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COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Members of the public was given the opportunity Tuesday evening to weigh in on ethics reform in South Carolina.

Governor Nikki Haley has made the issue one of her top priorities. Last month, the governor announced the eleven members serving on the ethics reform panel, none of whom currently hold an elected office.
 
The governor says the independent panel is the best way to get true reform. A few community members did offer advice on how the improve the process. “We should also make sure we put something in there that deal with the innocent bodies. There've been numerous cases in the last few years where people have been alleged to have done something and I think there needs to be not only some type of hotline that will allow people to call in so they don't have to deal with people face  to face. There are a lot of people who will call in a hotline and where there's smoke there's fire,” said Craig Adams, a concerned citizen.

The ethics reform group must report its recommendations to lawmakers by January 28, 2013; three weeks after the session starts. The house and senate also are working on their own ethics reform plans.