contract or initiative
Expose corruption in a targeted media blitz

Public Audit Pathway

Below is a step-by-step Civic Ethics Audit Pathway tailored for cities like St. George, Utah.

Protected
Here’s a strategic and highly actionable outline for a Pilot Ethics Audit designed as a first strike to demonstrate the power, value, and public impact of the Civic Ethics Commission. This can launch publicly

Pilot Audit Outline: “Operation Broken Halo”

Focus Area: Local Government Ethics & Development Decisions
Target Type: Medium-size Utah city with recent zoning, grant, or development activity (we likely know the right target)

Objective:

Conduct a high-impact, publicly visible ethics audit of a single municipality — exposing:

Conflicts of interest in land use or contracts
Hidden donors or ties between elected officials and developers
Misuse of regulatory power
Manipulated public input processes
Shady PR narratives or suppressed dissent

Phased Plan:

Phase 1: Research & Public Records Requests (Weeks 1–2)

Select target municipality
Draft and submit GRAMA requests for:
Emails between council members and developers/contractors
Zoning decisions, bid awards, and economic development memos
Records of “community engagement” sessions
Scrape campaign finance reports for land-use related donors

Phase 2: Analysis & Mapping (Weeks 3–4)

Map relationships between elected officials, donors, consultants, and contracts
Use AI tools to identify email keywords: “donor,” “accelerate,” “keep quiet,” “let’s push this,” etc.
Run ethics scoring checklist: disclosure gaps, recusals ignored, rushed hearings, etc.

Phase 3: Drafting the Report (Week 5)

Write internal report with documentation
Prepare optional public summary:
“City Audit Reveals Ethics Gaps in Land-Use Process”
Include charts of financial flows, timelines, and conflicts

Phase 4: Strategic Release & Engagement (Week 6)

Send embargoed report to press, partners, and electeds
Host online or in-person release with slides & narrative
Offer corrective recommendations: disclosure policy, audit committee, term limits, etc.
Create public pressure by tying to transparency, spending, and voter trust

Post-Audit Follow-Up:

Monitor city’s response or retaliation
Engage citizens and media on findings
Offer audit services to neighboring towns or counties
Publicly brand it as part of the Ethics Integrity Initiative of The Republic Project

Why This Works as a Pilot:

Easy to document
High likelihood of discovering wrongdoing
Can scale this exact model statewide or nationally
Generates press, allies, and paid audit inquiries

Sample Report (Clearbrook)

Here’s a fictionalized Sample Audit Report, designed to feel professional, damning (if warranted), and actionable, while keeping it clear enough for the public and compelling enough for stakeholders and funders.

Civic Ethics Alliance™
Independent Government Ethics Audit
Clearbrook, Utah (Fictional Example)
Audit Period: Jan 2022 – Dec 2023
Prepared By: Republic Stratagems, LLC
Report Issued: [May 2025]

Executive Summary:

This Ethics Audit was conducted at the request of a coalition of Clearbrook residents seeking greater transparency and accountability in local governance. Over 60 days, our investigative and analytical team reviewed financial records, procurement practices, land use decisions, campaign finance reports, and media narratives.

Key Findings:

Improper Procurement: $1.2 million in no-bid contracts awarded to businesses linked to the Mayor’s brother-in-law.
Suppressed Dissent: Two city employees reporting ethical violations were terminated within 30 days.
Public Engagement Obstruction: Evidence shows the city knowingly withheld critical zoning data from public comment sessions.
Developer Collusion: A high-profile housing development received fast-tracked approval after bundled campaign contributions were made to three City Council members.
Media Bias: The primary local outlet received $20,000 in “community partnership” payments from the city and failed to disclose conflicts in its reporting.

