Providence City Councilman and Attorney Battle Over Ethics Charges
Friday, June 03, 2016
Providence City Councilman Sam Zurier is proposing a set of resolutions and ordinance proposals on Thursday that he says are part of an "ethics and open government" package -- and are in direct response to Councilman Kevin Jackson's recent arrest.
But Jackson's attorney claims that Zurier, who he asserts had his own ethical lapses, is just grandstanding.
"I'm disappointed because when Councilman Zurier had his own issues, his colleagues took a wait and see approach," said Artin Coloian, Councilman Kevin Jackson's attorney. In 2012, Zurier had to issue an apology after asking for political contributions from constituents after they got their sidewalk repairs. The Republican Party blasted Zurier.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAs GoLocal reported at the time:
Tara Pinsky, chairwoman of the Providence Republican City Committee said she was disappointed in Zurier.
“I am deeply saddened to read the lengthy story in the ProJo about his attempts to shake down a couple, the husband being a quadriplegic for an allegedly oral campaign pledge that Zurier never received," Pinsky said in a statement. "I am surprised that Councilman Zurier had to stoop to the typical RI politician behavior of personally collecting campaign money for public services rendered. For Councilman Zurier, there was apparently no shame in his quid pro quo about helping to fix a disabled person’s sidewalk, but also expecting a campaign pledge in return – and then castigating his constituents when money was not paid. I, and other constituents, again have once again had our trust in an elected public servant tainted by the business as usual in Rhode Island government. The sidewalk for a quadriplegic Providence resident should have absolutely been fixed with no strings attached (and fixed long ago by then-Mayor Cicilline); subsequently, Councilman Zurier had no right and no place to try to collect his ‘reward’ in the form of a campaign contribution.”
Zurier Outlines His Proposals
"So one is a resolution that would have campaign finance filings be posted on city council website, and the second is having the ethics filings on the city's website," said Zurier. "I heard the city was already looking at making some changes to the website."
Zurier said that the proposals he is putting forth are in response to the circumstances leading to Jackon's arrest. "Yes, they are," said Zurier when asked. "I think it's incumbent on us that in a criminal case, a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but in the court of public opinion, we need to earn the public's trust."
As to whether Zurier has talked with Council President Luis Aponte about the proposals to post filings, who has his own campaign finance issues, Zurier said he had not.
"I have not talked with the council president on this, no," said Zurier.
Ordinance Proposals
Zurier is also introducing two proposed ordinance changes -- again directly related to Jackson's arrest.
"So there is the question of what happens when a City Council member is charged with offense directly related to the office," said Zurier. "I looked up city employees -- in the case of city employees, they are immediately suspended."
"I don't think [that action] is appropriate for the City Council who is elected, but I think it's appropriate for it be standard procedure that they are removed from all leadership and committee positions," said Zurier.
Zurier said he didn't think Jackson had relieved himself from all assignments.
"I don't think he just stopped down from all committee assignments, I just know he did [step down] as Majority leader, and on finance," said Zurier.
"The fourth is the disclosure of legal defense funds contributions. Elected officials will sometimes will set up legal defense funds. In some places, I know of examples in Massachusetts and Michigan, this is something disclosed to the public," said Zurier.
"As it stands here, if you give a political contribution to an elected official, there's an amount limit, and transparency as to who's giving what," said Zurier. "Legal defense funds don't limit the amount contributed. It would seem to make sense to know the same information. Plus, you can use campaign funds for legal defense."
"So my proposal is that donations to legal defense funds should be disclosed to the council, including the name and address of those giving more than $50. I think we should know who's contributing," said Zurier.
Jackson's Lawyer Responds
Coloian calls Zurier's ordinance proposals illegal and unconstitutional.
"Requiring a council member to step down from all committee assignments is clearly illegal," said Coloian. "Mr. Zurier should know that provision and ordinance."
"As for disclosure of contributions to a legal defense fund, the federal government prohibits it. Otherwise you would pay taxes on it," said Coloian. "Kevin Jackson has no intention of forming a legal defense fund."
Coloian called all of Zurier's measures "pure politics."
"If he's trying to be a moral compass, his is not a GPS I'd subscribe to," said Coloian.
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