Chafee Pulls Three RI State Employees From Fundraiser Committee

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Jonathan Jacobs, GoLocalProv News Contributor

 

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Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has withdrawn three state employees from a fundraiser committee, to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Saying that “the mere appearance of impropriety is often enough to draw negative attention,” Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has decided to remove three non-classified state employees from the host committee of a fundraising event scheduled for the evening of July 31 at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

The Honorable Steven Costantino, Paul McGreevy and Brian Daniels were all listed as hosts on the original invitation. Christine Hunsinger, spokesperson for the Governor, confirmed the elimination of the names from the invitation. “After discussion,” she said, “it was decided to remove these names from the list of hosts for the event. The event was in appreciation of Governor Chafee for his support of marriage equality and all the individuals listed were long time supporters of the initiative and of the Governor.”

Employees, fundraising, ethics + law

While Chafee's move seeks to eliminate any appearance of impropriety, John Marion, Executive Director of Common Cause RI – an organization dedicated to transparency and ethics in government – pointed out that there is no violation of campaign finance law in unclassified state employees using non-state time to engage in partisan and/or political activity. “While the prohibition against soliciting state employees does not apply in this instance, trying to avoid the appearance of a conflict is a smart move on the Governor’s part," Marion said.

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The written policy, according to the State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, is 9.7.2 entitled Solicitation of Contributions from Classified State Employees.

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The original invitation, which was distributed late last week.

“No classified employee or member of the personnel appeal board may solicit contributions for nor may he or she be solicited to contribute to any party or campaign. Every state government officer, agent, clerk or employee who has charge or control in any building or office or room occupied for any state government purpose must not permit any person to enter for the purpose of making, collecting, receiving or giving notice of any political assessment, subscription, or contribution, and no person may enter, or remain in any such facility or end or direct any letter or other notice there for the purpose of giving notice of, demanding, or collecting a political assessment, subscription or contribution.”

Although the individuals on the invite are state employees, none are “classified” state employees and, therefore, are not subject to any violation of laws, rules or policy. Non-classified state employees differ from classified employees. Classified employees must bid on a listed position via an application process that passes through the Department of Administration’s personnel department and, once filled, falls within a specific description of duties resulting in a specified pay scale. Non-classified state employees can be appointed or hired at a bargained or offered rate of pay and do not necessarily fall under state personnel rules. However, the potential ethical controversy stems from the fact that, as gubernatorial appointments, each employee’s current job security could depend on Chafee remaining in office.

Costantino, Daniels, McGreevy

The three employees in question occupy positions of various power and purview within Rhode Island's state government. Steven Costantino serves as the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the State of Rhode Island. His resume also includes State Representative for RI House District 8 and former Chairman of the House Committee on Finance. Brian Daniels is Director of Policy for the Governor’s Office. He was appointed to this position in December of 2010. Prior to this appointment, Daniels worked as a research consultant at the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), where he focused on federal health care reform. Paul McGreevy is the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. McGreevy served as Project Manager for Governor-elect Chafee’s winning gubernatorial campaign and is a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and business consultant, most recently with Deloitte Consulting.

RI GOP weighs In

Mark Smiley, Chairman of the Rhode Island GOP, could not find any problem with the practice. Smiley told GoLocal, “After looking into this further, I think we would much rather discuss Governor Chafee’s policies.” Smiley continued, “My people don’t really see this as something that unethical. My people are under the impression that unclassified employees can participate. Is that wrong?”

Hunsinger, on behalf of the Governor’s office, seemed to have read Smiley's mind.  “Even the detractors of the Governor and his policies do not call into question his ethics," she said. 

 

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