Ethics Scoring Overview (Civic Ethics Alliance Model):
Category
Score (0–10)
Assessment
Transparency
3.5
Inadequate
Procurement Integrity
2.0
High-Risk
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
4.0
Insufficient
Campaign Finance Transparency
2.5
Concerning
Whistleblower Protections
1.0
Failed
Public Engagement Practices
4.5
Poor
Media Neutrality / Influence
3.0
Compromised

Overall Ethics Score: 2.9 / 10
🟥 “Compromised — High Risk of Corruption”

Detailed Findings & Evidence:

Contract Awards
6 of 11 city contracts >$100,000 lacked competitive bidding documentation.
The Parks & Recreation redevelopment contract ($480k) was awarded to “Western Civic Builders,” whose CFO is the Mayor’s brother-in-law. No conflict was disclosed.
Personnel Practices
Former City Planner and Clerk of Records both terminated after internal memos revealed zoning violations and document tampering.
Land Use & Development
Zoning map revisions dated June 2023 were never released to the public prior to the “Clearview Heights” approval.
Email logs show coordination between developer reps and Planning Board Chair two weeks before the public was notified.
Campaign Finance
$27,000 in bundled donations to 3 council members from LLCs sharing a registered agent with Clearview Heights Holdings, LLC.
Disclosure reports filed 3 days past deadline; no penalties.
Media Manipulation
Clearbrook Daily News received “public education partnership” funds from the City in FY2023 totaling $20,000.
No disclosures were made on 14 positive stories about the Clearview Heights project.

Recommendations:

Internal Reforms:

Establish independent procurement oversight committee.
Create formal whistleblower protection ordinance.
Require all conflict of interest disclosures to be public and indexed.

External Transparency:

Publish all contracts >$50,000 in a public-facing repository.
Mandate city-paid PR/media funding be disclosed clearly on content.

Further Investigations Recommended:

Utah State Auditor referral for potential campaign finance violations.
Internal HR audit on recent terminations for retaliatory practices.
Independent media ethics review with ombudsman accountability.

Who Commissioned This Audit?

This audit was commissioned by a coalition of 22 Clearbrook residents and business owners who pooled funds to hire the Civic Ethics Alliance™, a project operated by Republic Stratagems, LLC, to evaluate their city government’s ethical integrity.

About Civic Ethics Alliance™

The Civic Ethics Alliance is a citizen-powered government oversight initiative offering nonpartisan, investigative ethics audits for municipalities, school boards, and public institutions.

We believe public service should mean public trust.

Inquiries: [ethics@republicstratagems.com]
republicstratagems.com/ethics-audit

Top Utah Targets Watchlist

Proposed Use:

This Target Watchlist is intended for:
Internal audit team planning
Donor briefings and priority alignment
Public education and media strategy

Here are 12 government entities, policies, or practices, primarily from Utah, that warrant public spotlight or independent ethics audits based on red flags, known controversy, or public concern:

Utah-Based Audit Targets

Utah Inland Port Authority

Issue: Backroom land deals, tax breaks for private developers, lack of transparency
Why Audit: Cross-agency coordination, zoning manipulation, environmental cover-ups
Why #1: Billion-dollar backdoor deals, state-level override of local powers, environmental impact, and media suppression. This is Utah’s poster child for opaque public-private manipulation.
Concern: Backroom deals, developer favoritism, lack of environmental review
Audit Focus: Land use contracts, tax increment financing, legislative override

Point of the Mountain State Land Development Authority (POMSDA)

Issue: Billion-dollar tech and housing district being developed with little public input
Why Audit: Oversight of bonded debt, developer relationships, hidden subsidies
Why #1: Oversight of one of the most expensive land transitions in state history. Potential goldmine for exposing sweetheart deals and zoning rewrites.
Concern: Zoning control transfer, billion-dollar land assets, insider coordination
Audit Focus: Land valuations, developer affiliations, legislative conflicts

Utah’s Office of the Attorney General

Issue: Allegations of political influence and legal threats against whistleblowers
Why Audit: Legal power abuse, misuse of public resources, conflict of interest
Why #1: Alleged weaponization of legal power against whistleblowers and citizens. Involves civil rights concerns, prosecutorial ethics, and executive overreach.
Concern: Alleged intimidation of whistleblowers and misuse of power
Audit Focus: Internal legal memos, case handling bias, political influence in enforcement

Utah Housing Corporation / State Housing Grants

Issue: Large sums funneled through poorly audited housing pipelines
Why Audit: Developer favoritism, pass-through orgs, grant opacity
Why #1: Affordable housing is a hot-button issue. Any exposure of developer favoritism, waste, or funneling would resonate statewide.
Concern: Grant pass-throughs, opaque allocations, insider deals
Audit Focus: Beneficiary analysis, developer ties, funding overlaps

Zion’s Bank and Government Collusion Allegations

Issue: Key executives allegedly influencing bond deals and legislative direction
Why Audit: Public–private influence matrix, revolving doors, financial manipulation
Why #1: This would unmask Utah’s true oligarchic engine: corporate influence over legislation, bond issuance, and media steering.
Concern: Private bank’s undue influence on public bond deals
Audit Focus: Campaign donations, bond structuring, regulatory conflicts

Wasatch Front Regional Council / UDOT Transit Alignment Decisions

Issue: Questions about selection of expensive mass transit corridors & funding models
Why Audit: Project justification, property grabs, hidden development incentives
Why #1: Billions in infrastructure dollars, land grabs, and transit that doesn’t serve the public but enriches stakeholders.
Concern: Questionable route planning, land speculation, taxpayer waste
1Audit Focus: EIS reports, meeting transcripts, property ownership shifts

Unified Fire Authority (Salt Lake County)

Issue: History of spending abuses, inflated pensions, insider favoritism
Why Audit: Pension manipulation, hiring nepotism, transparency lapses
Why #1: Known pension and spending abuse cases — would be easy to reignite public interest and demand reform. Concern: Inflated pensions, prior spending scandals
Audit Focus: Pension formulas, procurement, travel and HR records

Statewide Elected School Boards / Utah State Board of Education (USBE)

Issue: Ideological manipulation of education, grant funding paths, curriculum control
Why Audit: Influence mapping, federal-to-state pass-through dollars, bias concerns
Why #1: More ideological than financial, but still powerful. Could expose curriculum rigging, federal compliance funding misuse.
Concern: Political bias, hidden curriculum pathways, funding opacity
Audit Focus: Federal pass-throughs, consultant contracts, grant recipients

Utah Legislature “Interim Committee” Practices

Issue: Decisions made quietly in off-season sessions with little media coverage
Why Audit: Quorum tricks, placeholder bills, industry steering
Why #1: Quiet manipulation of public policy, pre-session deals, and lack of public scrutiny. Potential for procedural scandal.
Concern: Pre-legislative steering with limited public oversight
Audit Focus: Interim minutes, early bill drafting, industry-influenced testimony

Municipal Broadband Expansion Projects (e.g., UTOPIA Fiber)

Issue: Local debt incurred for unprofitable broadband systems
Why Audit: Bond structure, vendor selection, long-term liability
Why #1: Financially risky, tax-heavy, and ripe for exposing misleading cost claims or vendor favoritism.
Concern: Public debt for underperforming service expansions
Audit Focus: Bond terms, vendor contracts, service metrics

County Clerks/Election Offices – Chain of Custody Procedures

Issue: Lack of audit trails, public concern over ballot handling
Why Audit: Vendor contracts, procedure inconsistencies, public transparency
Why #12: Public concern is high, but actual fraud is rare. Still, a clean audit here could build trust or expose vulnerabilities.
Concern: Public distrust in ballot security
Audit Focus: Chain of custody logs, vendor security, access policies

Salt Lake City Housing/Zoning Appeals Board

Issue: Variance grants to select developers amid neighborhood opposition
Why Audit: Appeals process fairness, insider deals, conflict disclosures
Why #1: Localized power abuses that affect everyday citizens. Limited in scope, but highly emotional if mishandled variances are exposed.
Concern: Development variances granted over public objection
Audit Focus: Meeting decisions, board member disclosures, appeal overturn rates

Here’s the ranked list of 12 Utah-based entities or policies, ordered by potential public impact and likelihood of controversy, based on scale, power, funding, and potential for uncovering collusion or corruption:

TOP PRIORITY TARGETS (High Impact + High Controversy)

Utah Inland Port Authority
Utah Attorney General’s Office
Point of the Mountain State Land Development Authority (POMSDA)
Zion’s Bank / State Finance Influence Matrix

SECOND TIER – TARGETED AUDITS WITH PUBLIC RESONANCE

State Housing Grants / Utah Housing Corporation
Wasatch Front Regional Council / UDOT Transit Alignments
Utah Legislature Interim Committees

THIRD TIER – LOCALIZED, HIGHLY FOCUSED AUDITS

Municipal Broadband / UTOPIA Fiber
Salt Lake City Housing & Zoning Appeals Board
USBE / State Education Board
County Election Offices (Chain of Custody Focus)

Civic Ethics Alliance™ – Target Watchlist
Priority Targets for Oversight, Ethics Audits, and Public Transparency in Utah

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a clear, direct FAQ language to explain that the Civic Ethics Alliance™ is a citizen-led, transparency-focused consulting service and is not connected to the nonprofit (unless explicitly stated):

About the Civic Ethics Alliance™

Is this a government agency or official oversight board?

No. The Civic Ethics Alliance™ is an independent, citizen-led ethics consulting initiative. We are not affiliated with any government agency, political party, or enforcement body. Our mission is to restore accountability through independent audits and data-driven investigations.

Is this part of a nonprofit organization?

Not at this time. While we share values with nonprofit watchdog groups, this service is offered through Republic Stratagems, a consulting and civic innovation firm. It is designed to be agile, scalable, and sustainable—without the red tape or limitations often placed on nonprofit organizations.

Who can request an audit?

Anyone. Concerned citizens, coalitions, candidates, journalists, donor groups, or even internal reformers within government can request an ethics audit. You do not need political connections or nonprofit backing—just a legitimate concern and a desire for the truth.

How is this different from typical watchdog groups?

Most watchdogs report on what’s already public. We dig deeper.
Our audits use investigative methods, public records laws, AI-enhanced analysis, and insider research to uncover what isn’t being said—and we deliver clear, documented findings designed to spark reform or public accountability.

Is this legal? Will this get us sued?

We operate within the law—always. Every audit is based on public data, legally obtained documents, and fact-based analysis. While some officials may feel uncomfortable being exposed, we welcome scrutiny and stand by our work.

Can this be used for campaigns or ballot initiatives?

Yes—audits can provide powerful support for reform-minded efforts. However, we do not conduct opposition research or partisan campaign work. Our findings speak for themselves.

III. Strategic Partnerships & Network

Purpose: Outline external engagement with watchdogs, nonprofits, legal allies, and national audit partners. Includes: Recruitment language, onboarding steps, vetting criteria, benefits to joining the Strategic Audit Network. Audience: Partners, coalitions, external investigators, thought leaders
Key Question: “Who are we working with outside of our team?”

Includes:

Audit Network partners (state watchdogs, citizen journalists, legal allies)

Outreach materials (invitation emails, one-pagers, landing page copy)
Collaboration policies and expectations
Shared resources (data templates, best practices)
Vetting process and NDAs for strategic allies

Audit services offered to:

Citizen groups
Reform candidates
Watchdog orgs
Donors or PACs
Strategic partner pitch deck structure
National expansion play (State-level watchdogs)
Pricing tiers based on city size/budget

Strategic Audit Network

Building a Nationwide Alliance for Government Accountability

CEA is building a nationwide coalition of watchdogs, citizen investigators, legal scholars, and nonprofit allies.

Join the Strategic Audit Network if you:

File FOIAs, track legislative corruption, or conduct data analysis
Want to collaborate on city/county ethics reviews
Have tools, frameworks, or investigative leads to share

What Is the Audit Network?

The Audit Network is a growing coalition of state-level watchdogs, citizen investigators, legal analysts, media truth-tellers, and public interest researchers committed to restoring ethical governance across America.

Led by The Republic Project and its execution partner Republic Stratagems, LLC, the Audit Network invites strategic partners to collaborate on government ethics audits, investigative campaigns, and public integrity initiatives.

Together, we share tools, resources, and reporting models to help expose:

Misuse of public funds
Conflict-riddled development deals
Zoning corruption
Election manipulation
Collusion between government and media

Who Can Join?

We welcome partnerships with:

State-based watchdog organizations
Legislative oversight groups
Whistleblower platforms
Investigative journalism centers
Constitutional policy nonprofits
Ethics-oriented legal firms

Whether you’re running FOIA requests, analyzing campaign finances, or documenting city council abuse, you belong in this network.

What We Offer Partners:

Access to audit frameworks and rating rubrics
Data collection templates and legal contract samples
Media coordination on findings
Opportunities to co-sponsor national investigations
Referrals for legal support, forensic analysis, or funding alignment

Our goal is to empower your work, not control it. Each partner keeps full independence.

How to Join:

Use our contact form, or email us at info@republicstratagems.com with:

Your organization’s name
Area of focus or specialty
A link to your work (if applicable)

We’ll follow up with an onboarding invite and discussion of shared goals.

This isn’t just a coalition. It’s an action network. The truth has allies — and they’re organized.

How It Works

Audits are commissioned through The Republic Project (nonprofit) and executed by Republic Stratagems, LLC
Independent professionals including former lawmakers, legal scholars, researchers, and investigators conduct each audit
Final reports are published for the public, with media coordination and legal oversight

All audits follow a transparent, conflict-free framework that protects whistleblowers, privileges legal findings, and delivers clean, documented evidence of systemic problems.

Discreet. Independent. Constitutionally Grounded.
To schedule a consultation or request a quote, visit [website] or contact [email].

Ethics Audit Pricing Sheet – Civic Ethics Alliance – PROTECTED

Included in All Audits:

✔ Expert Investigative Team
✔ Public Records Research & Analysis
✔ Relationship & Conflict Mapping
✔ Scoring Framework for Ethical Compliance
✔ Secure, Confidential Handling of All Submissions

LEADERSHIP

Travis M. Seegmiller, J.D.

Travis serves as the founding Coordinator of the Civic Ethics Alliance™, a strategic initiative of The Republic Project dedicated to restoring integrity in public institutions through independent constitutional audits. A former Utah State Representative and member of the Legislative Audit Committee, Seegmiller was repeatedly recognized as one of Utah’s top conservative lawmakers, earning multiple “Defender of Liberty” awards from grassroots and liberty-based policy groups for his uncompromising constitutional conservatism. Seegmiller brings decades of experience in legal, legislative, and public policy reform.

Before entering public office, Seegmiller was a Partner at the national law firm Patton Boggs LLP, where he represented both Fortune 100 clients and pro bono constitutional causes. He also served on the faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, and has advised governments and private organizations on international law, policy, and economics across Latin America and the Middle East. A cum laude graduate of both Yale University and Georgetown Law, Seegmiller’s unmatched combination of legal expertise, ethical rigor, and frontline legislative experience make him a formidable force in the fight for good governance. His oversight approach prioritizes transparency, cost control, constitutional fidelity, and a higher standard of integrity in public life, guided by a deep understanding of the proper role of government.

As a member of the Board of Directors and chief strategist behind The Republic Project’s Civic Ethics Alliance™, Seegmiller brings unmatched insight, field-tested leadership, and an unwavering moral compass. His efforts are now focused on training the next generation of ethical watchdogs, launching statewide transparency audits, and rebuilding trust in public governance through principled accountability.

Ed Wallace

Ed serves as Research Coordinator and MAGIC Analyst the Civic Ethics Alliance™, and is the visionary behind The Republic Project. A nationally recognized investigative journalist and constitutional advocate, Ed is the founder of UtahStandardNews.com and has dedicated decades to exposing corruption, defending liberty, and holding power to account. His work has reshaped public discourse in Utah and beyond, uncovering financial abuse, media manipulation, and political collusion at every level of government. A descendant of Founding Revolutionary patriots, Ed brings unmatched historical grounding, strategic clarity, and moral courage to the mission of restoring ethical governance in America.

For schedule a meeting or for more info, please send an email to:

info@republicstratagems.com